Results 16,101-16,120 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — US Visas: US Visas (26 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The number of Irish people who may be resident in the United States without the appropriate authorisation is difficult to estimate. I do not know how the Deputy arrived at the figure he cites. While the US authorities estimate that the number may have declined to 3,000 in 2000, many of the organisations working with our emigrants would regard this as a low estimate. No one, however, is in a...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (26 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 to 271, inclusive, together. In response to a long-standing invitation, I visited South Down, my neighbouring constituency, on 11 April. I fulfilled several engagements with the sitting MP, including a visit to a regeneration project in Castlewellan and a meeting with members of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum in Warrenpoint town hall. As regards other...

Written Answers — UN Missions: UN Missions (26 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The outbreak of ethnically-motivated violence in March 2004 was a serious setback to the work of building a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo. In a series of attacks across Kosovo on 17 March, 19 people were killed and widespread damage was caused to homes and other property, most of which were owned by members of the Kosovo Serb community. I am aware of criticism by Amnesty International on the...

Written Answers — Parental Leave Provisions: Parental Leave Provisions (21 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There are no public bodies under the aegis of my Department. All staff in my Department are covered by the arrangements for maternity leave applying to civil servants generally, the particulars of which are determined by the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Public Capital Programme: Public Capital Programme (21 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 125, inclusive, together. My Department has not been responsible for overseeing any infrastructure programmes, under the public capital programme or otherwise, over the past seven years. The question of meetings or advice in relation to such projects does not, therefore, arise.

Written Answers — Public Capital Programme: Public Capital Programme (21 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: While my Department has no projects under the public capital programme and has no infrastructure projects in hand, it has had, over the past five years to end 2004, a capital budget allocation of €20.4 million. These funds were used to purchase official residences as well as to provide for major maintenance, refurbishment, up-grading and fitting out at Irish diplomatic missions throughout...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 199, inclusive, together. The Government has not yet taken a decision on the timing of the referendum on the European constitution. It will be held either later this year or next year, to allow for the completion in good time of the ratification process by the target date of 1 November 2006. The necessary preparations are under way. Specifically, the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. The following tables set out the names of contract staff employed by me and by the Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, their functions and payscale and details of travel and subsistence expenses paid to them in 2004. All staff are contracted under terms and conditions of employment set by the Minister for Finance and...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The incident to which the Deputy refers has been raised through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast. The British Government has informed us that the incident in question involved a number of youths who climbed through a gap in the fence of Hazelwood school and then threw stones into Old Throne Park. The police came to the scene and noted the details of several...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government consistently raises its concerns at sectarian attacks through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast, at the regular meetings of the Intergovernmental Conference and at the frequent meetings between senior Ministers on both sides. At official level, we recently discussed incidents in Larne, Belfast and Derry with the authorities in Northern Ireland, with a...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Czech authorities have confirmed that Irish citizens have only to present a valid travel document when entering the Czech Republic and that there is no restriction regarding the length of validity of the passport. This change has been in place since the 1 May 2004 and is in line with the requirements of other EU states.

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The State agencies operating in Irish diplomatic missions are listed in the following table. The total operational costs given are for the year 2004 and include chancery costs. The State agencies' share of this cost is provided. Operational costs are taken to mean rent, rates, heating, lighting, cleaning, common charges, etc. It does not include salary, telephone or information technology...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: A total of 17 official residences, seven chanceries and three combined chancery-residence premises are owned by the State. The full list is shown in annex 1. The list of diplomatic premises rented abroad is given in annex 2. It is the policy of my Department to purchase representational offices and official residences abroad where resources allow and where market conditions and value for...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. There are six Irish Embassies in Europe with a staffing contingent made up of an ambassador, a first secretary, a third secretary and support staff. These embassies are located in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands and Turkey. The average operating cost for these missions in 2004 was €1,002,966.90. Expenditure incurred...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I fully appreciate that the closure of the section of Cannings Lane, off Coney Road, which lies in Northern Ireland, continues to be a matter of concern to the people of Muff, County Donegal, as it is to the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, my Department has raised this matter on numerous occasions with the relevant Northern Ireland authorities, and with the British Government through the...

Written Answers — Immigration Issues: Immigration Issues (19 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The circumstances of undocumented Irish people in the US are raised on an ongoing basis in our bilateral contacts with US political leaders. Most recently, the issue was raised when the Taoiseach and I met President Bush on St. Patrick's Day. During our meeting, the President re-affirmed his commitment to work with Congress on immigration reform. The Taoiseach and I very much welcomed this...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (19 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the recent disturbing reports on the conditions in which Roma families are living in the village of Zitkovac in northern Kosovo, and of concerns about the effect on their health of emissions from a toxic waste dump in the area. The OSCE reports that some 25% of the population of the wider municipality of Zvecan are internally displaced persons from the 1999 conflict. These...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (14 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of media reports that Mr. Luis Posada Carriles has recently entered the United States and that a lawyer acting on his behalf has stated that he is seeking asylum there. Such an asylum application is a matter for the US authorities, and it would not be appropriate for me to raise the matter with either these authorities or with the United Nations.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government's primary concern is to ensure that the new chief commissioner of the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland, who is expected to take office on 1 August 2005, has the required leadership, strategic and representational skills to chair one of the important institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. The quality and calibre of the prospective appointee will, therefore, be...

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

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, my Department has provided all appropriate consular assistance to the three men concerned. The position is that they each received sentences and fines as part of the decision made on appeal by the Colombian courts on 16 December 2004. However, I understand the legal process is not yet exhausted and that the defence is entitled to a further appeal to the Colombian...