Results 301-320 of 939 for speaker:Noel Treacy

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Jul 2006)

Noel Treacy: They would be daft.

Middle East Peace Process. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: I emphasise the deep concern of the Government about the increasingly serious situation in Gaza and the West Bank. It is essential that all parties have the courage to act with restraint — in particular at this time, the Government of Israel — and to avoid any further actions which cause additional escalation and endanger lives. On 16 June the European Council issued a declaration on the...

Middle East Peace Process. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: We have been consistent, clear, open, strong and vocal in support of the Palestinian people in every forum in which we are represented. However we must be fair, even-handed and responsible, and this is a complex and difficult situation.

Middle East Peace Process. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: I did not interrupt anybody and I am about to respond. We are concerned about the escalating situation in Gaza and we appreciate the concern of the Israeli authorities about the recent incident, including the kidnapping of a soldier. He should be released immediately and unconditionally. However, Israel's reaction must be restrained and proportionate. In particular, the long-suffering people...

Middle East Peace Process. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: We accept the plan and want to ensure the agreements reached with President Abbas and Hamas can be implemented. It is important that the Hamas Government fulfils its responsibilities to recognise Israel, condemn violence and accept and support the peace process. If it indicates clearly, through diplomatic channels, that it accepts this situation we have no difficulty in ensuring further...

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: I refer the Deputy to the statement of the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Dáil on 13 June, when he gave the House a detailed account of the matter to which the Deputy's question refers. Immediately after the incident in question was reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs by the US Embassy, the Minister for Foreign Affairs summoned the US ambassador to Iveagh House, where they met...

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: I have been asked many questions and Deputy Gormley has made many statements which are not factual. First, a cleaner did not discover this situation.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: A soldier was being transferred on this aircraft. He was detained on board at Shannon. The officer in charge asked permission of the official on duty in Shannon if the soldier could be taken off the aircraft for exercise. The official in charge reported that immediately to his authorities in Dublin and to the US Embassy which in turn contacted directly the Departments of Foreign Affairs and...

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: I was not contacted.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: I will outline the sequence of events. The Deputy is saying the cleaner discovered this but that is not the fact.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: As soon as the Department of Foreign Affairs was contacted officials in the Department contacted the Minister who was attending a European meeting in Brussels. He returned immediately to Dublin and summoned the US ambassador into Iveagh House that evening and laid down the law on Ireland's position and said that this was unacceptable.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: The matter was investigated and we are satisfied that it was an administrative error as the US officials carrying out the transfer did not think they had to report this situation to our Department or the Government. The following morning the Minister for Foreign Affairs briefed his Cabinet colleagues on the situation. The Cabinet decided this was unacceptable and we requested a detailed...

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: To carry out inspections would imply that we are not prepared to accept the categorical assurances given to us——

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: ——by the friendly government of a country with which we have an exceptionally close relationship. No plausible evidence has been produced that aircraft have passed through Shannon Airport carrying prisoners being transported as part of an extraordinary rendition operation. The number of supposedly implicated flights that have transited through Shannon is minuscule in comparison with the...

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: In a joint statement on extraordinary rendition on 27 June, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Commission of Jurists and the Association for the Prevention of Torture do not call for spot checks but for the inspection of aircraft where there are grounds for believing that it is being used to transport detainees.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: It has always been the Government's position that in such circumstances the Garda Síochána would exercise its powers of entry and search an aircraft.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: Not alone are we consistent in our attitude but we are the first country to raise this matter several times with the United States. It has been raised by the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: There is no doubt whatsoever about the assurances we have received. The situation that has been raised pertaining to the transiting of a soldier has nothing to do with extraordinary rendition. It is only a red herring that is being used to create a scare among the people.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: Of course, I have answered it.

Landing Rights. (29 Jun 2006)

Noel Treacy: I have given the Deputy more information and factual information, but it is like everything, he does not like facts.