Results 141-160 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan
- Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: From the Seanad (Resumed). (23 Feb 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I thank the Members for their co-operation. As they know, I am not a lawyer and this is not my area.
- Seanad: Nursing Home Charges: Statements. (23 Feb 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I already do that with my wife. I see none of it.
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (1 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: The Government's national programme of assistance to developing countries comprises two elements. The major component is my Department's Vote for International Co-operation, Vote 29, while other elements of overseas development aid, ODA, are administered by other Departments. Provisional figures for expenditure on ODA under Vote 29 in 2004 indicate that it amounted to â¬397 million. The 2004...
- Written Answers — Economic Partnership Agreements: Economic Partnership Agreements (3 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 to 129, inclusive, together. The legally binding Cotonou Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, states and the European Union provides for the negotiation of economic partnership agreements, EPAs, between the parties. As trade is a European Community competence, it is the European Commission which negotiates the EPAs between the EU and...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 265 together. The Government's spending on ODA has risen from â¬158 million in 1997 to â¬545 million this year. This means that Ireland is now one of the world's leading aid donors, ranked 8th by the OECD, in terms of per capita spending on development assistance. The Government's programme of development assistance is internationally recognised as...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: My prime concern as Minister with responsibility for the stewardship of the Government's programme of assistance to poorer countries is to ensure that the greater part of those funds is directed to the needs of vulnerable and needy people in places like sub-Saharan Africa. It was in that context that I raised the issue in question in general terms in a radio interview at the time of the...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 126 and 251 together. The allocation for 2005 provides for an increase of â¬70 million in Government spending on official development assistance this year. This will bring total Government aid to the developing world to approximately â¬545 million in 2005, the highest allocation in the 30 year history of the aid programme. In addition, the Government has...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: Up to 1.4 million people have been displaced by the insurgency in northern Uganda, which has lasted for nearly 20 years. The Irish aid programme has provided support through the World Food Programme and to both Irish and local NGOs in support of the food and shelter needs of the displaced. In addition, Ireland has been to the fore of donor efforts to drive progress in brokering a permanent...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: The implications of the rights commissioner's decision referred to by the Deputy are being carefully studied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and by the other Departments concerned in consultation with the Department of Finance. Some aspects of the decision raise fundamental issues for the Civil Service as an employer and may yet be referred to the Labour Court for consideration. The...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, NEPAD, the new partnership for Africa's development, is an African owned and led initiative which is intended to promote and achieve sustainable development in Africa in the 21st century. It is based on the recognition that the primary responsibility for Africa's future lies not in the hands of donors or multilateral institutions but in the actions of Africa's...
- Written Answers — Economic Partnership Agreements: Economic Partnership Agreements (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 91, 114, 116 and 141 together. Under European Union regulations, it is the European Commission which conducts the negotiations on economic partnership agreements, EPAs, between the EU and six regional groupings of ACP states on behalf of the member states. The Commission provides the Council with regular updates on the progress of the negotiations. Ireland...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 127 together. Ireland's development programme is over 30 years old. It delivers aid to some of the poorest countries in the world. Aid is delivered through bilateral, direct government-to-government assistance and through multilateral organisations. The bilateral part of the Irish aid programme is concentrated in a number of countries, mainly in...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 151, 162, 254 and 259 to 261, inclusive, together. The Government responded immediately in the aftermath of the terrible earthquake and tsunami disaster which struck south Asia and east Africa on 26 December last. On that day the Government pledged â¬1 million in immediate assistance. As the true scale of the disaster became clear, Ireland made further...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, had a meeting with the Secretary General in New York in February. The Minister assured the Secretary General of Ireland's support for the United Nations Organisation and for its development funds and programmes and underlined our continued commitment to work towards the millennium development goals. He briefed Secretary...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I welcome the Deputy's question and any other question that serves to heighten interest in, and awareness of, the Government's intention to produce the first ever White Paper on official development assistance, ODA. On 16 February last, I issued a press release announcing the Government's intention to seek submissions from interested parties on the future direction of Ireland's aid programme....
- Written Answers — Trade Policy: Trade Policy (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: Trade with developing countries represented 4.97%, â¬4.16 billion, of Ireland's exports and 10.83%, â¬5.42 billion, of our imports in 2004 compared with 5.01% for exports and 10.16% for imports in 2003. Trade with least developed countries accounted for 0.24%, â¬199.1 million, of Irish exports and 0.28%, â¬139.4 million, of imports in 2004 whereas the figures for 2003 were 0.15% and 0.25%...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: Ghana is not one of the priority countries under Ireland's development assistance programme but the country does receive assistance under several headings. For example, â¬90,000 has been allocated to Ghana this year under the in-country micro projects scheme. This funding is administered by the embassy of Ireland in Nigeria, which is also accredited to Ghana. In addition, â¬97,129 has been...
- Human Rights Issues: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I thank all Members who contributed to this debate. As a person with responsibility for human rights, this case is a particular concern. I will contact Louise Arbour, the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, so that she may bring her voice to bear on this case. Again, I thank all Members who contributed and urge them to maintain whatever pressures they can bring to bear on the case. I thank...
- Written Answers — Debt Relief: Debt Relief (24 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 106 together. The Government's policy paper of July 2002 on developing country debt stated Ireland's support for 100% debt cancellation under certain circumstances and on the basis of additional resources from donors. It also concluded that, to mobilise the necessary funds for total debt cancellation, a greater number of donors, particularly the larger...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (24 Mar 2005)
Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 to 104, inclusive, together. The allocation criteria for Community development aid is one of the policy issues to be resolved in the negotiation of the development co-operation and economic co-operation instrument in the context of the ongoing financial perspectives 2007-2013 debate. On 26 January 2004, the General Affairs and External Relations Council...