Results 741-760 of 6,675 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The 22nd Winter Olympic Games will be held in the Russian city of Sochi from 7-23 February 2014. As the Deputy will be aware, and as was the case with previous Olympics, the awarding of these Games was a decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), rather than of national governments. Respect for diversity and inclusiveness are, of course, an integral part of the Olympic ideal and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Considerable preparatory work by the Irish EU Presidency and intensive discussions at the EU Trade Council on 14 June – under the chairmanship of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation - led to agreement on a mandate for the European Commission to formally launch negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). This ranks amongst our most important...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 26 and 71 together. This is an issue I treat with the very highest priority. During my visit to the US last week, I spoke with several key contacts in the US Congress including leading members of the House Judiciary Committee, Minority House Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland, Pete King. I also met with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 80 together. I am very concerned over reports of a recent upsurge in violence and ill-will against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people in the Russian Federation. In particular, I am aware of deeply disturbing footage which has been circulating on the internet purporting to show young LGBTI individuals being lured to a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Surveillance in EU Institutions (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Following allegations of US surveillance of European Union institutions earlier this year, the EU has engaged regularly with the US authorities in both Washington and Brussels to seek clarification on the issues raised. An EU-US High Level Expert Group on data protection has been established, where this and related matters are discussed. The EU is represented on this working group by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Delivering an intensive programme of Ministerial-led trade missions is a key commitment in the Government's Action Plan for Jobs in 2013. The number of Ministerial-led Enterprise Ireland trade missions conducted with the active support of the Embassy network has more than doubled over the past two years, up from eight in 2011 to eighteen this year. I undertook a political and trade mission to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The total cost of services for visiting ministers and heads of state and government provided by the Dublin Airport Authority incurred during Ireland’s Chairmanship of the OSCE and during our EU Presidency amounted to €209,660. These services facilitate secure and prompt entry and exit from the airport; a necessary security measure for heads of state and government. The costs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 70 together. As the Deputy is aware, I have consistently called for the end of the restrictive measures imposed on the border crossings into and out of Gaza, which impose many hardships on the people of Gaza but paradoxically strengthen the control there of Hamas and other militant groups. The terms under which the Rafah border crossing to Egypt...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Iran is an explicitly Islamic Republic with a guiding political role reserved for the clergy, and it is unlikely that its government would respond favourably to encouragement to become a more secular society. However, Ireland and our EU partners will certainly continue to do all we can to encourage a greater respect for human rights in Iran. It is encouraging that the new Government has made...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have noted with deep regret the continuing toll of casualties in the Occupied Territory, including the deaths of Palestinian civilians and Israeli soldiers in recent weeks. I share the Deputy’s concern that there is always a risk that incidents on the ground can derail peace talks, either by sparking further violence or simply making it politically impossible for leaders to continue....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 59 together. I was deeply concerned at the violence experienced in Belfast this summer. I had direct and frequent contact with the Secretary of State and with the Minister for Justice David Ford over the period and reaffirmed my support on a number of occasions for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and for the Parades Commission. I visited...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 82 and 83 together. I am on record in Dáil expressing concern over the ongoing detention of the former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko and refer the Deputy to my statement of 26 June last. I raised the matter most recently with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Leonid Kozhara, during our bilateral meeting last week on the margins of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am strongly supportive of recent efforts by both sides to improve U.S.-Iran relations. President Obama has on a number of occasions made clear his willingness to open a new chapter in relations with Iran. And in recent weeks we have heard some measured and encouraging words from President Rouhani and other members of his new government. In this cautiously hopeful atmosphere, President Obama...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The overall human rights environment in Bahrain continues to be of serious concern. Ireland shares the concerns recently expressed by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the deep polarization of society in Bahrain and the harsh clampdown on human rights defenders and peaceful protesters. Such actions continue to make a durable political solution...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On 20 September Israeli forces prevented an emergency delivery of international humanitarian aid to the Palestinian community of Makhul, whose homes had been demolished by Israeli authorities. The delivery was organised by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and was accompanied as observers by diplomats from Ireland, France, Sweden, Spain, UK, Greece,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland has always supported the universalisation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and we will continue to encourage the six states which have not ratified or acceded to it (Israel, Egypt, South Sudan, Angola, North Korea and Myanmar) to do so as quickly as possible. The EU, through its Strategy on Weapons of Mass Destruction endorsed by the Council of the European Union on 9 December...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: White Paper on Defence (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The White Paper on Defence, which is expected to be published by the Minister for Defence next year, will provide a framework for Ireland’s defence policy for the period 2014-2024. There have been significant changes in both the domestic and the international security and defence environment since the last White Paper was published in 2000. The publication of the Green Paper on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There is at present no Syrian Ambassador accredited to Ireland, following the departure of the last non-resident Ambassador from London in March 2012. Nor have there been any recent contacts with Syrian diplomatic representatives based at their Embassy in London.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack at the Westgate Shopping Centre in Nairobi which, so far, is known to have left 72 people dead, and over 200 people injured. I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and injured. As I stated while the attack was still happening, Ireland, along with our EU partners, stands in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Appointments (2 Oct 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have appointed seventeen Honorary Consuls as follows: Year of Appointment Location Name of Honorary Consul Occupation 2013 Kenya,- Nairobi Mr. Jonathan Andrew Sutton Businessman 2013 Botswana, Gaborone Mr. Paul Gerard Sullivan Businessman 2013 Kazakhstan, Almaty Mr. Kairat Mazhibayev Businessman 2013 Turkey, Antalya Mr. Mehmet Seckin Arkan Lawyer 2013 Canada, Nova Scotia Mr. Brian...