Taoiseach's Press Releases 2003
The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., announced today 28 December 2003 that the Government has released further lands in Dublin, Cork and Waterford for affordable housing.
The Taoiseach addressed the 58th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York today. Throughout his speech, the Taoiseach stressed the primacy of the United Nations as a touchstone of Irish foreign policy.
The Irish and British Governments today published the draft international Agreement which will establish the Independent Monitoring Commission to report the carrying out of commitments in regard to paramilitary activity, security normalisation and participation in the political institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.
I have been deeply shocked by the criminal carnage visited today on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad and by the death of your Special Representative, the distinguished Sergio Vieira de Mello as well as numerous other United Nations personnel.
The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern TD, announced today, 27 June 2003 that the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government has today received a letter of resignation of Mr Justice Feargus Flood from the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments. The resignation is with immediate effect. That resignation has occurred against the background of a letter of 16 June 2003 from Mr Justice Flood to the Attorney General and Minister Cullen’s letter of 24 June 2003 to Mr Justice Flood.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern T.D., last week published the 2nd edition (2003) of the document, Ireland and the European Union: Identifying Priorities and Pursuing Goals, which sets out the Governments priorities and goals for Irelands engagement with the European Union.
The Taoiseach today met with the President of the European Convention, former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. He congratulated him on the excellent work of the Convention and the skilful manner in which he is steering the Convention and leading its Praesidium.
I learned with shock of the assassination in Belgrade this afternoon of Zoran Djindjic, the Prime Minister of Serbia. On behalf of the Government of Ireland, I extend condolences to his family, to his colleagues in Government and to the people of Serbia.
"Europe will be judged by the living standards of its people", the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., said today when setting out Ireland's priorities for the Spring European Council, which will take place in Brussels on 21 March.
In the Good Friday Agreement the Government recognised that it is essential to acknowledge and address the suffering of the victims of violence as a necessary element of reconciliation. As a further step towards the fulfilment of the Government's obligations under the Good Friday Agreement, the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern TD, announced today that the Government will allocate €3m this year towards addressing the needs of those in this jurisdiction who have suffered as a result of violent action arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland.