Results 15,601-15,620 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: One of the key objectives of the training and development strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to foster a culture of continuous learning within the Department to help staff develop the competencies necessary to perform to the best of their ability. In addition to the provision of classroom style and, in some cases, individualised training courses, the Department also operates a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: One of the key objectives of the training and development strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to foster a culture of continuous learning within the Department to help staff develop the competencies necessary to perform to the best of their ability. In addition to the provision of classroom style and, in some cases, individualised training courses, the Department also operates a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs only supplies briefcases to staff of assistant secretary grade or above at headquarters. Departmental practice currently allows expenditure of up to a maximum of €100 on any one briefcase. As an indication of the level of expenditure involved, the Department purchased briefcases for two members of staff at headquarters, at a cost of €80.72 each, in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has provided a total of 19 personal digital assistants to staff since 2001. The cost of personal digital assistants is as follows: Year â'¬ 2001 1,461 2002 2,228 2003 0 2004 0 2005 6,211 Total 9,900 The most expensive personal digital assistant provided to a member of staff was €1,461, paid in 2001. The Department does not issue...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: No such cases have arisen in the Department of Foreign Affairs in recent years.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 468 to 470, inclusive, together. The Government's position on Burma is clear. As I said on previous occasions, most recently in response to a series of parliamentary questions on 6 October, the Government's continuing goal, and that of the EU, remains the return of democracy to Burma, an end to human rights violations, the release and restoration of liberty to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has paid the following amounts to the Gartner Group: Year â'¬ 2000 0.00 2001 0.00 2002 5,082.00 2003 10,164.00 2004 17,581.30 2005 14,278.00 The Department has taken a subscription to Gartner's online technology research database, which includes the periodic supply by CD of technology articles of interest to the Department. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the period referred to by the Deputy, no payments were made by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the relevant consultancy company.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473 to 477, inclusive, together. Ireland monitors the human rights situation in Haiti along with our partners in the European Union. In this context, Ireland supported the statement made by the European Union to the United Nations Security Council on 13 May 2005. This statement reiterates our concerns regarding the continuing human rights abuses in Haiti and...

Leaders' Questions. (18 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am not smiling.

Written Answers — Migrant Workers Rights: Migrant Workers Rights (13 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As stated in my reply on the last occasion this matter was raised with me in May of this year, Ireland is not a signatory to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. 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...

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

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has consistently supported the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. The Government played a prominent role in seeking a solution to the Western Sahara dispute during Ireland's term on the UN Security Council. Security Council Resolution 1495 of July 2003 recommended the acceptance by all sides of the Baker II plan. The plan proposes a transitional period of four to five...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28, Foreign Affairs, and Vote 29, International Co-operation. The Department commissions consultancies where specialised knowledge and-or skills are not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of the Development Co-operation Ireland, DCI, programme, where an independent evaluation of programmes and...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (12 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland currently has diplomatic relations with Cuba on a non-residential basis. The Irish Ambassador to Mexico is also accredited to Cuba. The opening of Irish missions abroad and the appointment of resident ambassadors is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. As the Deputy will appreciate, constraints on Government expenditure and limited resources mean that any expansion of our...

Written Answers — Town Twinning Programmes: Town Twinning Programmes (12 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Under the terms of the Local Government Act 2001, the decision to twin a local authority area, or part of a local authority area, is a decision for the elected members of that authority. The Department of Foreign Affairs does not have any formal role in town or area twinning and no specific funding has been allocated by the Department for such programmes. Our missions abroad do, from time to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I, personally, do not have any hand, act or part in the process or decision in the above-mentioned matter. This is a matter for the accounting officer of my Department. Two schemes involving annual performance-related pay and biannual merit awards are in operation in the Department of Foreign Affairs. These are the scheme of performance-related pay awards for officers at the level of deputy...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: During the period referred to by the Deputy, five consultancies were carried out by Deloitte & Touche. All of these consultancies related to Ireland Aid and details are set out below. Year Purpose Cost (€) 2000 Review of Ireland Aid Procurement Procedures (March-June 2000) 57,083.09 2000 Quality Review of the Evaluation and Audit Unit within Ireland Aid (Dec 2000-Feb 2001)...

Leaders' Questions. (12 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: What happened when the Opposition was on these benches?

Leaders' Questions. (12 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: To which party does Deputy Ring belong? Has he joined the Labour Party?

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Regarding the tragic and shocking killing of the person in question, the Government extended its condolences to the family at the time and pledged to assist them as far as possible in dealing with this traumatic and distressing experience. Since the killing, my Department has sought to assist his widow and family in as understanding and sensitive a way as possible. This assistance has related...