Results 15,401-15,420 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The following tables set out the number of personnel in my private and constituency offices, their grades and remuneration. Private Office. Grade/Position Number Remuneration Special Adviser (non-established) 1 Principal Officer scale €76,162 —€94,205 Personal Secretary (non-established) 1 Executive Officer (higher) scale €27,017 —€44,555 ...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (7 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: During my visit to the United States last week, I met the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, in Washington DC on 1 December. I raised with her the allegations that have been made regarding the rendition of prisoners and the use of Irish airports. The Secretary of State confirmed the assurances that we have previously received from the US authorities that prisoners have not been...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (7 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The 1999 Patten report recommended as part of the restructuring of policing in Northern Ireland that security work be integrated with the task of investigating crime. I am pleased to say that the independent oversight commissioner has expressed satisfaction at the manner in which this and other related changes have been put into effect. In this regard, the commissioner stated in his September...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (7 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the course of the negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement, political parties in Northern Ireland accepted the principles set out in the report of the international body chaired by Senator George Mitchell, including the commitment to democratic and exclusively peaceful means of resolving political disputes, as well as the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations. As...

Written Answers — Judicial Investigations: Judicial Investigations (6 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: This case continues to be monitored by my Department through the Irish Embassy in London. The embassy remains in contact with the person himself and with the prison authorities on his behalf. I am also aware that since his trial the person concerned has stated that he was pressured by his legal team on the day of his trial to change his earlier plea of innocent to one of guilty, and that he...

Written Answers — International Terrorism: International Terrorism (6 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Security threat assessments on the risk level to Ireland of terrorist attack are furnished by the Garda authorities at regular intervals to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who briefs the Government as appropriate. The Garda authorities maintain an up-to-date assessment of the threat of attack from international terrorist groupings through analysis of...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (6 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Departments with line responsibility for these matters — Finance and Justice, Equality and Law Reform — have been consulted. They have stated that they will consider any proposals made on this issue that are formally brought to their attention. It is my understanding that this has not been done to-date.

Written Answers — Traveller Community: Traveller Community (6 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There are no special service arrangements in place in the Department of Foreign Affairs for members of the Traveller community. I am not aware of any Traveller having experienced difficulties in accessing the services we provide.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Workplace regulations are currently either being finalised or advanced in regard to a number of areas of local staff conditions of employment. As mentioned in my reply of 18 October to the Deputy, the protections afforded by the Civil Service anti-harassment, sexual harassment and bullying policy, A Positive Working Environment, are being extended to all unestablished employees at diplomatic...

Leaders' Questions. (6 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte should watch his steps.

Written Answers — Overseas Armed Forces: Overseas Armed Forces (1 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Issues relating to the Portuguese armed forces are an internal matter for the Portuguese Government. I understand, however, that Portuguese law provides for the right of association for the members of the armed forces though it also allows for restrictions upon that right.

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Responsibility in this area is primarily a matter for the Department of Health and Children and the Adoption Board. The ambassador in Moscow, who is also accredited to Belarus, is available to help in every way possible. When I visited Minsk on 9 June 2005, in my role as envoy of the United Nations' Secretary General, I took the opportunity to raise with the Belarussian Minister for Foreign...

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish in the USA: Undocumented Irish in the USA (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of undocumented Irish people in the US is a matter of the highest priority for the Government. In all our contacts with US political leaders, including when the Taoiseach and I met with President Bush earlier in the year, we emphasise the importance of addressing the situation of this vulnerable section of our community in a positive and sympathetic way. In doing so, we recognise...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As set out in previous replies to parliamentary questions, most recently on 10 November 2005, the Government, together with its EU partners, is broadly supportive of the efforts of the Colombian Government to develop a peace process in that country. In that context, the European Union has consistently stressed the need for a negotiated peace settlement in Colombia and has called for illegal...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The situation remains as set out in my replies to several previous questions, most recently Question No. 374 of 22 November 2005. The Government has on many occasions made clear to the US authorities that it would be illegal to transit prisoners for rendition purposes through Irish territory without the express permission of the Irish authorities, acting in accordance with Irish and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. I am aware of the report entitled An Act of Free Choice, published in the Netherlands on 15 November by the Institute of Netherlands History. The overall position is that members of the European Union accept that Papua forms part of Indonesia. The Dutch Government, for instance, in responding to the report in the Netherlands' Parliament,...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: One of the core objectives of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens who live or travel abroad. The main consular services provided by our embassies and consulates abroad are as follows: issuing emergency passports, assisting victims of serious accidents, illnesses or crime, assisting people detained, arrested or imprisoned abroad, transferring...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Embassy in Madrid was informed on 9 August 2005 of the tragic death of a person in Ibiza and subsequently assisted the family with the repatriation of the remains. Officials from the embassy liaised directly with the police investigating the death, as well as the pathologist, the undertakers, the court and the doctors who had treated the deceased. The autopsy report has been...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. The person concerned was arrested and taken into custody on 20 November 2005 on a number of immigration related charges. Following a court appearance on 22 November 2005, he was released on bail pending his hearing which has not yet been scheduled. The Irish Consulate in Boston has been in contact with him and will be monitoring the case closely.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, chairs the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on European Union affairs. A key function of the committee is to monitor the transposition of EU legislation by Ireland and any infringement proceedings taken against Ireland by the European Commission. The committee is engaged in discussions on the further strengthening of national...