Results 14,381-14,400 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is of the view that all the remaining 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 regional economic development. We have raised the status of the crossing in question with the British authorities through the British Irish...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I have actively pursued co-operation on the economic development of the North West in my discussions with Secretary of State, Peter Hain. Earlier this year we launched the North West Gateway Initiative. This Initiative covers cross-Border co-operation in a wide range of sectors from enterprise development to health and educational services in the region. The Initiative also included a...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: While there are no plans at present to open further passport offices, it is the policy to keep the operation of the passport service under on-going review. As background, I should say that the majority of passports are now issued through the Passport Express service which is operated jointly by my Department and An Post. This service is available in over 1,000 post offices throughout the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, at its meeting on 30-31 January, adopted conclusions which welcomed the proposed launch of the Afghanistan Compact and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to long-term support for the Government and people of Afghanistan through Afghan-led reconstruction efforts. The Afghanistan Compact was launched at the International Conference on...

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Following a statement of intent issued on 3 October, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced that it had carried out an underground nuclear test on 9 October. I immediately strongly condemned this provocative action by the DPRK. It is a serious threat to the security and stability of the region, as well as a direct contravention of the international objectives of nuclear...

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: It is not my view or that of the Government that the NPT is defunct. It is accepted, however, that it faces major challenges and the review conference in 2005 was a grave disappointment. In September 2005, when the UN reform package was finalised, I echoed the words of Kofi Annan on the NPT. The fact that there are challenges should not deflect us from encouraging all states to participate...

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: No one is waiting until 2010. The non-proliferation treaty is in place and only a handful of nations are not part of it. The vast majority of the international community participates in and adheres to the treaty, although a number of countries, including Iran and North Korea, have deviated from it.

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: One cannot equate recent events in Iran with those in North Korea. The international community, at the Security Council, proposed relatively draconian sanctions against North Korea on the basis of that country's declared intent and follow-up action. The purpose of the Security Council decision was to forcefully suggest to North Korea that it cannot succeed.

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I understand the Democratic Republic of North Korea has given an undertaking to China that it will not proceed with further action. It is simplistic to state that Ireland should lead the way. Ireland is one of a number of countries to the fore as regards adherence to the non-proliferation treaty and trying to persuade the international community as a whole to continue on the track of...

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The proposed agreement published by the Governments at St. Andrews comprehensively addressed the core issues standing in the way of the restoration of the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. It sets out a clear way forward for all parties to commit to the full operation of stable power-sharing government and the North-South and east-west arrangements and to full support...

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The practice of the Minister for Foreign Affairs or any Minister being answerable to the Dáil on the basis of the Attorney General's advice has not changed since Deputy Michael Higgins was a Minister.

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy might say that was then and this is now, but it is a fact that the Attorney General is not answerable to this House and Ministers are not answerable for the Attorney General's advice. The Attorney General is the legal adviser to the Government. What was agreed at St. Andrew's was a political document. The document was whittled out after two and a half days of intensive...

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: If that is his attitude, God help Ireland if the Deputy ever gets into Government. If the Deputy thinks decisions are made on a partisan basis——

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: ——they are not. In the unlikely event that the Deputy arrives on this side of the House, he will learn that it is very easy to be on that side of the House——

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: One has a responsibility when one is on this side of the House——

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: ——and I will take none of that nonsense from the likes of the Deputy.

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The St. Andrew's agreement is nothing more than a political agreement between the two Governments. The parties have yet to commit to it. With regard to whether there is an election or a referendum in the North, the Taoiseach covered that in his replies to questions in the House this morning.

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Much of what the Deputy said was a comment, not a question. The tenor of the discussion with the Attorney General was in the context of the implications of the Crotty decision and whether the Government can, unilaterally and without reference to the people, make any amendment to the Good Friday Agreement or any international agreement. We are awaiting the Attorney General's view but his...

Official Engagements. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The annual national address to the UN General Assembly provides an opportunity to set out Ireland's approach to international issues of our day. In my speech of 26 September, which can be seen on the Department's website and a copy of which I have placed in the Oireachtas Library, I began by acknowledging the contribution of Secretary General Annan and reviewing the progress of UN reform. I...

Official Engagements. (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There is a multinational force in Iraq. The UN, by unanimous vote of the Security Council, authorised the continuation of the multinational force. This is something the Deputy and his colleagues tend to forget. When America and the UK originally entered Iraq, we did not support their action. However, the UN subsequently passed a number of resolutions — the most recent of these was the...