Results 15,701-15,720 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the 18 months since former President Bertrand Aristide resigned and left Haiti in February 2004, the political situation in the country has remained volatile and insecure. The transitional government led by Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has had very limited success in stabilising the security situation in the country and the Haitian national police continues to struggle to maintain law...

Written Answers — Departmental Reviews: Departmental Reviews (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: A thorough review of departmental practice with regard to the use of the diplomatic bag for the transmission of correspondence to officers serving abroad was carried out by officials in my Department in late 2004 and early 2005. This included consideration of the practices in other countries. The review arose from the distribution on one occasion of generic election material to a number of...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The EU strongly supports the work of the quartet's special envoy for disengagement, the former chairman of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn. He is working with the parties to finalise an action plan for the economic revitalisation of Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli settlers and troops. He is also working to broker agreement on a border regime for Gaza and to ensure effective...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As I set out in my replies to Questions Nos. 603 of 28 September 2005 and 616 of 28 September 2005, I am aware of a recent media report that Martin Scheinin, the UN Commission on Human Rights special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, has been contacted by Irish citizens regarding allegations about the use of Irish...

Written Answers — EU Diplomatic Relations: EU Diplomatic Relations (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: To date, action plans under the European neighbourhood policy, ENP, have been agreed with Israel, Jordan, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Ukraine. Discussions on action plans with Egypt and Lebanon are continuing. It is hoped that it may be possible to conclude these before the end of 2005 but this depends on progress. The General Affairs and External Relations...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Sierra Leone has made major progress in the restoration of peace since the end of the civil war in 2002. The overall security situation is generally calm and stable. Presidential and parliamentary elections are planned for 2007. However, serious challenges remain, not least because of limited progress towards addressing the root causes of conflict such as corruption, weaknesses in governance,...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has observer status in the Western European Union, including in the assembly, and is not bound by any decisions or recommendations of the assembly, nor do its recommendations have any standing as regards the European Union. The Treaty on European Union provides for unanimity in regard to all decisions having security or defence implications.

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. Members of the Irish parliamentary delegation to the assembly of the Western European Union are appointed by the Oireachtas from among its Members. Neither I nor any other member of the Government has any function in the matter. Members of the delegation do not receive any mandate from the Government or any member of it, nor do they...

Written Answers — Foreign Political Developments: Foreign Political Developments (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: A period of political uncertainty in Ukraine in recent weeks appears to have come to an end with the appointment on 22 September of a new Prime Minister and subsequently a new Council of Ministers. Tensions in the previous Government came to a head when Presidential Chief of Staff Oleksandr Zinchenko resigned on 3 September, making serious allegations of corruption about those around...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The EU enlargement process provided the impetus for the most recent efforts towards a settlement, which were undertaken by the UN Secretary General in the first half of 2004, during Ireland's EU Presidency. Ireland, as President of the EU, maintained close contact with the various parties...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On Monday the General Affairs and External Relations Council approved a framework for negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the EU, enabling the accession negotiations to open shortly thereafter. I very much welcome this development. Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the EU since the Helsinki European Council in December 1999 which agreed that it was destined to join the...

Official Engagements. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach and I, along with the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Conor Lenihan, represented Ireland at the UN World Summit 2005 in New York from 14 September to 16 September. I was honoured to act on behalf of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, as one of five envoys helping to do the groundwork for a summit outcome that would reinforce the multilateral system and...

Official Engagements. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: If I had time to complete my reply, I would have dealt with the issue of non-proliferation. Both the Taoiseach and I referred in our separate addresses to the fact we were very disappointed about the lack of an outcome in respect of the NPT. At a previous review conference on the NPT some months ago, I addressed the General Assembly on behalf of Ireland and referred to the fact that the...

Arms Trade. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland fully supports strict controls on arms and is working within the European Union and at a number of international fora to develop such controls, including an international arms trade treaty, as referred to by the Deputy. There are too many examples of conflicts which are fuelled by the proliferation of conventional weapons. This is especially an issue of concern in Africa, where the...

Arms Trade. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Export control is primarily an issue for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which is exploring the issue of strengthening controls and legislation in that respect. On the question of whether Ireland is canvassing, I am vocal at all international fora and have been supportive of the proposal at recent EU meetings. While its need is acknowledged, most member states, not least...

Arms Trade. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I have raised the point made by the Deputy on what could only be termed hypocrisy in some of the statements on the issue of overseas development assistance from major countries which at the same time trade arms with developing countries. That is why Ireland can speak with some conviction with regard to our place in the world in this respect. I concur that a disproportionate trade exists in...

Arms Trade. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I cannot comment on that but we would be willing to investigate any matter which might break sanctions on Zimbabwe and to issue a condemnation if they are breached.

Human Rights Issues. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The situation remains as set out in my replies to several previous questions, most recently Questions Nos. 603 and 616 of 28 September 2005. I am aware a number of recent media reports repeating concerns about the alleged use of Shannon Airport by the US to transit prisoners to Guantanamo Bay and other locations. Although no concrete evidence of such use has been produced, I want to assure...

Human Rights Issues. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I can confirm that the Office of the Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights has been in contact with the Department to confirm that neither he nor anyone on his behalf is currently investigating or inquiring into this matter. He did that on the basis of media reports that appeared in the Irish media. His office got in touch with us to confirm that they were not in any way...

Human Rights Issues. (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I remind the Deputy that the multinational force is in Iraq with the authorisation of UN Security Council Resolution 1546 of June 2004, which called on states to support the efforts of the multinational force in Iraq. I am a democrat and accept the democratic voice in this regard. The 50 year practice in regard to the transiting of troops through Shannon Airport which has been used in...