Results 15,301-15,320 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It will be leased.

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Yes. They are in negotiations with the people involved.

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We now have an identifiable property.

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Now that we have the property, many more people will be willing to relocate to Limerick. The concept of DCI or the DCD going to Limerick is important. At a conference in Dublin some months ago, Mr. Richard Manning, who was the chair of the development assistance committee of the OECD, was asked this very question as to his attitude to the proposal to decentralise to Limerick. His reply was...

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: He thought that we needed to distinguish the very real problems and need for flexibility in the short term from the ability of any country to set up a world-class office anywhere at once these days.

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am delivering the truth.

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: No, the Deputy is wrong. I am not aware of whether the money has been transferred, but it has identified, and to all intents and purposes acquired, a property.

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I recall the famous case of Knock Airport, completely opposed by Deputy Allen's party, which said that it was on top of a boggy mountain. Today it is a great success, and they must answer to the people of Knock in that regard.

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I believe that no one is indispensable, and it is possible to run an organisation——

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——in Limerick, just as it is in Dublin.

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: That is where the Deputy and I differ. It is the case that, regarding the senior management team, none of the existing people has applied. However, there are ten principal officers from elsewhere in the public and Civil Service who are willing, meaning that there is plenty of scope. This will probably be one of the success stories, since we have now acquired a building, and a high proportion...

Decentralisation Programme. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: That is also an issue on which I will get back to the Deputy. I am not aware of that.

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government strongly opposes any use of chemical weapons, which is of course contrary to international law. We likewise strongly oppose the use of any conventional weapons in a manner contrary to international law. My concern on the issue was aroused by several media reports last month which alleged that weapons banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, CWC, had been used by US forces...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We raised with the OPCW the definition of white phosphorous and whether it was a chemical weapon. It confirmed that it was not since it did not fall within that convention's ambit. However, at the same time, I fully empathise with the Deputy's view regarding the use of such weapons in circumstances where civilians are involved. We raised this issue with the US Embassy. There were media...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I go on to say that they stated that forces in Iraq went to extreme lengths to ensure that everything possible was done to keep civilians out of harm's way. Regarding Falluja, I believe that there were in the region of 300,000 there.

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: After appeals to the civilian population to leave the area, approximately 30,000 people remained. It raises concerns regarding this issue, but when we first became aware of the use of phosphorous and the way in which it was used, we raised those issues with the US Embassy.

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We are going back over old ground in regard to the assurances about Shannon. We accept the same assurances that the Deputy accepted when he was a member of a Government——

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——in respect of the use of Shannon. That has been the case for 50 years.

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Regarding the use of Shannon and infringement of any——

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——international human rights, the Deputy was a member of a Government that accepted that.