Results 16,441-16,460 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My understanding is that the specific organisations mentioned by the Deputy disbanded some time ago. The Deputy will be aware that the Good Friday Agreement is completely unambiguous as a statement of principles regarding paramilitarism. These principles apply to all the political parties in Northern Ireland. In particular, they include an affirmation of a total and absolute commitment to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government does not have any information on casualty figures in Iraq, other than those estimates by various commentators, which have appeared in the public domain. Nor does the Government have any means of assessing the accuracy of these figures, or of conducting its own investigation of the matter. However the Government's view, which has been expressed clearly since the outset of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 441, 453, 454, 462, 463, 489 and 490 together, and to make a statement on these matters. As has been stated on many occasions, the Government takes concerns about human rights in China very seriously. Human rights issues are a constant point of discussion with the Chinese authorities at both the national and the European Union level. Dialogue on human rights...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Following the decision of the Government on 14 December 2004 to approve the introduction of passports containing biometric information, my Department has launched the procurement process for this project. A notice inviting firms to submit expressions of interest in the project was placed in the EU Journal on 17 December 2004. Based on the evaluation of these expressions of interest, a short...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 445, 460, 475, 481, 483, 484 and 486 together. The Government has allocated €20 million for the relief of the victims of the tsunami crisis. Some €10 million is additional funding to the budget for overseas aid announced in the Estimates for 2005. The remainder will come from the Government's emergency humanitarian assistance fund, which is...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen was elected President of the Palestinian Authority with a solid majority on 9 January. The EU election observation mission reported that the conduct of the election was generally satisfactory considering the difficult circumstances surrounding it. AbuMazen's election has been welcomed by the international community. President Bush has invited him to Washington, while...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My Department is aware of this case and is in contact with the representatives of the person to whom the Deputy refers. The Department will assist in any way possible in facilitating the return of the children to Ireland.

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach telephoned President Mahmoud Abbas to congratulate him on his success in the elections. In the course of this call, he assured President Abbas of Ireland's continuing support for efforts to bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This contact also gave an opportunity for the Taoiseach to re-emphasise Ireland's consistent concern for the situation of the Palestinian...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On 17 January last I met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Paul Murphy, at Iveagh House. This meeting was the first with a member of the British Government since the PSNI Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, made public his assessment that the IRA was responsible for the December raid on the Northern Bank. Clearly, this assessment has very serious repercussions for the peace...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has regular contact with the Government of Cyprus, which has been a partner in the EU since 1 May 2004. I have the opportunity to review developments with Foreign Minister George Iacovou at the monthly meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Taoiseach and I attended the European Council in Brussels on 16 and 17 December 2004, at which the main...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has decided to complete our network of resident missions in all of the EU member states and also to establish missions in the countries, which will accede in 2007. We are, in this context, planning to open embassies in Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Romania as well as a resident mission in Malta, later this year. We expect that these missions will play an important role in...

Written Answers — Irish Emigrants: Irish Emigrants (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: While we have no clear figure for the number of Irish people in Britain who may find it difficult to support themselves, officials of the embassy in London and the Irish abroad unit of my Department remain in close contact with the voluntary agencies which assist emigrants who find themselves disadvantaged. I met many of the people who work in this field at a recent conference for emigrant...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The political and humanitarian situation in Sudan, particularly the Darfur region, remains a matter of the deepest concern for Ireland and the Government continues to use all avenues open to it to urge action in addressing the humanitarian, security and political challenges which exist there. During 2004, Ireland provided €6 million in humanitarian support to Darfur and we plan to provide...

Written Answers — Reunification of Cyprus: Reunification of Cyprus (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Republic of Cyprus has been a member state of the European Union since 1 May 2004. In the absence of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, the application of the laws and regulations of the EU to the northern part of the island is suspended. Following the referendums in Cyprus on 24 April 2004 on the settlement plan presented by the UN Secretary General, the General Affairs...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of and have been closely following the case of Mr. Roy Bennett, the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, opposition Member of Parliament, who was sentenced by the Zimbabwean Parliament last October to 12 months' imprisonment with labour. A number of aspects of the case give rise to concern, including the apparently arbitrary procedures employed in Mr. Bennett's trial and conviction...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Article 29.5.1° of the Constitution requires that every international agreement to which the State becomes a party shall be laid before Dáil Éireann. In accordance with this requirement it has long been the practice of my Department to arrange for copies of each international agreement, including any extension, prolongation or amendment of an international agreement, to be sent to the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of various press reports claiming that the aircraft cited in the reports mentioned by the Deputy was used in December 2001 by US authorities for the transportation of Al-Qaeda suspects from Sweden to Egypt. I understand, however, that the articles do not allege that any stops were made in Shannon on that particular occasion or offer any proof that prisoners have been transported...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers. Although no specific representations were made in respect of this incident, the Israeli authorities were aware of the concerns of the international community concerning the facilitation of the election campaign. The EU's election observation mission has concluded that the conduct of the election was generally satisfactory, a judgment with...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 467 together. The holding of elections for a transitional national assembly is the next critical step in the process for the political reconstruction of Iraq laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 1546, which is the basis for the political process in Iraq. The resolution also specifies 31 January as the latest date by which these elections should...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 a meeting with the US Ambassador to Ireland in December 2004. The United States is well aware of the Government's view that those detained at Guantanamo Bay should be...