Results 15,421-15,440 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, announced in December 2003, the development co-operation directorate, DCD, of the Department of Foreign Affairs, currently based in Dublin, is scheduled to decentralise to Limerick. This will involve the relocation of 123 posts and is scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2007. Already, a total of 28 posts in the directorate,...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I met the Secretary of State, Mr. Peter Hain, in Dublin on 19 October when we jointly chaired a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. At that meeting, the Secretary of State and I underlined our determination to work with the political parties to continue to restore trust and confidence and to rebuild political momentum in the peace process. In that context, we indicated...

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

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has maintained a resident mission in Lesotho since an aid office was opened there in 1978. The status of the office was subsequently changed to a Consulate General. The role and responsibility of the Consulate General is to oversee and manage the implementation of the aid programme in Lesotho, which is the Government's longest running programme. In the context of diplomatic changes...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the past six months, my Department has not undertaken any projects which, in accordance with the Department of Finance Guidelines for the Appraisal and Management of Capital Expenditure Proposals in the Public Sector, would have required the carrying out of a detailed cost benefit analysis.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department occasionally re-employs, on a temporary basis, a small number of former officers, including some who have retired, in order to meet short-term needs and exceptional work demands. Examples of such demands are special tasks for the EU Presidencies, for specialised UN-related work such as the law of the sea, and for archival scanning and research. The number of former employees...

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: How will Fine Gael be able to go into government with the Labour Party?

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: That was a very interesting contribution which illustrates the complete divergence of views between Fine Gael and the Labour Party, not to mention the Green Party——

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——regarding the monopoly of Dublin Bus.

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I will not take lectures from Deputy Mitchell on the west. It was her own party colleague and namesake, the late Deputy Jim Mitchell, who referred to Knock Airport as a foggy boggy mountain which would not be a success. I will not accept any questioning of our commitment to the west regarding Shannon Airport.

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In approaching the Estimates process I wished to secure funding that would allow us to promote Ireland's political, economic and humanitarian interests in the European Union and the wider world; to advance the process of securing peace, reconciliation and partnership on the island of Ireland; and to protect the interests of Irish citizens abroad. I am pleased to say the achievement of all...

European Union: Statements (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Even though the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, will wind up at the end of the debate, I wish to make some remarks in response to some of the issues raised by the Deputies. Deputy Allen spoke about Iran and its nuclear capability. Ireland has full confidence in the EU three in this matter. As I have previously said at meetings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs, we are...

European Union: Statements (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy was part of the convention. It was agreed that we would endeavour to ratify and return later if any countries had not ratified. We need to allow the period of reflection and positive engagement which were the words that Ireland suggested at the meeting to discuss this issue.

European Union: Statements (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I will concentrate on a number of issues which occupy the attention of foreign ministers at the moment. While the Union can readily function without a constitution for some time to come, which is accepted, having adequate financial resources is an immediate and indispensable requirement. The EU's current annual budget is in the region of €100 billion which, although a very large amount of...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1990, and it entered into force on 1 July 2003, following ratification by the requisite number of states, 20. The convention has been open for signature and ratification since December 1990. However, to date only 34 states have ratified it. No European Union member state has as yet signed or ratified the convention, nor has any...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 369 and 370 together. Neither Minister of State has a press office. One press office serves the whole of the Department of Foreign Affairs. However, there is also a publicity and information officer attached to the Department's development co-operation directorate who manages the development co-operation Ireland public information policy and strategy. This...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (22 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has significantly enhanced the passport service available to citizens in Northern Ireland in recent years. This was achieved through the establishment in March 2003, initially on a pilot basis, of a passport express service operating from five post offices. The service has proved to be very successful and was extended to 40 post offices in April 2003. From January 2006, I...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The accompanying 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 €75,036-€92,813 Personal Secretary (non-established) 1 Executive Officer (higher) scale €26,618-€43,897 Private...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government and all of its EU partners maintain friendly relations with the Palestinian Authority. We have regular contact with the authority at political and official level. It is the view of the Government that a Palestinian state has not been established under international law. The Palestinian Authority established a delegation general in Ireland in 1993 and the Government established...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (22 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The situation remains as set out in my replies to several previous questions, most recently Nos. 2 and 43 of 10 November 2005. The Government has, on several 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 — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (22 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The chairperson of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on European Union affairs, ICCEUA, is my colleague Deputy Noel Treacy, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Taoiseach, with special responsibility for European affairs.