Results 14,161-14,180 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is making a Second Stage speech.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is only a bluffer.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of collusion features prominently in our on-going discussions with the British Government at all levels. During his meeting with Prime Minister Blair in London on 4 December last, the Taoiseach discussed the issues raised in the four reports prepared by Mr. Justice Barron and the follow-up reports published by the Oireachtas Sub-Committee. I also had a follow-up discussion with the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (13 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The individuals to whom the Deputy refers, Mr. Orlando Bosch and Mr. Luis Posada Carriles, were detained in Caracas in 1976, and charged with the bombing of Cubana Airlines flight 455 on 6 October 1976, in which all 73 people on board died. Mr. Carriles escaped detention in 1985, while Mr. Bosch was released two years later. Since May 2005, Mr. Carriles has been detained in US custody,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (13 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland, along with our EU partners, condemns all acts of terrorism, regardless of their target or motivation. Terrorism can never be justified by any cause, reason or ideology. However, as I made clear in my reply to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question No. 373 of 5 December, in the absence of any specific information regarding the allegations made by him, I am not in...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together. On being contacted by a member of the family, I have taken a close personal interest in the case concerning the removal of the internal organs of an Irish citizen who had died in Bulgaria. I am also deeply conscious of the distress suffered by this family. On learning of the case, I immediately instructed our Embassy in Sofia to raise the...

Written Answers — Dublin-Monaghan Bombings: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (13 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: These events were the subject of extensive investigation by an independent Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Barron. That Commission presented four separate reports to the Taoiseach and a Sub-Committee of the Oireachtas has considered each of them in turn. The reports of the Sub-Committee highlight issues of deep concern. On foot of the first of these reports, the Government appointed...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (13 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables in respect of the two Votes for which this Department is responsible: Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). Vote 28 Year Amount €m 1997 0.06 1998 0.08 1999 0.10 2000 0.05 2001 0.06 2002 0.60 2003 0.72 2004 0.47 2005 0.57 2006 (to date) 0.28 Vote 29 Year Amount (€m)...

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Let the Taoiseach answer.

Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy should be serious about this.

Written Answers — Overseas University Courses: Overseas University Courses (12 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A small grant has been given through the Irish Consulate in San Francisco for an Irish Speakers series at the University of California, Berkeley. Speakers in the series have included Paul Sweeney of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Professor Jane Helen Ohlmeyer, Dean of Graduate Studies, Trinity College, and poets Greg Delanty and Liam Ó Muirthile. I am aware of a suggestion for a...

Written Answers — Dual Citizenship: Dual Citizenship (12 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Depending on the circumstances a person, including someone who is a United States citizen may (a) automatically be an Irish citizen; (b) be entitled to Irish citizenship by descent; or (c) become an Irish citizen through naturalisation. Ireland has no difficulty about our citizens holding dual nationality, nor have we restrictions in place in this regard. It may well be, however, that other...

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish: Undocumented Irish (12 Dec 2006)

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 with key figures in the US Congress and Administration, I emphasise our strong support for measures that would enable the undocumented to regularise their status and have open to them a path to permanent residency. Following the recent mid-term...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take questions numbers 345 and 346 together. The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration of the personnel in my private and constituency offices and those of the two Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D. Private Office Grade / Position Number Remuneration Special Adviser...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (7 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ No. 39549/06 of 23 November. As I indicated on that occasion, I am aware of, and deeply concerned by, the shooting of Tibetan refugees which occurred at the Tibet-Nepal border on 30 September. The issue has specifically been raised with the Chinese authorities by the EU. The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue is the agreed formal framework through which...

Written Answers — Forbairt na Gaeilge: Forbairt na Gaeilge (6 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Leagann Aguisín B le Comhaontú Chill Rímhinn amach gealltanais Rialtas na Breataine i leith cearta daonna, comhionannais, íobartach, agus ábhar eile. I measc na n-ábhar seo, tá gealltanas ar leith tugtha go leagfaí faoi bhráid na Parlaiminte Acht Teanga do Thuaisceart na hÉireann, agus go ndéanfaí comhoibriú leis an bhFeidhmiúchán nua le forbairt na Gaeilge a chosaint agus a...

Written Answers — Emigrant Welfare: Emigrant Welfare (6 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Maintaining and strengthening links with our communities abroad is a key priority of my Department. Officials in our diplomatic missions and in the Irish Abroad Unit are very active in this regard and work closely with Irish community organisations across a wide range of issues. The strong commitment of the Government to support our community abroad is reflected in the unprecedented level of...

Written Answers — Emigrant Welfare: Emigrant Welfare (6 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States is an issue of the highest priority for the Government. I raise our concerns in all of my dealings with key figures in the US Congress and Administration. In particular, I emphasise our strong support for measures that would enable the undocumented to regularise their status and have open to them a path to permanent residency. Since...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (6 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The number of Irish passports reported as lost or stolen has generally remained consistent at between 3.5% and 4.5% of those issued each year. The table shows the relevant figures for the years 2000 to 2005. The figures for the earlier years requested are not immediately to hand but, I understand, that the percentage of lost/stolen passports during that period also remained consistent in the...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy never did anything about it.