Results 19,421-19,440 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Emigrant Issues: Emigrant Issues (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: In recent weeks, two proposals aimed at helping to regularise the situation of undocumented foreign nationals in the United States have been put forward. On 7 January, President Bush announced a proposal to introduce a new form of temporary work permit which would be available to both undocumented foreign nationals currently in the US and those seeking to enter with a job already arranged....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Foreign Affairs is not aware of any situations where there have been cost overruns on contracts or procurements for the period referred to by the Deputy. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for engaging contractors for major works in buildings occupied by this Department at headquarters as well as for the substantial procurement of furniture and furnishings. The...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: The Department of Foreign Affairs commissions consultancies where specialised knowledge and-or skills are not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of the Development Cooperation Ireland, DCI, programme, where an independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. DCI consultancies cover a wide range of sectors including HIV-AIDS, education, health and rural...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: While work on the drafting of the text of the proposed international arms trade treaty is still ongoing, it is a promising initiative and I commend the non-governmental organisations concerned for their efforts. An official of my Department participated in a conference held last November at Cambridge University in England, the purpose of which was to examine the text of the proposed treaty. I...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: As the Deputy is aware, on 18 December 2002, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, OP-CAT. The EU has called upon all member states to sign and ratify the optional protocol. The object of the protocol is to establish a system of regular visits undertaken...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: During the course of the security alert which took place between 2 and 9 February in the area of Stewartstown, County Tyrone, my Department was contacted by local political representatives conveying their community's concerns about the rationale for the security operation and the manner in which it was carried out. In addition to the sustained disruption to the area, they drew our attention...

Written Answers — Voluntary Agencies: Voluntary Agencies (17 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: As I informed the House in my statement on 27 January 2004, I intend to establish a dedicated unit in my Department during the course of this year to work with voluntary agencies at home and abroad involved in the provision of services to emigrants. As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department is focused on our responsibilities as Presidency of the Council of the European Union and many of...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (10 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: The problems facing the developing world, including poverty, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, unsustainable debt levels and the HIV-AIDS pandemic, are high on the Presidency agenda. There are four key development messages that we want to emphasise during the Presidency. First, we believe that the overriding aim of EU development assistance should be to eradicate poverty. Our...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (10 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: On 30 June 2003, the British authorities informed my officials, through the offices of the British-Irish intergovernmental secretariat, that the British Army was undertaking work on a new communications mast within the Forkhill military base in County Armagh. They advised us that the immediate purpose of the new mast is twofold: first, to replace two older masts at the base and thereby...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is ruled by an authoritarian government which maintains tight and effective control on information concerning conditions in the country and has refused access to independent human rights monitors. For this reason it is very difficult for foreign governments and human rights organisations to assess accurately and independently the exact state of...

Written Answers — Timber Imports: Timber Imports (10 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: Officials from my department met recently representatives of Global Witness, and were briefed by them on their report A Conflict of Interests: the Uncertain Future of Burma's Forests, published in October 2003. The Deputy will be aware that the misuse of natural resources to finance illegal armed conflict is one which is of considerable concern to the United Nations. Last year, for instance,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: The Government stands ready to engage with the Burmese authorities if, in consultation with our EU partners, we consider that such contact will contribute to the restoration of democracy in that country. The EU Council of Ministers decided in April 2003 to make an exception to the ban on official visits to allow an EU troika at political level to travel to Burma to convey the EU's position to...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (10 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: HIV-AIDS is a key priority for the Government. Ireland was one of the first donors to develop a HIV-AIDS strategy and we have worked to ensure that the issue is high on the agenda of the EU and of the UN's funds and programmes. Since 2001 Ireland's financial allocations to the fight against AIDS have increased tenfold with a budget allocation of €40 million in 2004, 10% of the total...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: I am aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers. I issued a statement on 29 January, in my Presidency capacity, in response to the Jerusalem bus bombing, in which I also expressed concern at the events in Zaytoun the preceding day.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: Expenditure on media advertising for 2002 was €251, 605.51 and for 2003 was €203,919.70. This can be broken down as follows: Vote 38 — Foreign Affairs — expenditure under the general advertising subhead of €61,543.04 in 2002 and €50,343.35 in 2003 and expenditure of €20,411, 2002, and €29,184.36, 2003, from the Passport Office subhead. Expenditure under these subheads included...

Seanad: Israel-Palestine: Motion. (4 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: I apologise that I was not present for the earlier part of the debate. I always enjoy coming to the Seanad and listening to the debates, which are always good, vibrant and stimulating. Unfortunately I have another appointment at 6.30 p.m. with the new US envoy to the North, Mr. Reiss, so I will not be able to stay as long as I would like. However, I will study Members' contributions in due...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (3 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: This matter is being dealt with by the Attorney General and his office, who are currently examining the legal issues arising from the judgment of the High Court concerning the unconstitutionality of the Aliens Order and section 2 of the Immigration Act, 1999, which section sought to give the Aliens Order statutory effect as if it was an Act of the Oireachtas. The appropriate procedures to be...

Written Answers — Passport Controls: Passport Controls (3 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: Ireland is one of 27 countries that participate in the US visa waiver programme, which enables citizens of those countries to travel to the US for up to 90 days without a visa for business or tourist purposes. The US enhanced border security act, enacted after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, requires each country that participates in the visa waiver programme to introduce, or have...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (3 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: I visited South Africa from 21-23 November 2003. As well as the political meetings undertaken, I visited some of Development Co-operation Ireland's projects in that country, including the township of Soweto. I saw, firsthand, the devastating impact which HIV-AIDS has on the local population there and also the great work of our development officers, NGOs and missionaries. On 22 November,...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (3 Feb 2004)

Brian Cowen: Promoting the Irish Presidency of the European Union to the public is a key priority of Ireland's EU Presidency programme and forms part of a wider commitment by the Government to communicating information about the EU to the public. Since the start of the Presidency last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs has undertaken a range of initiatives to promote public awareness of developments...