Results 41-60 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Trade Relations: Trade Relations (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I am conscious that Taiwan is an important market for Irish exporters. In 2009, our merchandise exports to Taiwan were €253million and imports were €279million. The total annual figures for 2010 are not yet available, but in the first three quarters merchandise exports were €141million and imports were €122m. The most recent data on services trade relates to 2009 when our services...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The UN has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus and Ireland fully supports the leadership of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Representative, Alexander Downer, in this important work. We continue to encourage both sides to work for progress towards the achievement of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state through an honourable, balanced and...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The sixteenth regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) will take place from 28 February to 25 March 2011. As the Deputy may be aware, the annual High Level Segment takes place during the March session of the Council each year. This year it will take place from 28 February to 2 March. Officials from my Department have been working closely with European Union colleagues to prepare...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: During his visit to India in November 2010, President Obama issued a Joint Statement with Indian Prime Minister Singh which addressed, inter alia, India's possible membership of four multilateral export control regimes: the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Ireland is a member of all four bodies. Of the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Unfortunately, a series of unilateral provocations by North Korea over the last year has caused relations on the Korean peninsula to deteriorate significantly. The sinking of a South Korean naval vessel along the disputed border in the Yellow Sea in March, the announcement of new uranium enrichment at Yangbyon nuclear power plant and the November artillery strikes on Yeonpyeong Island, in...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The general election in Bosnia-Herzegovina on 3 October saw gains for moderates in the Bosniak-Croat Federation, while the ruling party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, did well in the Republika Srpska. Under Bosnia-Herzegovina's complex constitutional system - a legacy of the Dayton peace agreement - the government formation process can take some time. Talks are currently...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Polling in the referendum on self-determination for Southern Sudan which began on 9 January ended, as scheduled, on 15 January and counting of votes has now commenced. The authorities in Sudan, and the United Nations which provided logistical support, are to be commended for the way in which the referendum has been conducted. In its preliminary report, the EU Election Observation Mission has...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Government is completely opposed to the practice of extraordinary rendition. The Government has actively engaged and cooperated fully with all multilateral organisations which have examined this issue. I have no plans to establish a Committee to examine the subject of extraordinary rendition.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 38 and 41 together. I would be supportive of any development that could contribute to the permanent ending of violence by ETA and lead to peace in the Basque Country. I would pay particular heed and be guided in the first instance in this by the assessment of the Spanish authorities. In that context, I have noted the statements by the Spanish Government...

Written Answers — Natural Disasters: Natural Disasters (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: In light of the very severe flooding currently affecting Australia, and Queensland in particular, sympathy was conveyed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Australian Government and people. The Irish Embassy in Canberra and the Consulate General in Sydney continue to monitor the situation and are providing reports on an ongoing basis. The Embassy is in continuous contact with Irish...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 37, 160 and 172 together. In November 2010 the European Commission published its Enlargement Strategy for 2011 and Progress Reports on the candidate and potential candidate countries. The General Affairs Council discussed that Enlargement Package in December. The Council conclusions broadly shared the Commission's assessment that Enlargement continues...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Since the conclusion of the Gaza conflict in January 2009, the use of military force between Gaza and Israel, in both directions, has considerably abated. Hamas has broadly refrained from rocket or mortar attacks into Israel, and has acted with some degree of success to restrict such attacks by other militant groups in Gaza. Nonetheless, there have been continuing mortar and missile attacks...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is referring to the case of Michael Dwyer, who was shot dead by the Bolivian State Security Services on 16 April 2009 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. From the outset, every effort has been made to establish the facts surrounding the death of Mr Dwyer and to provide all possible consular assistance to his family. Minister Micheál Martin wrote to the UN Special Rapporteur for...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: It is not my practice to comment on matters contained in leaked documents which have no official standing. Ireland's response in February 2006 to the Secretary General's Article 52 Questionnaire circulated by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe was and remains accurate.

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Widespread international concern has been expressed about the "Law on Media Services and Mass Communication" recently introduced by the Hungarian government, including suggestions that the legislation could undermine the EU's capacity to advocate in favour of freedom of expression in third countries. The Irish Government, understandably, would be concerned at such suggestions. The European...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: On 4 January, Mr. Salman Taseer, the Governor of Punjab Province, a close associate of President Asif Ali Zardari, was killed in Islamabad by a member of his security detail. The Pakistani Government has ordered an inquiry into the killing. However, it is believed that he was killed after speaking out publicly against Pakistan's blasphemy laws. The killing has been marked by three days of...

Written Answers — Natural Disasters: Natural Disasters (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that our Embassy in Pretoria has received no requests from Irish citizens affected by the tragic flooding in South Africa, and is not aware of any Irish citizens facing serious difficulties due to it. The Embassy is located in a part of Pretoria that was not impacted by the flooding. Our Embassy has been asked to continue to monitor closely the situation...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Dilma Rousseff was inaugurated as the 36th President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, having taken 56% of the vote in the second-round of the elections, which took place on 31 October 2010. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, T.D. wrote to congratulate President-elect Rousseff immediately after the election. Following President Rousseff's inauguration and the appointment of the new Government,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 51 together. Ireland strongly condemns the violence and widespread arrests which followed the presidential election in Belarus on 19 December 2010. In particular we condemn the disproportionate use of force against presidential candidates, political activists, representatives of civil society and journalists. We also call for the release of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 50 together. The first round of Presidential elections was held in Cote d'Ivoire on 31 October 2010, after having been initially scheduled for 2005. With no outright winner, a second round was held on 28 November, in which President Laurent Gbagbo faced opposition leader Alassane Ouattara. Both rounds of the election were observed by an EU electoral...