Results 15,201-15,220 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (25 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There are currently four bodies under the aegis of my Department: the Advisory Board for Development Co-operation Ireland; the Development Education Advisory Committee, DEAC; the Díon Committee on Emigrant Support; and the Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange, known as the Fulbright Commission. The Fulbright Commission is subject to the full remit of the Freedom of...

European Council Meeting: Statements. (25 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A number of the questions Deputy Durkan raised were not really pertinent to the discussions and were not discussed at the December Council.

European Council Meeting: Statements. (25 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The sugar regime is ultimately a matter for the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, who was party to the discussions in Hong Kong. Obviously some difficult decisions had to be made in that regard and it is fair to say the discussions in Hong Kong faltered in that there was an impression that quite a number of developing countries were to a certain extent benefiting. Our...

European Council Meeting: Statements. (25 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I will not go through a long dissertation on rural development but the point of the rural development programme in EU funding is to assist those areas coming out of purely agricultural industry and to bring them into newer areas not so reliant on agriculture. That has been the hallmark of European funding over the past number of years.

European Council Meeting: Statements. (25 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The budgetary correction mechanism, called the UK rebate, remains with the reduced contribution to the financing of the abatement, benefiting Germany, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, as agreed at the 1999 Berlin European Council. The rebate remains in full on all expenditure except that relating to the new member states. From 2013 at the latest, the UK shall fully participate in the...

European Council Meeting: Statements. (25 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Greek reservations remain. I had discussions with the Greek Foreign Minister regarding how we dealt with this scenario in the Good Friday Agreement regarding Ireland, Northern Ireland and so on. However, decisions were made regarding Macedonia in December, which should be welcome and, hopefully, the discussions will continue. That these negotiations have started or will start does not...

Order of Business. (25 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte has had more parties than the Minister of State has had hot dinners.

Leaders' Questions. (25 Jan 2006)

Dermot Ahern: No. It was unqualified.

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (15 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Most of the issues raised by Deputy O'Connor are covered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is responding to a similar question tabled by the Deputy. I wish to add that advancing Ireland's economic interests abroad is a key role of my Department and its embassies. Our embassy in Prague, which is...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (15 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The table sets out the data requested by the Deputy, the numbers and percentages unemployed in Northern Ireland and the breakdown between the communities in 1995, 2000, and 2005 respectively. Spring 1995 Spring 2000 Spring 2005 Protestant Unemployed (number) 33,000 18,500 12,000 Unemployed percentage 8.4% 4.8% 2.9% Catholic Unemployed (number) 39,500 29,500 19,500...

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy does not like the bell because it is a reminder to him.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We should have harmony.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There were a few earthquakes in here this week prompted by Deputy Finian McGrath's question.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It is a Parliament, after all.

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I hope it is not a vested interest.

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 72, 84 and 87 together. Negotiations between the EU3 and Iran are currently suspended following Iran's decision of 8 August 2005 to recommence conversion of uranium at its Isfahan facility. This action was in breach of the Paris agreement signed by Iran and the EU3 — France, Germany and the United Kingdom — in November 2004. Under this agreement, Iran,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 47, 66 and 118 together. The allegation that there is or has been a network of secret prisons in Europe is a matter of very deep concern. The existence of such secret prisons would plainly be in breach of international law and of the principles upon which the EU is founded: liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule...

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 73 and 124 together. Ireland has a particularly close association with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT, which came into existence following an initiative taken by a distinguished predecessor in this office, the late Frank Aiken. His pioneering efforts were duly recognised when Ireland was invited in 1968 to be the first country to sign the treaty...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government views with deep concern the arrest on 14 November of the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, FDC, Dr. Kizza Besigye, along with 22 others, on treason and other serious charges. These concerns have been compounded by the manner in which Dr. Besigye and his co-accused have subsequently found themselves also facing similar charges before a military general court martial, at...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 100, 117, 187 and 220 together. As Deputies are aware, including from recent debates and information that I have circulated to all Members of the Oireachtas, the legislative debate in Washington D.C. has entered a critical phase. Various proposals are under consideration at present, of which the bills sponsored by Senators Kennedy and McCain and by...