Results 15,321-15,340 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am glad the Deputy clarified that.

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: If the Deputy asks a question he should let me finish. I will not take double standards from the likes of Deputy Higgins, depending on the side of the House he sits on.

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We are not——

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We have made it clear that——

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Higgins, we have made it clear that we condemn extraordinary rendition and we will not allow this State to be party to it.

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We have said that and we have also said that we are against the use of chemical weapons in conflicts such as that in Iraq. Regarding the question the Deputy asked, we have raised the issue of the use of white phosphorous in the only way we can — with the United States through our diplomatic channels, and they have said clearly that they have not used white phosphorous specifically against...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 45, 48, 53, 56, 82, 85, 90, 110, 114, 210 and 221 together. The Government is completely opposed to the practice of so-called extraordinary rendition, whereby prisoners are transported from one jurisdiction to another contrary to international law and without recourse to the normal judicial checks and balances that attend the legitimate transfer of...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Absolutely not. The DPP has to implement the laws as laid down by the Oireachtas. On the issue of our special relationship with the US, people here accept that given America's emphasis on Ireland concerning all matters, not least the peace process on which an inordinate amount of time and effort was spent by US politicians and Administrations of all creeds to help Ireland, when they give us...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: This is because it boils down to actual knowledge. When these airplanes came through Ireland, we had no actual knowledge regarding this matter and any investigation into it. According to the European Court of Human Rights, substantial proof was needed, of which there is none. This question concerns rendition flights, although the Deputy's argument veers between them and black sites. Human...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I defer to Deputy Ó Snodaigh's experience and knowledge of Garda investigations, which probably surpass mine. As I understand it, the gardaí must have a reasonable suspicion before they can enter a premises. We cannot direct the gardaí with regard to this matter but it is obvious that they do not have a reasonable suspicion that crimes are being committed on these aircraft. They probably...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am even reluctant to try to understand his perspective. However, Deputy Ó Snodaigh and the rest of Sinn Féin do not use such anti-American rhetoric when they visit the US or when Gerry Adams, MLA, appears in a video aimed at his friends in the US.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On their next visit to the US or when they appear in videos aimed at a US audience, Deputy Ó Snodaigh and his colleagues might inform their hosts about the type of questions the Deputy asked me today.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The situation regarding these aircraft is historical. There is nothing we can do about it. They passed through our State and based on the assurances that we were given, no investigation was carried out into what might or might not have been on them. In recent times, nothing has been brought to our attention about the use of Shannon by similar planes. It is a fact that CIA planes have been...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy has no evidence and he also has an agenda. He was one of the Deputies who condoned the attack on aircraft in Shannon, something which no member of any democratic society should do. He can correct me if I am wrong.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: No, but the Deputy did.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Perhaps the reports are different.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Of course I do not. Does the Deputy condone the damage to planes in Shannon?

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We are not standing idly by. We have raised the issue at every available forum. I have raised it umpteen times at EU meetings. I raised it with the Finnish Government so that the EU Presidency would raise it with US authorities, which it did in a public way. The Presidency raised the issue of what are known as "black sites", as well as the issue of rendition. I made it clear that the Irish...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: No one would want anything to happen that would subsequently be termed a mistake. My dealings with Ms Condoleezza Rice were categoric on the use of Ireland's airspace or otherwise for rendition purposes. We were given clear assurances at that meeting and at the US Embassy in Dublin and our embassy in Washington. On each occasion, we raised all the reports to which the Deputies have referred...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the reply I have just given to the priority question on this issue. There have been several recent media reports expressing concern over the reported use of white phosphorus and suggesting that its use was in breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The question of whether white phosphorus is a chemical weapon is important since such weapons are regarded as weapons of...