Results 15,881-15,900 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (23 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I have recently approved the appointment of a new honorary consul in Ecuador. However, before an appointment can be confirmed, the agreement of the Ecuadorian authorities must be obtained. Once this has been received I will proceed with the appointment. Pending finalisation of the appointment, Irish citizens in Ecuador may seek consular assistance from the embassy of any other EU member state...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The cost incurred by my Department in 2001 related to the first referendum on the Nice treaty was €2,368,000 of which €1,644,000 was spent by the Referendum Commission. The balance of the cost was incurred in relation to the production of information materials. The cost incurred by my Department in 2002 related to the second referendum on the Nice treaty was €4,821,000 of which...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (23 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, there are a large number of international agreements, including UN conventions, covering a very wide range of subjects and falling within the functional responsibility of a large number of Departments and offices. The Government must consider on an ongoing basis the desirability of Ireland signing or becoming party to those agreements which it has not already...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (23 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The person in question was deported from Boston to Ireland on 15 March 2005. The previous month the US Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, BICE, requested a travel document for this person from the consulate in Boston to facilitate his deportation. When submitting the request, BICE included a photocopy of an expired passport which had been issued by...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not currently have any outstanding EU directives to be transposed into Irish law.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (22 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the time available, it is not possible to provide a full list of all the reports published by the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to date. Details of the reports on which information is available is set out below. A full list of reports with the details requested will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. Reports Published by the Department of Foreign Affairs since...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (21 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has, on a number of occasions, made known its concerns to the US Government regarding the treatment and status of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. I reiterated these concerns at meetings with the US National Security Adviser, Steven Hadley, and Deputy Secretary of State, Robert Zoellick, in Washington on 16 March. The United States is well aware of the Government's view...

Written Answers — Irish Emigrants: Irish Emigrants (21 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I particularly appreciate the Deputy's interest in the immigration issue in Washington. That issue, and particularly the question of our undocumented people, has the highest priority for the Government. In addition to the ongoing work of the Irish Embassy and the consulates in sensitising opinion in the US Congress to our concerns, the Government misses no opportunity to raise the matter in...

European Council Meetings: Statements. (21 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There was a distinct lack of leadership on Friday and Saturday by the main players in the EU and, as the Taoiseach stated, it was a sad occasion. I attended some long sessions, particularly of the Fisheries Council, and it is not often that Ireland returns from a long session without some satisfaction at a fair result, but on this occasion we returned with heavy hearts because of the lack of...

European Council Meetings: Statements. (21 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In Deputy Quinn's earlier contribution he asked whether it was anticipated that movement on the financial perspectives would be made during the UK Presidency as opposed to the Austrian Presidency, but we honestly do not know. Tony Blair seemed very content that a decision would not be made during the Luxembourg Presidency. From what he said yesterday, he may well have some plans on this but...

European Council Meetings: Statements. (21 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Regarding Deputy Ó Snodaigh's question on asking the French and Dutch to vote again, we made the point strongly that it was agreed a year ago that every country would endeavour to ratify the constitution over a period and that by 1 November 2006 we would take stock of the situation. No final date was set by which everyone had to ratify the constitution. We said we would take stock of the...

European Council Meetings: Statements. (21 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——by 1 November 2006. On the question of the Referendum Commission, we said we would not propose to engage the Referendum Commission until such time as we are happy in the knowledge that we will proceed with a referendum on the constitution. On Deputy Naughten's query about proposals made by the Commission, that is a matter for the Commission. It will make proposals on all aspects of...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has responsibility for Vote 28, foreign affairs, and Vote 29, international co-operation. The budget allocation, outturn and surplus surrendered to the Exchequer for Vote 28, formerly Vote 38 prior to 2004, for the years 1997 to 2004 is as follows: Year Vote allocation (000s) Outturn (000s) Surplus surrendered (000s) 1997 £59,835(€75,975) ...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (16 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On 1 November 2001, the Colombian Ministry for Foreign Affairs notified the Department of Foreign Affairs that Irish nationals travelling to Colombia, including those travelling as tourists, would henceforth require a visitor's visa. Colombian nationals travelling to Ireland also require a visa to enter this country. I am not aware of any changes in visa requirements since 2001.

Order of Business. (16 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I thought Deputy Ring had left Fine Gael.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (15 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Based on the information available to me, I am satisfied that no person who is disqualified from holding a directorship of a private company is currently a member of any State board under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Foreign Military Aircraft: Foreign Military Aircraft (15 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 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 conditions including that the foreign military aircraft is unarmed, and not carrying arms, ammunition or explosives. It should be noted that these conditions are...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The total amount spent by the Department of Foreign Affairs on courier services over the last five years is as follows: Year Expenditure on Courier Services (including diplomatic freight) (€) 2000 447,314.75 2001 534,788.01 2002 622,059.70 2003 557,432.57 2004 572,613.34 Diplomatic bag and freight services to and from our network of 69 missions account for...

Written Answers — British Government Honours List: British Government Honours List (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Article 40.2.2° of the Constitution states that "No title of nobility or of honour may be accepted by any citizen except with the prior approval of the Government". The interpretation by the Office of the Attorney General of this article has been that a title is an award that entitles the recipient to use a prefix such as "Sir" or "Lord" before his or her name. An award which provides for...

Written Answers — International Conventions: International Conventions (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to replies to parliamentary questions on 2 February, 22 March, 27 April and 28 April 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 international law. The US...