Results 16,381-16,400 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the context of the European security and defence policy, ESDP, the Union is increasing its ability to contribute to both the civilian and military dimensions of crisis management. There is great value in the comparative advantage of the EU in this area, given the Union's unique range of "soft power" instruments to utilise for conflict prevention, crisis management and peace promotion...

Written Answers — Iraqi Elections: Iraqi Elections (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 97 today.

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Immigration controls and procedures are a highly sensitive issue in the United States, particularly since the tragic events of 11 September 2001. We can anticipate a vigorous debate in the US Congress on any measures proposed to regularise the circumstances of undocumented people. The number of Irish people who may be resident in the United States without the appropriate authorisation is...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 243 together. A major challenge for the EU is to ensure that it is able to respond rapidly and flexibly to crisis situations overseas. In this context the Union is taking forward the development of both civilian and military capabilities. The battlegroups-rapid response elements concept has been under development in the European Union for some time....

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Where a person's birth in Ireland has not been registered, there is a late registration procedure where this may be regularised through the General Register Office, Joyce House, 8-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2. This will enable the person to acquire a birth certificate which can be used to apply for a passport. In exceptional circumstances, if the person has urgent travel plans and there...

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The battlegroups-rapid response elements concept is one that has been under development in the European Union for some time. From the outset of the establishment of the European Security and Defence Policy in 1999, it has been envisaged that, to carry out the full range of so-called Petersberg tasks, the EU's crisis management capabilities would need to include rapid response elements,...

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I must say as a preamble, I was intrigued by the discussion that took place this morning at the European Council meeting. On the one hand, the Deputy appears entirely wedded to the triple lock while, on the other, his potential rainbow coalition partner is totally at variance with this view. I am not sure about the Labour Party.

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I would be very interested to hear about the negotiations on a Mullingar accord or a Dublin 4 accord.

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am not asking questions; I am just making a point. I am entitled to make a point. It is a very interesting point, something the Deputy should articulate at some stage. While Deputy Kenny said recently that it is not the time to air the policies of the alternative Government, I would be intrigued to hear the Deputy's views on that issue.

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Most of the discussions with my Swedish and Finnish counterparts were not about battlegroups, they were about the civilian response in the aftermath of the tsunami. After expressing my sympathy, particularly to the Swedish people, most of the discussion involved trying to examine the need for the EU to be prepared, from a civilian point of view, to deal with this concept and, if necessary, to...

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It is the wish of the Irish people that——

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——our troops should be involved in humanitarian assistance worldwide. They expect the Army to be used in a positive way in that sense. They also want to be sure that if the Army goes abroad, it is with a UN mandate, the mandate of an organisation to which they adhere. There are issues in regard to our troops going abroad on such missions as battlegroups and rapid response forces. One of...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The contingency fund was intended to cover disasters.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 94, 135, 163, 236 and 239 together. On 4 January, the Taoiseach and I met several aid agencies to discuss the tsunami disaster in south Asia. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for an exchange of views on the situation in the region and the best way to proceed to ensure maximum effectiveness of Irish assistance. The importance of co-ordination was...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On the issue of value for money, €540 million of taxpayers' money will be spent this year in various regions, but particularly in Africa. There are mechanisms in place to ensure value for money and accountability. I did not take from what my colleague said that he was in any way critical of the NGOs. In all my discussions with the NGOs, particularly the intensive discussions I had with the...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: That is not an issue to be discussed here.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, attended a significant conference on the impact of environmental issues on humanitarian situations. He was criticised to a certain extent for attending that conference but it was right for him to attend it because we are part of the group sponsoring the examination of and research into the effect of environmental issues on a deterioration in...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is somewhat critical of the American response. I can only say from what I saw on the ground, and in Banda Aceh in particular, the people doing the most work was the American military.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: If they had not been there, the people of that area would have been in much greater difficulty.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We have to make a statement and be fair to nations when they contribute. I do not want to be critical of other people who were there but from what I and the people who were with me saw, and in Sri Lanka also, the Americans were magnificent. Regarding the percentage target, we are fully committed to that and believe other nations should reach the percentage target also. I reiterate what my...