Results 15,161-15,180 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Prisoner Status: Prisoner Status (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the person mentioned by the Deputy is a British citizen and that he has not sought to avail of his qualification for Irish citizenship. I also understand that he has sought consular assistance from the British authorities in Bulgaria. The position generally is that if one travels abroad using the passport of a particular country, one will be treated accordingly by the...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: That is no problem. The Cathaoirleach is also a busy man. I am delighted to have this opportunity to address the Seanad which has always been such a consistent source of encouragement and support for the Government's efforts in the peace process. As Senators are aware, I was in London yesterday to co-chair a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference with the Secretary of...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Some of the media reported, on foot of the selective leaking of the IMC report and other issues, that the IICD had acknowledged that the IRA has retained some weapons, but the exact opposite is in fact the case. We were somewhat bemused and disappointed when we heard, when we were in London, that had happened. I wish to emphasise that the IMC and IICD reports have confirmed, contrary to the...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: ——to co-operate with the police service, and to take its place on the accountability mechanisms set up on foot of the Patten report, namely, the policing board and district policing partnerships. It is also the case that the Unionist parties, and particularly the DUP, have to accept when Sinn Féin makes that move that they will be part of those policing arrangements. In the comprehensive...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Statistical information on visas issued by Irish missions abroad, the majority of which are issued under a delegated sanction arrangement with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is limited to the number of such visas issued by each mission. I would also refer the Deputy to the reply to a parliamentary question on this issue which the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law...

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish Emigrants: Undocumented Irish Emigrants (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A US congressional delegation, led by Congressman James Walsh, chairman of the friends of Ireland group in Congress, visited Ireland last month. I was pleased to meet with the delegation, which included Congressmen Brian Higgins and Tim Murphy, in Carlingford on 17 January. Our discussions covered bilateral issues of mutual interest. I took the opportunity to thank the delegation for the...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As a rule, flights carrying members of the US military through Shannon Airport stop only for a brief period before continuing onward. In exceptional cases, however, exigencies may arise, such as technical failure or medical emergency, which require an overnight stay. In situations where it is desired that uniformed US military personnel be transferred from the airport, the permission of the...

Written Answers — Nobel Peace Prize: Nobel Peace Prize (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize can be put forward by those persons eligible to nominate candidates, including members of national assemblies, Governments and international courts of law, university chancellors and former Nobel Peace Prize laureates. The statutes of the Nobel Foundation restrict disclosure of information about nominations for a period of 50 years, with the restriction...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: No public relations contracts were continued, completed or initiated by the Department of Foreign Affairs during 2005. However, in the interest of completeness, the Deputy may wish to note the following: In November 2004, following an open tender process, Development Co-operation Ireland employed Real Event Solutions to design, organise and manage a primary school competition around the theme...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has not concluded any bilateral agreements on combating terrorism with the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy. It has, however, entered into a range of agreements, particularly in the context of the Council of Europe and the European Union, relating to the combating of terrorism or whose provisions may be used for counter-terrorism purposes. Examples of such agreements include the...

Written Answers — Landing Rights: Landing Rights (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 to 249, inclusive, together. The Government, as I have assured the House on numerous occasions, is utterly opposed to the practice of so-called extraordinary rendition. Any suggestion that the Government would tolerate such a practice is completely without foundation. I am aware of media reports that a number of civil aircraft alleged to be operated on...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. Article 29.5 of the Constitution provides that every international agreement to which the State becomes a party, except international agreements of a technical and administrative character, must be laid before Dáil Éireann. However, my Department has gone further and introduced the practice of laying all international agreements,...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Following the "No" votes in France and the Netherlands, the European Council in June of last year decided to instigate a period of reflection on the EU constitution and the future of Europe. This issue will be reviewed during the current Austrian Presidency. EU Foreign Ministers are responsible for preparing this review. The Government remains committed to the constitution and does not favour...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The General Affairs and External Relations Council, at its meeting in Brussels on 30 January 2006 which I attended, approved the renewal of the EU's restrictive measures against Zimbabwe for a further period of 12 months, until 20 February 2007. I very much welcome this decision to renew these restrictive measures. This decision reflects the fact that there has been no progress by the Mugabe...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the development co-operation directorate of my Department, which is currently based in Dublin, will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2007. Already, a total of 25 posts in the directorate, including that of director general, are filled by officers who have signalled their intention to...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The freedom of information Acts 1997 and 2003 established an independent process for consideration of freedom of information requests. As I have no role in respect of how the provisions of the Acts are applied in specific instances, it would be inappropriate for me to discuss the detail of individual requests. To do so would undermine the independence of designated decision makers and may...

Written Answers — Council of Europe Investigation: Council of Europe Investigation (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Two investigations are currently under way under the aegis of the Council of Europe. The first is an investigation by Senator Dick Marty, a rapporteur appointed by the legal affairs committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The second takes the form of a questionnaire which has been sent to all member states of the Council of Europe by the Secretary General, Mr. Terry...

Leaders' Questions. (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Where would she go with her voucher?

Leaders' Questions. (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A useless voucher.

Leaders' Questions. (31 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: We could print the money.