Results 8,061-8,080 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (7 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: No, the water services (amendment) bill is to establish a system for inspecting and monitoring the performance of septic tanks and other on-site waste water treatment systems.

Order of Business (7 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: It is intended that this Bill will be published this session.

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (7 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government is fully committed to protecting Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, characterised by non-participation in military alliances. Over the years, this policy has served us well. It has helped us to speak with a distinctive and independent voice on many of the key challenges facing the world in relation to the maintenance of international peace and security. It...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (7 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passports Act, 2008 provides in broad terms that the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant for a passport and that the person is an Irish citizen before a passport is issued to him/her. The Minister has no discretion in awarding a passport to an individual who is not an Irish citizen. The entitlement to Irish citizenship is complex with...

Written Answers — State Visits: State Visits (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: These historic visits provide us with a significant opportunity to focus on economic, trade, investment and tourism opportunities with Britain and the US, our two most important economic partners. There will also be a high level of international media interest which will provide the opportunity to put out a positive and forward looking message that Ireland is open for business. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The vast majority of temporary staff employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs are engaged as Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs), some 50-80 of whom are recruited annually to help alleviate seasonal demand pressures in the Passport Office; and interns. Information regarding the previous public service employment history of such employees, if any, is not readily available. A total of 14...

Written Answers — Official Languages Act: Official Languages Act (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. All external signage for offices occupied by my Department complies with the requirements of the Official Languages Act. The internal signage for the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork and the Irish Aid Information and Volunteering Centre in Dublin also comply with the requirements of the Official Languages Act. One sign for the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The information about special advisers sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below. A total of 11 appointments were made, of which one was female. Number and Gender Remuneration (Gross) for duration of appointment 1 Male1Male1 Female €280,528.25€31,555.00€202,486.75 1 Male €351,279.38 1 Male €253,599.13 1 Male1Male €348,711.57€339,641.50 1 Male €228,655.53 1...

Written Answers — European Council: European Council (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs attend meetings of the General Affairs Council and the Foreign Affairs Council, which usually take place on the same day. They also attend twice-yearly informal meetings of Foreign Ministers, the so-called "Gymnich" meetings. In the year before 9 March 2011 there were eleven meetings of the General Affairs Council. Of these, Mr Micheál Martin T.D., who...

Written Answers — State Visits: State Visits (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: A State Visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II will take place from 17-20 May 2011. The programme will include a ceremonial welcome by President McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin; a ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance; a courtesy call on the Taoiseach at Government Buildings; and a State dinner in Dublin Castle, at which both the Queen and the President will deliver speeches. The programme...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Under the Passport Act, 2008 the Minister for Foreign Affairs must be satisfied that before issuing a passport that each person who is a guardian of the child consents to the issue of a passport to the child. In most cases, the guardians of a child are the married parents. However, a single mother or, on occasion, other family members may be the appointed a guardian or sole guardian of...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware that, notwithstanding significant efforts by the relevant authorities, instances of sectarian behaviour continue to occur in Scotland. Such incidents are frequently inspired and occasioned by sporting rivalries. I acknowledge the distress and offence that such incidents cause to the community. However, given the long and complex history of two-way migrations between Ireland and...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Additional requirements were introduced for first time applicants aged 18 or over and for those replacing a lost or stolen passport with effect from 17 January 2011. The aim of the new requirements was to strengthen procedures to best protect against identity theft and fraudulent passport applications. Given the importance of strengthening procedures, it was decided that the new...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Colombia has witnessed the longest period of upheaval of any country in Latin America - over 50 years in all. The Colombian people have endured relentless suffering, reflected in the fact that approximately 10% of the population has been internally displaced over the past number of years, a number second only to that of Sudan. The degree of lawlessness that arises from the absence of peace...

Written Answers — Departmental Projects: Departmental Projects (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Certificate of Irish Heritage is in the process of being established by my Department in direct response to a strong demand for such a scheme from those members of our Diaspora who are not entitled to Irish citizenship. I believe that the scheme will provide a practical demonstration of the inclusive approach adopted by successive Governments to our Diaspora. The Certificate of Irish...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passport Service is not in a position to maintain statistical information in relation to place of residency for passport applicants. I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to provide the detail sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (12 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I have recently appointed the members of the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC), for a term to run until 31 December 2012. The primary role of the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) is to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the allocation of grants to Irish community organisations in Britain under the Emigrant Support Programme. The Committee consists of thirteen...

European Council: Statements (13 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not regret anything I said during the general election campaign. If there is cause for regret, or expressions of regret, it is probably for Deputy Martin, his party and the other side of the House. The approach always recommended and advocated by the Labour Party was not a unilateral but a negotiated one, as outlined on several occasions. We could go on forever talking about how we got...

European Council: Statements (13 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Following consultations with the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, the spring European Council formally adopted the decision amending the treaty in order to allow member states of the euro area to establish a permanent mechanism to be known as the European Stability Mechanism to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as a whole. This will...

European Council: Statements (13 Apr 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The European Union is attempting to avoid a reactive situation. It is true that the EU found itself in a position where it had to react to the nature of the crisis in Greece, the difficulty in Ireland and more recently in Portugal. The idea of establishing a European stability mechanism for the eurozone is so that there will be, post-2013, a permanent mechanism to deal with circumstances...