Results 14,001-14,020 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States is an issue of the highest priority for the Government. In all of my dealings about comprehensive immigration reform, I stress our strong support for measures that would enable the undocumented to regularise their status and have open to them a path to permanent residency. Immigration reform is one of the most contentious and high...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 53 and 88 together. I view very seriously the allegations relating to the harvesting of live organs from Falun Gong practitioners. Enquiries on this issue have been made by the Department of Foreign Affairs within the EU and UN frameworks, as well as through our Embassy in Beijing. A senior official from the Department met with Mr David Kilgour during his...

Written Answers — Rockall Island: Rockall Island (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: During the 1960s and 1970s the issue of Rockall was a source of legal and political controversy in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Much of that controversy lay in fears at the time that jurisdiction over Rockall and similar rocks and skerries was thought to be central to the mineral rights in the adjacent sea-bed and to fishing rights in the surrounding seas. However, during the course...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 31 together. I can confirm categorically that no steps will be taken to develop diplomatic relations with Burma until Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest. I remain deeply concerned that Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained continuously for more than three years without charge and would, once again, urge the Burmese government to restore fully...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The peace process in Nepal has made significant progress since the restoration of Parliament and accountable Government, following a decision by King Gyanendra of Nepal, in response to public protests, to restore executive power last April. This was followed by the signature of a Comprehensive Peace Accord between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) on 21...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs provides consular assistance to thousands of Irish citizens who travel or reside abroad each year. The consular services provided by our Embassies and Consulates abroad include the following: issuing passports including emergency travel documents assistance to victims of serious accidents, illnesses or crime assisting people detained, arrested or imprisoned...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Passport Office estimates that there are approximately 4.2 million holders of current Irish Passports. In 2006 there were 677,000 applications processed, this is in line with the 2005 figure of 680,675. The actual figure for passports produced was approximately 630,000 in both years. In 2006 a total of 86,970 passports were issued on behalf of consulate and embassies abroad and approx...

Written Answers — Embassy Security: Embassy Security (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 102 together. The Embassy in London is located at the corner of Grosvenor Place and Chapel Street. At approximately 12 noon on 30 January, a man climbed from the street onto the Embassy's first-floor balcony on Grosvenor Place. He then unfurled and tied to the balcony railings a banner protesting against the Shell company's plans for bringing natural...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not own any properties in the State. Its headquarters, Iveagh House, is a heritage building and is vested in the ownership of the Office of Public Works. In addition to Iveagh House, the Department's staff is accommodated in a number of leased buildings in the State. With one exception, these are leased by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am pleased to confirm that, as from March of this year, a range of consular services will be provided in the Department's Offices on the South Mall in Cork. This will be in addition to the existing passport services. The additional services will include: the authentication of official seals and signatures on public documents executed in Ireland for use abroad and attaching Apostilles under...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 38, 39, 68, 85 and 198 together. The Government remains very actively engaged, directly with the parties, in cooperation with our EU partners and at the UN in the promotion of a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli — Palestinian conflict. This must be at the heart of a comprehensive settlement to the interlinked problems of the Middle East....

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Since the beginning of last year, significant progress has been made towards securing the Government's overriding priority — the restoration of power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The St. Andrews Agreement, published by the two Governments on 13 October 2006, sets out a clear way forward for all parties to commit to the full...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 103 together. European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) is an integral part of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, the principles and objectives of which are set out in the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice Treaties, approved by the people at successive referenda. There are nine ESDP missions currently under way, both civilian and...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 116 together. The 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome on 25 March, 1957 is a milestone in the history of the Union. As I indicated in the House at the end of last year, it is entirely appropriate that citizens throughout the Union should have the opportunity of commemorating the peace and prosperity achieved by Europe over the past...

Written Answers — EU Accession Negotiations: EU Accession Negotiations (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Accession negotiations were opened with Croatia on 3 October 2005. The screening process, which scrutinises the compatibility of Croatian legislation with EU legislation has continued since then, although progress has been slow in comparison with previous enlargement rounds. After each chapter has been screened, the EU can decide, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, whether the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Passport fees during 2005 amounted to €32.6 million, with total expenditure at €31 million, giving a surplus of over €1 million. This figure is arrived at using cash-based accounting methods. Using accrual-based accounting methods, involving a depreciation charge for capital investment on the new passport project, there may well be a slight deficit. Overall, however fees and...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 73, 118 and 196 together. I have outlined the main elements of my visit last week to the Middle East in my reply to Questions No. 1 and 5 answered earlier. I held discussions with political leaders in Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon, which focused on the urgent need to revive a credible political process in the region. There is broad agreement that,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Extraordinary rendition was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers in September. In my view it would be appropriate for the various issues involved to be considered further in the framework of the Council following the vote next week by the European Parliament on the Report of its Temporary Committee on this issue and my officials are exploring how best this might be carried forward. ...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 82 together. Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991. A Transitional Federal Government (TFG) representing a range of clans was established in Nairobi with UN approval and EU support in 2004, but it was unable to make a significant impact on the ground. Discontent with a decade of anarchy led to increased support for the United Islamic...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 61 together. The Government has consistently stated that the border crossings closed by the British authorities on grounds of security should be reopened as part of the wider process of security normalisation in Northern Ireland, and in order to facilitate economic development in border areas. To date, 102 crossings have been reopened since 1994, with...