Results 14,261-14,280 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Good Friday Agreement recognised the right of people born in Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish, British or both, as they may choose. Any attempt to deny this right should be strongly rejected, as running contrary to the Agreement and the basic concept of parity of esteem it sets out. I am aware of reports that concerns have been expressed to FIFA about the...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The November General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting included a Joint Session of Foreign and Defence Ministers. Ireland was represented by my colleagues, Noel Treacy, T.D., Minister for European Affairs and Tom Kitt, T.D. Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence. The Vice President of the European Commission, Commissioner Margot...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach recently sent a letter of congratulations to President Lula da Silva on the occasion of his re-election as President of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The Taoiseach wished President Lula well in his second term in office and expressed his wish to develop further the warm and close relations between Ireland and Brazil. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations,...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (23 Nov 2006)

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 during the Finnish Presidency but progress has been quite 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...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The St. Andrews Agreement set out a clear timetable for the restoration of the political institutions in Northern Ireland. It also made clear that, as part of that process, all parties would fully support policing and the rule of law, while also recognising the right of every political party to hold the police to account. In this regard, the St Andrews Agreement outlined the essential...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The White Paper on Irish Aid recognises that the enormous expansion in the size of the aid programme will place heavy demands on those administering it. The Government has committed to undertaking a major review of the management of the Irish Aid programme. The review will embrace the financial and administrative systems, approval, monitoring, audit and evaluation mechanisms, management...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I met with my Estonian colleague Urmas Paet in Dublin on 31 October. We had a very useful and open discussion on a number of important international and EU topics. The subjects covered in the course of our discussion included Irish-Estonian bilateral relations, the European Constitutional Treaty, European Neighbourhood Policy, EU Enlargement, EU-Russia relations, Common Agricultural Policy...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Russia is a key strategic partner of the European Union, one with which we have a wide-ranging relationship. The EU-Russia relationship is currently governed by a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which expires in December 2007. There are ambitious plans for a new EU-Russia agreement, which is intended to provide a comprehensive framework for future relations. Regular meetings currently...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Human rights are, and have always been, a priority of successive Governments and central to our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, the Government monitors the human rights situations in many countries, on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including both official and non-governmental organisations. Where the situation warrants, we make known our concerns...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am advised that there are at present 128 EU Directives awaiting transposition into Irish Law. As of 31 October, 22 Directives were overdue for transposition. The Government is strongly committed to meeting the deadlines for transposition. The Interdepartmental Committee on European Union Affairs, which is chaired by my colleague Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister of State for European Affairs,...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Considerable progress has made in spreading and deepening democracy in Africa in recent years. Most African countries have evolved from authoritarian to more democratic systems with elections now becoming the only acceptable basis for choosing and changing leadership; many States are working to ensure that the executive and legislative arms of government reflect the diversity of their...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The overall political, economic and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate. Inflation in Zimbabwe is now estimated to be 1200%, the highest in the world, while unemployment is estimated to be around 80%. There continue to be severe food shortages in the country, with over one million people currently requiring sustained food assistance. The dire political and economic...

Foreign Conflicts. (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: We should not give up hope. While I accept that some of the utterances by Hamas on the two-state solution have been unhelpful, it must be acknowledged that it is the international community, and not just the European Union, that advocates such a solution. The involvement of the Union has been upscaled recently and it is interesting to note that, over the past year, it has increased its aid...

Foreign Conflicts. (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: My views in that regard have been put on record on a number of occasions. The Deputy will be aware that we called in the Israeli ambassador to state very clearly our grave concern at what happened during the recent conflict in Lebanon.

Foreign Conflicts. (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There is of course constant contact with the Israeli Embassy in Dublin regarding all those issues, as there is with the Palestinian representative.

Northern Ireland Issues. (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The St. Andrews Agreement underpins the Good Friday Agreement, setting out a clear way forward for all parties to commit themselves to the full operation of stable power-sharing government in Northern Ireland and to full support for the policing board. It sets out the practical changes proposed to the operation of the institutions. It also sets out specific commitments in areas such as...

Northern Ireland Issues. (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There is greater need than ever for leadership on both sides regarding this issue, and we hope that we will see that tomorrow and in the coming weeks. If we fall at any hurdle, we will move to the situation indicated, namely, plan B. However, that is not the preferred option of either Government. We want devolved government to be restored to Northern Ireland. Leadership is required on the...

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: He is busy working in his constituency.

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister had some say in it.

Emigrant Welfare. (23 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States is an issue of the highest priority for the Government. I continue to raise our concerns in all my dealings with key figures in the US Administration and Legislature, including during a wide-ranging discussion which I had recently with the new US Ambassador. In the period since the mid-term elections, I have written to a number of...