Results 14,421-14,440 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (24 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government continues to be gravely concerned by the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan and is using all avenues to work for a resolution of the major humanitarian and political challenges that exist there. We have taken action at the UN, within the EU and bilaterally to try to persuade the Government of Sudan to accept a UN force in Darfur. Through Irish Aid, the Government is also...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service is 3%. Policy in relation to this target is the responsibility of the Department of Finance. The term "people with disabilities " is set out in the 1994 Code of Practice for the Employment of People with a Disability in the Civil Service as meaning people with a physical, sensory or psychological impairment which...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (24 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: From the 1st-2nd September I attended an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which took place in Lappeenranta, Finland. Such informal or 'Gymnich' meetings are held once every Presidency. The meeting was also attended by Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and Mr. Javier Solana, Secretary General and High Representative for the EU's Common Foreign and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (24 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The situation in Thailand remains calm, apart from unrest in the south of the country which predates the military coup which took place on 19 September. A new interim Government was appointed on 9 October. The interim Prime Minister, General Surayud Chulanont, announced last week that a ban on political gatherings of more than five people, introduced since the coup, will be lifted. He said...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy asks for details of legal costs relating to tribunals operating under the aegis of my Department since 1997. The Department of Foreign Affairs has not established any tribunals in that period. However, on 28 May 2002 the Irish and British Governments appointed Justice Cory to conduct an investigation of allegations of collusion in a number of cases, arising from a commitment made...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, and currently based in Dublin, will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place during the third quarter of 2007 and will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts. The situation is as follows: Already, 47...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (19 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I have set out in the following table the information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of requests received, the amount of application fees collected and the percentage of requests received from journalists. I should point out that payment of the normal application fee, currently €15, does not apply in a number of circumstances: no fee is payable in respect of requests for...

Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the various Members for contributing to this debate and for the broad cross-party goodwill they have expressed towards the discussions that took place over the past few weeks and days. The Government thanks all those who have been concerned in the so-called "hothouse talks", including the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, and Mr. Blair who in very difficult circumstances spent a great deal of...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: People were also being transported when Deputy Michael D. Higgins was in government; many were forced to leave the country.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: It is the logic of Deputy Ó Caoláin's argument.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: We do not need a lecture from Deputy Seán Ryan.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach did not say that.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: He is bluffing.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is bluffing.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Come off it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: We more than survived it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Shut up. Where is the protest and he can go off and follow it.

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Since 1987 there has been no instance of a civil servant in my Department being forced to obtain an Order from the Courts enforcing, or associated with enforcing, his/her contractual rights and entitlements.

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (17 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The conflict in Lebanon during the summer and the continuing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories serve to emphasise that there can be no military or unilateral solution to the interlinked problems of the Middle East. It is the strong view of the Government, together with our partners in the European Union, that an underlying cause of the terrible violence of recent months is the...

Written Answers — Emigrant Services: Emigrant Services (17 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States remains an issue of the highest priority for the Government. I raise our concerns in all of my dealings with key figures in the US Administration and Legislature. 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....