Results 841-860 of 6,675 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's priorities at the 68th Session of the General Assembly will include continued efforts to advance the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals; support for efforts to promote of peace and security in particular in relation to areas of current conflict or tension; promotion of Human Rights, democracy and the rule of Law; and the strengthening of the effectiveness of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department is among the most active on social media and I recognise the potential of Twitter, in particular, to provide timely and relevant information to citizens in Ireland and abroad. The Department began to establish social media accounts in 2011. Currently our missions operate 25 Twitter accounts and two Facebook accounts, with more to be established in the months ahead. These...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The European External Action Service (EEAS) is staffed by officials from the EU Commission, the EU Council Secretariat and diplomats from the EU Member States. The Council Decision which established the EEAS in 2010 stipulated that Member State diplomats should represent at least one third of all staff at Administrator (AD) level. On the whole, there has been good progress made towards...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Register of Electors Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for legislation dealing with the registration of electors and the conduct of elections and referendums. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for voting by post in Irish elections by civil servants serving at Irish embassies, consular offices and permanent missions of Ireland to international organisations and,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have previously replied to the Deputy in relation to the GAC held on Tuesday 25 June and no GAC has taken place since then, with that scheduled for Tuesday 23 July having been cancelled. The next GAC is scheduled to take place on Monday 30th September.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I attended the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Vilnius (known as the “Gymnich”) on 6-7 September. As this was an informal meeting, there are no council conclusions or formal decisions taken. However, we had some useful discussions on current foreign policy issues, not least the ongoing crisis in Syria. We began with a discussion on Security and Defence issues, which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Advertising undertaken by my Department relates mainly to notification of changes to passport and consular fees, public office opening hours, and occasional employment, grants, and other matters, including Irish Aid activities, which require communication to a national audience. National print media are considered to be most appropriate for such requirements but there may be occasions when...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Appointments (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 to 97, inclusive, together. My Department has seven bodies, boards or committees under its remit to which I make appointments. These are: the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Advisory Group of the Global Irish Network; the Ireland - United States Commission for Educational Exchange (The Fulbright Commission); the Irish Aid Expert Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Foreign Affairs Council met on 21 August 2013 in an extraordinary meeting called in response to the serious violence which had occurred during and following the forcible dispersion of demonstrations on 14 August, and subsequent political turmoil. The general view of the Council, which I supported, was that the EU needed to show clearly that the violence that had occurred was unacceptable,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have made two public statements on the use of chemical weapons in Syria. On 28 August I issued the following statement: “I repeat my condemnation of the recent gas attacks in Syria. The horrific consequences of the illegal use of these armaments against a civilian population are appalling and an affront to the values of the United Nations. The use of these weapons has rightly been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the national strike that began in Colombia on 19 August when organisations representing agriculture producers, subsequently joined by other organisations, began a protest movement on a range of grievances relating to policies on trade and state support for various sectors.I am following closely the developments in Colombia, and regret reports of deaths and injuries arising in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process and hope that ongoing negotiations will bring an end to the long conflict there which has caused much suffering. I welcome progress made to date, including the agreement reached last May on the land reform element of the peace negotiations. I wish the parties success in reaching agreement on the other important items remaining on their agenda so...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Middle East is home to some of the world’s most ancient Christian denominations. Unfortunately, many of these often small and vulnerable communities are coming under increasing pressure due to a range of factors including low birth rates, emigration and, in some cases, increased sectarian persecution and violence. This has led to a significant reduction in their numbers in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department has funded no capital projects in the past five years in these locations.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Foreign Affairs Council met on 21 August to discuss the situation in Egypt. The Council agreed Conclusions on Egypt, which I have discussed in detail in my reply to another Question from the Deputy today. There was unanimous agreement among Foreign Ministers that all Member States would suspend export licences to Egypt of any equipment which might be used for internal repression, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In November 2011, the Government announced its decision to close Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See. This decision was driven by economic factors deriving from our need to cut public expenditure and focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery. As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided to appoint the Secretary General of my Department as non-resident...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Service Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: A passport reminder service is available on the Passport Service website The reminder service sends an e-mail, to those who have registered, three months before a passport is due to expire. Registration is simple and merely requires those interested to record their name, e-mail address and the expiry date of the passport. It is possible to register a number of different passports (e.g....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department has sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide up to 46 paid internships annually at headquarters and in Missions abroad. These are awarded to suitable candidates who have undertaken relevant third-level studies or who have other relevant skills or experience. Interns are recruited following a competitive process and are remunerated on the basis...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Irish Jewish Museum records and presents the history and culture of Ireland's small but significant Jewish community and their contribution to Ireland's history and heritage. My Department has been liaising with the Museum for a number of years in regard to its efforts to build support and generate funding abroad. A group from the Museum visited New York in May 2012 in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Sep 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 123, 124, 126 and 127 together. I am assuming that Questions relating to the recent Foreign Affairs Council are referring to the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers on 6-7 September, which was not a meeting of the Council as such. I have already welcomed in my statement on 14 September the outcome of the US-Russian negotiations on a framework...