Results 14,621-14,640 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government regrets the recent deaths at Guantánamo Bay. While the full circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear the fact that three detainees committed suicide is deeply troubling. I welcome the fact that the US government has promised a full review of procedures at the camp and that it has been agreed that the International Committee of the Red Cross may shortly undertake...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The new Iraqi national unity Government was approved by Parliament on 20 May 2006, and the outstanding positions of Defence, the Interior and National Security were filled on 8 June. Iraq now has a sovereign and democratic Parliament and Government, mandated for four years. This is a very significant step in the rebuilding of a democratic Iraq following years of brutal dictatorship. In order...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Maintaining and strengthening links with Irish communities abroad is a key priority of my Department. Officials in our diplomatic missions and in the Irish Abroad Unit are very active in this regard and work closely with Irish community organisations across a wide range of issues. The Government's firm commitment to enhance support for our communities abroad is reflected in the very...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Presidential and parliamentary elections are now scheduled to take place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 30 July 2006. These will be the first multi-party elections in the DRC in over 40 years. A total of 33 candidates will contest the presidency while some 260 political parties and over 9,300 candidates will compete for the 500 legislative seats in the new parliament. Over...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Belarus became independent only in 1991 and for some years after that its citizens travelled using USSR passports. Ireland has no representation in Belarus, but the Embassy in Moscow is accredited to that country. The vast majority of visas for Belorussian citizens are, as a result, issued by our Moscow Embassy. Figures for the numbers of visas issued to Belorussian citizens by the Embassy in...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Supporting the Irish community in Britain, in particular the more vulnerable members of our community there, is a key priority for the Government. In view of this, most of the Government's emigrant services funding is directed to organisations in Britain that are engaged in a wide range of activities of benefit to our community there. In 2004, the initial allocation to groups in Britain was...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement was adopted by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 22 May 2006. When Morocco has completed its ratification procedures, the Agreement will come into force following an exchange of notifications by both sides. The Agreement states that it applies to the waters falling within the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Morocco. As the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 279 and 282 together. On 13 June, I gave the House a detailed account of the matter to which the Deputy's questions refer. On the basis of my and my Department's discussions with the US authorities, I have no reason to believe that this was other than an isolated incident which arose from an administrative error. At my meeting with him on 12 June, the US...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together. In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 253 of 1968, which imposed mandatory sanctions on the illegal regime in what was then Southern Rhodesia, new passports, or the renewal of existing ones, were not processed in the period 29 May 1968 to 21 December 1979 to Irish citizens for emigration to Southern Rhodesia nor to...

Written Answers — Territorial Waters: Territorial Waters (15 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: On the basis of information supplied to my Department by the Department of Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources, I can inform the Deputy that Ireland's waters extend to approximately 125,000 square nautical miles. Figures for the European Union as a whole, either before or after enlargement on 1 May 2004, are unfortunately not available from the European Commission. It is...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions on this matter on 17, 24 and 30 May 2006. The Government shares the widespread concern about the situation in the Palestinian Territories. Recent events serve to underline the urgent need for the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to recognise and act on their obligations under the Quartet Roadmap and under international law. The...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (15 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The person concerned has been in contact in the past regarding complaints on his part against local law enforcement agencies in the San Francisco consular area, and was advised to obtain legal representation. He has also had contact with the Consulate in San Francisco regarding passport facilities. The Consular Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs has contacted the American Embassy in...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 30 May 2006 to Questions on this matter. I remain concerned about this case, which has been raised with the Israeli authorities by our Embassy in Tel Aviv. The Embassy is continuing to monitor the situation closely, in co-operation with the Embassies of other EU Member States. The person concerned was arrested on 23 May 2005, and on 16 June 2005 the Israeli...

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Not a bad one.

Constitutional Referenda. (14 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Where does the Deputy stand on it? I remember Pat's submission.

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (13 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As I indicated in my previous reply to the Deputy on 3 May, 2006, the Embassy in Madrid has informed the Department that the person concerned has received appropriate legal representation, and understands that he is being accorded the same rights and treatment as a Spanish citizen. On 5 May, 2006, a Consular Officer of the Embassy met with the individual concerned. She discussed again with...

Written Answers — Travel Agreements: Travel Agreements (13 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States, the US authorities enacted legislation providing that air carriers operating flights to, from and within United States territory would have to provide them with electronic access to the data contained in their reservation and departure systems. The information is described as "Passenger Name Records (PNR)". The...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (13 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: On 5 October, 2004 the Government, on the nomination of the Taoiseach and in exercise of the power conferred on them by Section 1 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, as amended by Section 2 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1980 and Section 1 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1995, assigned responsibility for European Affairs to Mr Noel...

Human Rights Issues: Motion. (13 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: That is not correct.

Human Rights Issues: Motion. (13 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to share time with Deputies Carey and Andrews.