Results 8,341-8,360 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: At its meeting on 12 April 2011, the Foreign Affairs Council decided that "it shall, if requested by UN OCHA, conduct a CSDP operation "EUFOR Libya" to support humanitarian assistance in the region, in full respect of the principles governing humanitarian action, particularly impartiality and neutrality". The EU is currently undertaking the necessary planning to allow it to react quickly in...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's Embassy to the United Arab Emirates opened in October 2009. The Embassy also has secondary accreditation to Qatar and Kuwait. One of the principal reasons for opening the Embassy was to support Irish businesses in the UAE and in the Gulf region more generally, and to facilitate trade and investment in both directions. Currently, there are more than 40 Irish companies with...

Written Answers — Foreign Policy: Foreign Policy (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I look forward to continuing the development of our bilateral relations with Cuba. A Political Declaration on the renewal of our bilateral cooperation was signed on 1 March 2010 and discussions are ongoing to give effect to that Declaration, including as appropriate through the conclusion of a bilateral cooperation agreement. A further round of political consultations at official level will...

Written Answers — Development of the European Union: Development of the European Union (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 48 together. The founders of the European Union of today set out to create a peaceful, prosperous and united Europe. The Union today remains, despite the challenges we face, both prosperous and peaceful and embraces twenty-seven Member States stretching from the Atlantic to the Black Sea. The development of the European Union has frequently been...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is committed to safeguarding the rights of all citizens across the European Union and deplores violence or the threat of violence against any groups or citizens. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland actively supports the promotion and protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. This has been particularly evidenced through our engagement with...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Since the first introduction of the anti-homosexuality legislation as a private member's bill in 2009, Ireland, together with its EU partners and civil society organisations in Uganda, has been very active in highlighting the human rights implications of the draft anti-homosexuality bill and expressing strong opposition to the adoption of this bill. Ireland has been particularly vocal in...

Written Answers — Global Economic Irish Forum: Global Economic Irish Forum (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As leader of the Labour Party, I attended the 2009 Forum at Farmleigh and took part in a range of discussions with participants. The recommendations of the Forum contributed to the implementation of a series of significant initiatives across a range of areas, including: tourism; the promotion of Irish culture abroad; diaspora engagement; innovation; and business network development. The...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Colombia has witnessed the longest period of upheaval of any country in Latin America - over 50 years in all. 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 presents a major challenge to any government. The effects of terrorism and...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Due to a surge in demand, the turnaround time for Passport Express applications received through the Passport Express system is currently running between 11 and 13 working days. It normally takes 10 working days. During the peak summer period, application processing times for this service can lengthen and the processing period for ordinary post applications is currently six weeks or longer....

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government came into office with an explicit commitment to restore Ireland's standing as a respected and influential member of the European Union. There are three main components of our early efforts to establish lines of communication with partners and to re-engage constructively with the European agenda: members of the Government are availing of opportunities to meet their EU...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Enlargement continues to be an important aspect of the Union's external relations, which plays a role in promoting democracy, stability and prosperity in prospective candidate countries. There are currently three candidate countries negotiating accession to the EU: Croatia, Turkey and Iceland. There are two further countries which are officially candidates but have yet to open negotiations:...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Unfortunately, no part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses. Ireland, both bilaterally and in association with the European Union and other like-minded partners, makes frequent and numerous interventions with regard to human rights concerns in the countries which have the most serious human rights abuses. Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. Together...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland, together with our EU partners, is committed to enhancing stability in the Western Balkans region. The EU perspective for the countries in the region, agreed at the June 2003 Thessaloniki European Council, is essential in helping to build and maintain this stability. The EU will remain engaged in assisting the countries in the region to undertake the reforms necessary to move...

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

Eamon Gilmore: It is the normal practice of the Passport Service to seek original copies of birth certificates as part of applicant's proof of identity and, in many cases, to demonstrate his/her entitlement to Irish citizenship. The Department is aware that some Irish citizens who were granted refugee status by the State may have difficulty in locating a record of their birth and thus providing these...

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

Eamon Gilmore: In the case of the person in question, an application for a passport was made to the Passport Office in Balbriggan through the ordinary post passport service on 26 April, 2011. Applications made through this service do not have a guaranteed turnaround service, as is the case for the Passport Express service. I am pleased to confirm that a passport issued to the applicant on 1 June.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware from my reply to Question No. 32 of 14 April 2011, I am deeply concerned at recent reports of the use of force against Camp Ashraf residents in Iraq and the resulting loss of life. Ireland and the EU are determined to seek a long-term and peaceful solution to the predicament of the residents of Camp Ashraf. The EU Foreign Affairs Council discussed the situation...

Written Answers — Overseas Trade: Overseas Trade (9 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I and my colleagues in Government are firmly of the view that Ireland's economic recovery will be export led. In the Programme for Government, we committed to implementing a number of actions to achieve the maximum growth in exports, including the long-term development of new markets. One of the key actions in this regard is to progressively implement the recommendations in the Trading and...

Written Answers — Overseas Trade: Overseas Trade (9 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Trade and business events are included in my programme of meetings overseas wherever possible. In March I visited New York for St. Patrick's Day events before travelling on to Washington D.C. for a bilateral meeting with the United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. In New York I addressed the Ireland–US Council and met with U.S. based Irish business networks. I also attended a...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am gravely concerned about the case of Mrs. Asia Bibi. In November 2010, Mrs. Bibi was sentenced to death by hanging in a Punjab court for blasphemy. I understand that this is the first time a woman has been sentenced to death in Pakistan under its blasphemy law. When reports of the case came to the attention of my Department, a senior official contacted the Embassy of Pakistan to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Overall responsibility for audit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as for all Government Departments, lies with the Comptroller and Auditor General. My Department does not employ any external auditors. The Department has an internal audit function which employs four qualified auditors to undertake this task. In addition in our Programme Countries in receipt of Overseas Aid...