Results 14,501-14,520 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Illegal Emigrants: Illegal Emigrants (6 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 324 together. My Department is aware of two Irish nationals awaiting deportation from the United States. These people are currently being held by the US authorities and are being provided with consular assistance by the Consulates in New York and San Francisco. The US Department of Homeland Security advises that there were 446 Irish nationals deported...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (6 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is not aware of any current application for an Irish visa being made by the applicant mentioned by the Deputy. Visa applications made in Zimbabwe are lodged by applicants with the Irish Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa and are normally referred to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for decision. I am informed that no record has been found in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The following table shows the total amounts spent on advertising under Votes 28 (Foreign Affairs) and 29 (International Cooperation) for 2003 to date: Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to end June) € € € € Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) 79,527 228,410 132,925 37,368 Vote 29 (International Cooperation) 104,417 44,547 123,531...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As I believe the Deputy will appreciate, this is primarily a legal issue and the person's legal advisers are best placed to advise him on the options open to him in the US justice system. However, officials in my Department recently met with the person to discuss his case and to offer him every possible consular assistance. The person, who previously resided in the United States, has stated...

Written Answers — Irish Prisoners Abroad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 294 to 298, inclusive, together. I am aware that, as a result of the recent controversy in Britain about the release and reoffending records of foreign born prisoners, the British Home Office announced a full review of its policies in relation to foreign born prisoners. I understand that this policy review is still ongoing. In the meantime, pending the...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 29 June 2006 to question number 12 on this matter. On 29 July 2005, as part of the preparations for the opening of Turkey-EU accession negotiations and in accordance with the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council, Turkey signed the Ankara Agreement Protocol to take account of the accession of the new Member States, including the Republic of...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Earlier this year, in the context of the expanding budget of Ireland's official aid programme, Drury Communications were hired to provide assistance in developing a communications strategy for Irish Aid. While this short consultancy is nearly completed, as yet no payments have been made. No other press or public relations consultancy firms were appointed by the Department since 2002. However,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D. Function/Position 2004 2005 2006 (to date) € € € Special Adviser (non-established) 25,781.34 81,435.86 43,038.99 Press Adviser (non-established) 23,187.20 97,331.04 45,822.01 Personal Assistant (non-established) 11,314.61 54,868.55...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration of the personnel in the private and constituency offices of the two Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs: Minister of State, Mr. Conor Lenihan, T.D. Private Office Grade/Position Number Remuneration Private Secretary 1 Executive Officer standard scale — PPC €29,152-€46,253 ...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The following tables set out the number of personnel in my private and constituency offices, their grades and remuneration: Private Office Grade/Position Number Remuneration Special Adviser (non-established) 1 Principal Officer standard scale €78,066-€96,560 Personal Secretary (non-established) 1 Executive Officer higher scale €27,692-€45,669 ...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Advertising undertaken by the Department typically includes advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, employment opportunities that arise in the Department from time to time, as well as public information notices relating to developments in the European Union or in regard to Ireland's official Development Aid Programme....

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to the replies of Minister of State Treacy and myself to Questions Nos. 3, 93 and 114 of 29 June 2006, where we stated our belief that, on the basis of our discussions with the US authorities, this was an isolated incident which arose from an administrative error. It is not intended to request journey details from the US Government of all prisoners transported to the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (5 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to questions numbers 87 and 160 on 29 June regarding the current political and security situation in Afghanistan. The reply noted that, while significant progress has been achieved in Afghanistan in last four years, considerable challenges still remain. It stated also that in any country developing the democratic structures, institutions and administrative...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (4 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: At its meeting on 20 June 2006 the Government, in line with the common EU position as agreed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 June, decided to recognise Montenegro as an independent State, and to establish diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis. Our Ambassador in Hungary will be accredited to Montenegro. Following that Government decision, I wrote to the...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (4 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There have been three such landings to date this year, all by Boeing 707 aircraft. The first took place on 23 April, the other two on 5 May. The first flight left on 24 April and the others on 7 May. The landings were for refuelling and crew rest. The grant of permission in these cases was made subject to the normal conditions that apply to landings at Irish airports by foreign military...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: This Department's capital spending envelope for the five year period 2006 to 2010 is €111 million distributed as follows: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 €31M €20M €20M €20M €20M While a small proportion of My Department's capital funding is attributed to Vote 29 (International Co-operation), the bulk of the allocation...

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The projected information technology purchasing requirements for the second half of 2006 is set out in the following table. The Department procures all its information technology requirements in accordance with EU and national procurement regulations and in consultation with the Department of Finance. Those requirements, for which tender requests have not yet issued, will be advertised in...

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs procures all its information technology requirements in accordance with EU and national procurement regulations and in consultation with the Department of Finance. The Department has recently established a Procurement Unit to oversee and to advise on all procurements in the Department, including on information technology procurements.

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs procures all its information technology requirements in accordance with EU and national procurement regulations and in consultation with the Department of Finance. The Department does not use company size or turnover as criteria for awarding contracts and as such does not have access to details relating to a respondent's SME status. The Department has no...

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The average size of information technology procurement contracts currently awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs is €1,038,379. The Department's figure is unusually high due to the information technology elements of the biometrics in passports project underway at present.