Results 15,901-15,920 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — European Constitution: European Constitution (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has expressed its regret at the outcomes of the referendums in France and The Netherlands. Despite the fact that "No" votes had been predicted by most opinion polls, they were nevertheless disappointing. It has been apparent for some time that there is a degree of disconnection between the European Union and citizens in many member states. Clearly, this poses serious questions...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The protection of human rights and the promotion of equality is at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement. This was collectively affirmed by the parties in the commitment within the Agreement to "the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community". This included, in particular "the right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The EU integrated rule of law mission for Iraq — EUJUST LEX — was established by a Council joint action in March 2005 and aims to address the urgent requirements in the Iraqi criminal justice system through providing training for high and mid-level officials in senior management and criminal investigation. The aim of the training is to improve the capacity, co-ordination and collaboration...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As outlined in my response to a parliamentary question on 12 April 2005, I travelled to the United States from 11 to 18 March to represent the Government at St. Patrick's Day events in Boston before accompanying the Taoiseach to Washington. The cost of the visit, including transatlantic and internal transport and accommodation, will be approximately €50,000.

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The visa application to which the Deputy refers was received in the Department of Foreign Affairs on 15 April 2005 and referred to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for decision. The decision was received in my Department on 3 June, and the visa was immediately endorsed in the passport and forwarded, by registered post, with all the documents that had been submitted to the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Mr. Peter Hain MP was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the Westminster election in May. Shortly afterwards, I spoke to him by telephone to offer my congratulations and to arrange for an early meeting. On 18 May I met Mr. Hain in Dublin. This meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss the situation in Northern Ireland and to affirm our shared goal of securing...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. However, 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 Presidency of the EU. As a result of the referenda in Cyprus on 24 April 2004, the...

Written Answers — European Constitution: European Constitution (14 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together. Article I-41.6 of the European constitution provides for permanent structured co-operation among those member states whose military capabilities fulfil higher criteria and which have made more binding commitments to one another in this area with a view to the most demanding missions. Article III-312 sets out the procedures governing the...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 51 together. As stated on several previous occasions, the Government's position on the lifting of the EU arms embargo on arms sales to China is clear. We support the lifting of the embargo but we do not wish to see any increase in the quantity or quality of arms exports to China. Our position was set out by the Taoiseach during his visit to Beijing in...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The EU constitution puts in place a new arrangement, known as permanent structured co-operation, to enable those member states wishing to do so to commit to being able to undertake the most demanding crisis management missions. Structured co-operation is open to all member states, on the condition that they undertake to enhance their defence capacities through the development of national...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 22, 28, 31, 35, 39, 43, 57, 60, 93, 152, 158 to 160, inclusive, and 165 together. As regards the Government's overall reaction to the outcome of the French and Dutch referendums on the EU constitution, I refer Deputies to the response to Priority Questions Nos. 2 and 4. The question of a referendum in Denmark is for the Danish people and their Government....

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 49, 83 and 94 together. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT, which is the most universal of all of the multilateral instruments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, came into force in 1970. The treaty has been reviewed at five-year intervals to assess progress under its three pillars of disarmament, non-proliferation,...

Written Answers — Chernobyl Shelter Fund: Chernobyl Shelter Fund (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Chernobyl shelter fund was established as a multi-lateral funding mechanism to assist Ukraine in transforming an existing unsafe and hastily built shelter around the nuclear reactor destroyed in the accident at Chernobyl in 1986 into a safe and environmentally stable system. The fund is administered and managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EBRD, under the terms...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: At its meeting on 23 May, the External Relations Council expressed profound concern at developments in eastern Uzbekistan and deeply regretted the appalling loss of life following events in the town of Andijan on 13 May. The Council strongly condemned the reported use of force by the Uzbek security forces, which it characterised as "excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate." It urged...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Disasters: Humanitarian Disasters (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the context of examining the opportunities for better co-ordination and operational response to future disasters and humanitarian emergencies abroad, an interdepartmental audit of the assets and capacities available to Ireland is currently underway. This audit is intended to identify gaps and shortfalls in overall international capabilities at EU and UN level where Ireland might...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is the chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organisation, SUDO, a voluntary organisation created to promote sustainable development and human rights in Sudan. It is engaged in humanitarian activities in the Darfur region as well as in human rights education and development projects throughout Sudan. Dr. Mudawi was previously arrested on 24 January 2005 and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I remain very concerned at the continuing detention and treatment of Mr. Roy Bennett, the former MDC, Movement for Democratic Change, MP for the Chimanimani constituency in the Zimbabwean parliament who was sentenced by the Zimbabwean parliament last October to 12 months imprisonment for pushing the Zimbabwean Minister for Justice during a parliamentary debate, an offence which, if heard in...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 42 together. As joint guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, along with the British Government, we are committed to its full implementation. In the aftermath of the local and Westminster elections, I believe it is important to advance this vital project, to resolve the crisis of trust and confidence and move beyond the current political stalemate. The...

Written Answers — International Criminal Court: International Criminal Court (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The EU has been a consistent and strong supporter of the International Criminal Court, and has taken a leading role internationally in promoting the court. This position has been recognised in its common positions on the International Criminal Court, the most recent of which, of June 2003, commits the Union and its member states to support the effective functioning of the court, and to...

Written Answers — Inter-country Adoptions: Inter-country Adoptions (2 Jun 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 86 and 154 together. This is a most complex and highly sensitive case. The Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, outlined the case in detail to the House in recent weeks. I stress that from the beginning the Government has been actively engaged in seeking to find a solution to this difficult case. An embassy official was sent to the orphanage immediately after...