Results 14,321-14,340 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (14 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The case in question is before a US Court at present and relates to the custody of the children of a marriage where the parents are divorced. As such, it would not be appropriate for the Department of Foreign Affairs to become involved, nor are funds available to the Department to fund the legal costs in question. However, the Department has been in contact with the family of one of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I have received representations concerning the conditions under which certain prisoners are being held at Maghaberry prison, and theissue has been discussed with the British Authorities. I keep all such matters under careful review, and raise them as appropriate with the British Authorities, including through the framework of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. I will continue to...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There are currently no EU Directives awaiting transposition in my Department. My Department has a particular responsibility to ensure a coordinated national response across the range of EU issues. The Interdepartmental Committee on European Union Affairs, which is chaired by my colleague Mr. Noel Treacy T.D., Minister of State for European Affairs, works to ensure that the implementation of...

Written Answers — Employment Opportunities: Employment Opportunities (14 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is strongly committed to positive action designed to enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is responsible for recruitment across the Civil Service, including the recruitment of people with disabilities. Persons with disabilities can participate in all competitions for which they are eligible,...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of collusion is a constant theme in our contacts with the British government. It is continuously raised with the British by both the Taoiseach and myself, and also at official level. Given our constant engagement with the British Government on this, the question of a single issue summit does not arise. The Taoiseach has already brought the findings of the Barron Inquiries — on...

Order of Business (9 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: We are on the Order of Business. Deputy Kenny should ask about legislation.

Order of Business (9 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There is shock and awe when the Deputy is coming.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Since my reply of 6 December 2005, the protections afforded by the Civil Service anti-harassment, sexual harassment and bullying policy, A Positive Working Environment, have been extended to all unestablished employees at diplomatic missions abroad. A Departmental circular to this effect was issued in late December 2005. It provides for: formal and informal procedures for the handling of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: This issue has recently been raised in a letter to me, which also spoke in very warm terms indeed of Ireland's advocacy on behalf of the people of Darfur, from the founder of the Sudan Divestment Campaign-Ireland. My colleague, the Minister of State Conor Lenihan T.D., will meet with representatives of the Campaign on Thursday next, 9 November, and further meetings can be arranged with the...

Written Answers — Irish Prisoners Abroad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: In October 2005, I appointed the former Minister of State, Chris Flood, to undertake a study into Irish prisoners serving sentences abroad. The terms of reference of the study are: To identify the numbers of Irish people in prison overseas and the countries in which they are being held; To examine the needs of Irish overseas prisoners; and Based on this identification and estimate, to make...

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

Dermot Ahern: On 21 September 2006 I received an invitation from Carlos Coelho, Chairman of the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners, inviting me to attend one of the Temporary Committee's meetings. In keeping with the Government's policy of full co-operation with the European Parliament in its...

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

Dermot Ahern: Following his receipt and analysis of the Member States' responses to his Article 52 questionnaire, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Terry Davis, has submitted a number of proposals to Member States on ways in which they should reinforce the protection of human rights. The Secretary General's proposed measures include drawing up minimum standards to prevent human rights...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There are no vacant buildings currently under my Department's control or ownership and no security costs in respect of the protection of such properties have arisen in the period specified.

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: My Department currently owns three vans which are used by service officers to perform routine deliveries in the Dublin area. Fuel for the vehicles is purchased from Shell branded filling stations using a "Topaz" fuel purchase card. These cards are not issued in the name of specific officers but are assigned to vehicles by reference to the registration number of the van. The Department is...

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

Dermot Ahern: My Department is aware of the case the Deputy has raised through reports in the media. I understand that Mr. Jia has now moved on from Hong Kong to Thailand, where he is seeking asylum from a third country. No such request has been made of Ireland. Through the bi-annual EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, the most recent round of which was held in Beijing on 19 October, the EU, expressing its...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 166 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Slovenia, which is also accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina, has provided active consular assistance and support to the family of the person in question. In this regard, the Embassy in Slovenia has been in on-going contact with the relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina,...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is strongly committed to positive action designed to enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is responsible for recruitment across the Civil Service, including the recruitment of people with disabilities. My Department works with other Government Departments, the PAS and the National Disability...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: An application for an Irish passport was submitted by the person's parents to the Passport Office at Balbriggan on 20 April, 2006. This application was made under the terms of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004. Under this Act, persons born in the State after 1 January 2005, where neither parent is an Irish or British citizen or otherwise entitled to reside without restriction in...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am very aware of the issues raised by the Deputy. The Government has followed the situation, including the case of the person in question, through the Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office in Ramallah, and in consultation with Palestinian, Israeli and Irish human rights groups and NGOs. The Government and our EU partners have consistently called on the Israeli Government to end...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A passport is normally issued for ten years, and the fees to be charged are laid down by a Statutory Instrument. There is no provision in this Statutory Instrument to permit the Passport Office to waive the fee for persons aged less than 65 years. Apart from the legal dimension, the reality also is that, if this generous concessionary scheme is to work satisfactorily, there has to be a fixed...