Results 16,261-16,280 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Diplomatic Representation. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I do not accept these were ill-judged decisions. In Burma's case, it was decided on the basis that it was indicated that Aung San Suu Kyi would be released and her party would be allowed to participate in the Burmese national convention. However, this did not happen. This decision was made in the context of Ireland's EU Presidency term. We could not look at it in a bilateral context. We had...

Diplomatic Representation. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Last week, some of my officials spoke with Chinese authorities about the influence they may be able to bring to this.

Diplomatic Representation. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Constant efforts at engagement have been made through the EU and whatever influence we have with neighbouring states in the region. Burma is in a pivotal situation and must be dealt with in a delicate way. Every other fora, such as the ASEAN conference, is used to get our point across. It is accepted that the Burmese authorities have refused all overtures, not only those of Ireland but of...

Emigrant Support Services. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is determined to continue developing and enhancing Ireland's relationship with our emigrant communities. Key advancements already achieved include the establishment of an Irish abroad unit within my Department and the significant increase in funding secured for emigrant services this year. The Irish abroad unit continues to make progress in this important area of national...

Emigrant Support Services. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish abroad unit has worked intensely with several groups considering renewing their premises. Financial assistance in this respect will be examined. Most local authorities in the UK are very receptive to assisting the Irish associations because, generally speaking, they must deal not only with Irish people but with other ethnic communities, which I think the Deputy saw. There are issues...

Emigrant Support Services. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In regard to commissioning or buying in programmes, one must have a platform, and obviously the platform would have to run on a commercial basis. I do not see anyone knocking on our door to provide services in the UK for Irish people. It is a very complex issue. Perhaps with changing technology and with the television without frontiers directive, it might be possible for RTE to do something...

Nuclear Weapons Programme. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 135 together. The issue of the nuclear programme of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, is kept under close and regular scrutiny within the European Union. The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, has the responsibility of carrying out inspections of nuclear and related facilities under the safeguards agreements which are mandatory for...

Nuclear Weapons Programme. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It is accepted that the authorities in the DPRK have difficulties regarding the participation of the US in the six-party talks. Regarding Iran, the talks are led by three countries of the EU and the US is supporting the talks and the diplomatic efforts in that respect. That situation is moving along fruitfully. The DPRK situation is somewhat different and more worrying. Talks are taking...

Nuclear Weapons Programme. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Yes.

Nuclear Weapons Programme. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I disagree with the Deputy's "head in the sand" philosophy. There are parameters with which any normal nation must concur. However, I concur with the decision to open diplomatic relations with countries such as Burma and the DPRK on our own terms.

Nuclear Weapons Programme. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We had the Presidency of the EU and in that role we had a duty. Perhaps some day the Deputy will have that opportunity, although it will be 2030 and he may be retired by then or Fine Gael may not be in power.

Nuclear Weapons Programme. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: When a country has the Presidency of the EU it must be able to deal on a one-to-one basis with countries outside its normal sphere of interests. It was decided that it would be better to have diplomatic relations with Burma and the DPRK. When our ambassador to North Korea, who is non-residential and operates from Seoul, met the DPRK authorities he made all the relevant points on issues such...

Nuclear Weapons Programme. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In view of the indications previously given by the Burmese authorities regarding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the participation of her party in the National Convention of Burma, and given that we were going to set up relations which would have been of mutual benefit to both countries, what better way is there of getting our point across on the issues in question than by not proceeding...

Northern Ireland Issues. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, I have pursued both of these issues to the greatest extent possible and appropriate. Raising them again with the British side would not advance either in the absence of further developments of which there have been none. Accordingly, neither of the two matters referred to by the Deputy were raised at the meeting on 1 February 2005.

Northern Ireland Issues. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My officials spoke to Mr. Doherty's solicitor following his imprisonment and were told he would prefer to serve his sentence than have someone intercede on his behalf. My officials met a number of other people in this regard. While there have been fairly serious misgivings about the matter in Derry, it is within the remit of the tribunal and is not one in which we can intervene. The matter of...

Northern Ireland Issues. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I did not say we did not raise it since September, I said we first raised it in September. On 16 January The Sunday Times reported, as the Deputy said, that the head of MI5 had admitted that British intelligence agents had bugged the building in the fashion he has stated. That matter was again raised with the British authorities through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat. They...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It is a 160 page report.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government must read the report.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There is such a thing as collective responsibility.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Mar 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Hear, hear.