Results 15,341-15,360 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I do not disagree with what the Deputy says. I would not like us to use white phosphorous in any shape or form. I can only speak for Ireland. I am not, in effect, defending the use of white phosphorous. Neither is the Government. Obviously we would be very concerned if it was used in any circumstances where it was in contravention of any of the conventions. However, strictly speaking, as...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Strictly speaking, from a legal viewpoint, it is not defined as a chemical weapon. Again, I am not sure what it was used for at Fallujah. However, it is suggested that it was used to illuminate. I heard what the Deputy said and I am not an expert on this. However, when we raised this with the US Embassy, it was categoric in so far as it could be, that it was not used against the civilian...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I will not meet him for Christmas drinks. As regards whether he attends a meeting of the committee, that is entirely a matter for himself.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland welcomed the decisions at the UN world summit in New York to establish a human rights council and to double the resources of the High Commissioner for Human Rights from the UN regular budget over the next five years. During my recent visit to New York, I conveyed directly to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, and Jan Eliasson, President of the General Assembly, Ireland's continued...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My Department supports organisations in the voluntary sector that are engaged in the delivery of advice and support services to vulnerable Irish people living abroad. Most of my Department's expenditure is disbursed in grants from the DION fund, through which we support services of benefit to our community in Britain who may be at risk of social exclusion. Since 2001, DION grants have been...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation deals with civil aircraft and hence its implementation in Ireland falls primarily within the area of responsibility of the Minister for Transport. The convention provides that state aircraft, which it defines as those used in military, customs and police services, are not covered by the convention and that such aircraft may not...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration of the personnel in the private and constituency offices of the two Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. This table pertains to the private office of the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan: Grade or position Number Remuneration Private secretary 1 Executive...

Written Answers — Ireland-China Relations: Ireland-China Relations (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government places considerable importance on the development of our relations with China. Since the launch of the Asia strategy in 1999, following the success of the first official visit by the Taoiseach to China in 1998, our links and exchanges with China have developed greatly. Educational, cultural and interpersonal links have all grown. Chinese students have been welcomed to Ireland...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I travelled to the United States from 29 November 2005, returning on the morning of 2 December 2005, during which visit I attended meetings in New York and Washington, DC. On 30 November, at the United Nations in New York, I met the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, and the President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Jan Eliasson of Sweden. I reviewed with them progress in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The 2006 Estimate for the Department of Foreign Affairs consists of two Votes, that is, €186.6 million for Vote 28, Foreign Affairs, and €600 million for Vote 29, International Co-operation or overseas development assistance. The allocation provided for Vote 29 represents an increase of €129 million or 27% on the 2005 level and is the highest increase in the 31 year history of the aid...

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Jim O'Keeffe defended them.

Order of Business. (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Can we get on with the business of the House?

Order of Business. (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It is far from Standing Orders the Deputy was raised.

Order of Business. (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It is nice to see the Deputies raising salient rulings.

Order of Business. (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Sinn Féin Deputies are great defenders.

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: What about Jean McConville?

Chief Executive of Centre for Public Inquiry: Statement by Minister. (13 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy asked the question. He got the answer.

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (8 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Policy with respect to landings by foreign military aircraft is based on the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952. This gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs discretion in the granting of permission to foreign military aircraft to overfly or land in the State. Permission is normally granted on certain conditions, such as that the aircraft is unarmed, is not carrying arms,...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I had a long speech from the Department on the budget, mainly dealing with the Department of Foreign Affairs covering passports, biometrics and all the money involved in the Estimates etc. It also dealt with decentralisation and overseas development aid. However, having listened to Deputy Broughan who was his party's spokesperson on social welfare when I was Minister in that area, I decided...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed). (8 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Since the previous Government came to office, we have trebled overseas development aid and the increase this year alone is more than the allocation under the Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left Government in the budget for 1997.