8 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of money owed to Ireland by the UN; and the progress, if any, which has been made during the term of the present Government in reforming the UN, with particular reference to funding and institutional structure.
[11548/97]
6 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a clear, unequivocal statement of Government policy in relation to Ireland's military neutrality; and if he will guarantee that this Government will not commit Ireland to membership of the NATO-led Partnership for Peace, without first consulting the Irish people through a referendum.
[11547/97]
5 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give his assessment of the prospects in respect of resuming productive and inclusive all-party talks following elections on the basis of a renewed IRA ceasefire and averting a serious escalation in community tensions during the marching season.
[11630/97]
5 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's reaction to a report adopted by the EU Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy which calls on the EU to define its armaments policy, to consolidate as a defence entity and for the Western European Union to define the material needed for achieving common foreign and security policy objectives; whether the Government supports the development of the Western European Union as the instrument for implementation of a common foreign and security policy in view of its first strike nuclear capability; and whether the Government supports the allocation of EU budget credits to the arms industry made in the report.
[7469/97]
4 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, being taken by the Government to put pressure on the British Government to establish a full inquiry into allegations of sectarian discrimination against Baroness Denton, the Northern Ireland Minister for Fair Employment; and the progress, if any, being made to resolve this fundamentally important issue.
[7467/97]
7 Mr. Briscoe and Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) a Tibetan musician, sentenced to 18 years imprisonment by the Chinese authorities on 26 December 1996; and the steps, if any, being taken by the Government in its capacity as a member of the EU Troika to address this issue and the wider abuse of human rights occurring in Tibet.
[3227/97]
4 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on any proposal which would aim to cancel by the year 2000 the debts owed to first world countries by less developed countries; the steps, if any, he will take if he views any such proposal positively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3334/97]
3 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to utilise his position to initiate urgent steps to ensure a satisfactory resolution to the Russian and Egyptian beef bans which are having a detrimental effect on the Irish agriculture industry following the recent departure of the delegation of Egyptians vets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3213/97]
2 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to increase the scope and resources of the human rights unit within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3333/97]
1 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give the Government's considered response to the North report; the action, if any, being taken following publication to ensure there is no repetition of some of the events of the 1996 marching season; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3336/97]
19 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's and the EU's response to a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 15 November 1996 on the International Criminal Tribunal in the former Yugoslavia, which called on the Commission to link all aid to reconstruction in the Republica Srpska to bringing persons accused of genocide and crimes against humanity before the tribunal, to make future development of relations with Croatia contingent upon the will of Croatia to co-operate with the court and for the member states to oppose Belgrade's accession to international organisations until the provisions for application required for full co-operation with the tribunal have been implemented.
[24056/96]
19 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's and the EU's response to a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 15 November 1996 on the International Criminal Tribunal in the former Yugoslavia, which called on the Commission to link all aid to reconstruction in the Republica Srpska to bringing persons accused of genocide and crimes against humanity before the tribunal, to make future development of relations with Croatia contingent upon the will of Croatia to co-operate with the court and for the member states to oppose Belgrade's accession to international organisations until the provisions for application required for full co-operation with the tribunal have been implemented.
[24056/96]
17 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, made under Ireland's Presidency of the EU in imposing greater control on the world armaments sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24055/96]
16 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, to date of the Stormont talks; and if the two Governments will set a firm date for a plenary session in January 1997 with inclusive attendance provided that there is an unequivocal restoration of the IRA ceasefire and a willingness by Sinn Féin to subscribe and adhere to the Mitchell principles.
[24138/96]
5 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the implications, if any, for Irish neutrality of the recent decision by the United States of America to set a precise timetable for the enlargement of NATO.
[20075/96]
2 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's and the EU's position on the proposal to hold military exercises in deserted villages in Belarus; and whether Ireland intends to use its influence as President of the EU to ensure EU assistance in the full-scale decontamination of areas still devastated by the Chernobyl explosion in 1986.
[20074/96]
1 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the requirements which each party has to fulfil to participate in the multi-party talks; and if he has satisfied himself that sufficient efforts are being made by the two Governments to persuade the IRA to renew its August 1994 ceasefire.
[20102/96]
9 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, the Government has during Ireland's Presidency of the EU to urge EU member states to adopt a stronger position on Tibet, in the face of the Chinese armed occupation of that country and its ruthless suppression of the people and religion of that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14718/96]
5 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, in view of the statement in the White Paper on Foreign Policy that the Government intends to initiate a campaign to seek membership of the UN Commission on Human Rights, his views on the recent statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Ayala Lasso, that the already limited resources which were allocated for human rights in the regular budget for 1996-97 had to be reduced by $2.7 million, or 6 per cent; the additional financial resources, if any, the Government intends to commit in the current financial year to support the crucial work of the Commission and of the UN in general in the field of human rights.
[14741/96]
4 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views of the fact that European leaders at the Florence Summit endorsed President Jacques Santer's pro-employment confidence pact but at the same time failed to make funding available to implement President Santer's proposals; and the way in which he proposes to redress this situation during Ireland's Presidency of the EU.
[14742/96]
2 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent calls at the Western European Union Assembly for the Western European Union to examine the role of nuclear weapons in Europe's security; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14743/96]
1 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, that has been made in relation to the multi-party talks; and whether there has been any change in the conditions for participation in the talks.
[14740/96]
5 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether all arrangements have been concluded for the organisation of all-party talks on 10 June 1996, with a view of ensuring that the talks are fruitful and productive as well as inclusive and designed to lead to a comprehensive political settlement.
[11336/96]
4 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for the peace process and Anglo-Irish relations in view of the mishandling of the Anthony Duncan extradition case.
[11335/96]
2 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the response, if any, he has received from the Western European Union to his White Paper proposals regarding possible Irish participation under the Petersberg tasks; and the correspondence or contacts, if any, he or officials from his Department have had with NATO regarding the Partnership for Peace in view of his suggestion that Ireland should join this organisation.
[11111/96]
1 Mr. R. Burke asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, in view of the continuing ban on the import of British beef and beef products by the EU, the implications, if any, for Ireland and the EU arising from Britain's decision to utilise its veto. [11110/96]
22 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the actions, if any, he is taking at EU level to ensure that, on this, the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl incident, similar catastrophes cannot be allowed happen in the future.
[8279/96]
8 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 27 March 1996, whether he received the full stage I phase of the consultant's report on local government finance; if so, if he will make available this report; and whether he has proceeded to stage II of this study.
[9315/96]
5 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the numbers and grades of full-time, temporary and part-time staff who will be employed for the duration of the Irish Presidency of the EU.
[8274/96]
4 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the confidence-building measures, if any, he has urged upon the British Government with a view to improving the prospects that all parties will sit round the table in all-party negotiations.
[8287/96]
2 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, he has taken to support the Irish beef trade during the current BSE crisis.
[8286/96]
1 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans or proposals, if any, he has in his capacity as a member of the EU Troika, both at EU and UN level, to alleviate the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
[8284/96]
21 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, that are being made to promote the Irish countryside as a green tourism product in view of the recent BSE scare.
[7418/96]
42 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's reaction to the fact that the Commission has proposed a merger between the European Union and the Western European Union.
[5284/96]
42 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's reaction to the fact that the Commission has proposed a merger between the European Union and the Western European Union.
[5284/96]
5 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the London Declaration of the Western European Union to the heads of State of the European Union, which states that the Western European Union must be able to implement its decisions unaffected by any opposition from countries regardless of whether they are neutral, or are observers or associate members of the organisation and which also calls for the Western European Union to become gradually involved in the Common Foreign and Security Policy making full use of the Western European Union Council's authority to act on behalf of the European Union; the implications, if any, for Ireland of such initiatives; his views on whether this statement posses a specific threat to Ireland's neutral status within the European Union; and whether he can raise this issue in the Council of Ministers.
[5332/96]
4 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views regarding reported proposals from the European Commission to extend majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and the implications, if any, such changes will have for Ireland's authority within the European Union.
[5334/96]
2 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, of the multilateral consultations that began at Stormont, Northern Ireland, on 4 March 1996; and the role of the Irish Government in these consultations.
[5394/96]
1 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the role of his office in the renewal of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, the Commission on the Family and the Task Force on Security of the Elderly, in his capacity as Tánaiste; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5365/96]
83 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Education if students attending third-level colleges in Great Britain will be entitled to maintenance grants under the higher education grants scheme in the 1996/1997 academic year as announced in the 1995 budget.
[3759/96]
83 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Education if students attending third-level colleges in Great Britain will be entitled to maintenance grants under the higher education grants scheme in the 1996/1997 academic year as announced in the 1995 budget.
[3759/96]
59 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the meetings, if any, involving the Irish Government, that have been held under the political track of the twin-track approach.
[1154/96]
19 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, at his next meeting with the Unionist Party leadership, he will urge them to join the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body.
[1156/96]
18 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for the ongoing postponement of the publication of the White Paper on Foreign Affairs; when the documents will be published; the amendments, if any, that were made to the White Paper since November 1995; and the policy matters that these amendments relate to.
[2421/96]
16 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he is taking or proposes to take to ensure that a proper investigation commences with regard to war graves in Bosnia in view of his role within the Irish Government and his new role as a member of the European Union's Troika; the action, if any, he proposes to ensure that those responsible for all such atrocities are brought to immediate justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2419/96]
59 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the meetings, if any, involving the Irish Government, that have been held under the political track of the twin-track approach.
[1154/96]
15 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent meeting with the Northern Secretary; if he outlined to him the strongly held views of nationalist communities that all-party talks should proceed as agreed in the communiqué of 28 November 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[2418/96]
23 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, he intends to take, at national and European level, to express this nation's revulsion at the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his associates by the Nigerian authorities; the position taken by Ireland on this matter at the Council of Ministers; and the degree of consensus among the Council of Ministers to take action against the Nigerian authorities.
[18304/95]