Results 8,741-8,760 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The following tables set out, for both Votes, the details of external reports commissioned by the Department from 2008 to 2011 and the costs in each case. The tables have been prepared by reference to directly contracted engagements in respect of...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As part of the broader programme for UNGA Ministerial Week, I had bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Andorra, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Laos, the Palestinian Authority, Russia, and Serbia as well as the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, former Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil el-Araby. I had also been due to meet the Israeli Foreign Minister, but this did not...

Written Answers — Global Economic Forum: Global Economic Forum (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The second Global Irish Economic Forum will be held in Dublin Castle on the 7th and 8th of October. The primary purposes of the Forum will be to engage fully with the Irish Diaspora in developing Ireland's global business and trade relations; to discuss face-to-face the Government's priorities for economic renewal with key members of the international business community; and to strengthen...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 69 together. EU relations with Colombia and Peru are conducted in the framework of regional relations between the EU and the Andean Community, comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Negotiations commenced in 2009 on a Multiparty Free Trade Agreement between the EU and two member states of the Andean Community – Colombia and Peru. The FTA...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department's current taxi policy provides that taxis may be used for official business only in cases when public transport is not available or feasible or when officers are required, because of work or official travel commitments to travel early in the morning or late at night either to or from HQ or to airports or train stations. At other times, the use of taxis is not sanctioned. I...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 67 together. I remain gravely concerned about the situation in Syria. President Assad and his Government seem oblivious to the demands of the Syrian people for change and to the lessons of the "Arab Spring" elsewhere. It is unconscionable that the Syrian government has for some seven months calculatedly and systematically persecuted its own citizens...

Written Answers — Gender Discrimination: Gender Discrimination (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened on 13 September 2011. Plan International, a children's development organisation, is campaigning to have 22 September instituted as the International Day of the Girl Child. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through Irish Aid, has a long history of support to Plan Ireland, which is the national affiliate of Plan...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Turkey and Israel have clear, strongly held and conflicting views on the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths of nine Turkish citizens on the May 2010 Gaza flotilla, and attempts to resolve this issue between them have so far been unsuccessful. The publication earlier this month of the UN Palmer Report on the incident, which it was hoped might begin a move towards reconciliation, has...

Written Answers — Global Economic Forum: Global Economic Forum (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The inaugural Global Irish Economic Forum, held at Farmleigh in 2009, was an important milestone in Ireland's relationship with its Diaspora. A detailed update in respect of each of the 59 specific and medium term objectives identified in the Report of the Forum was published on my Department's website in April of this year. That document demonstrates the significant number of proposals...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The scale and presence of the Irish diplomatic network is currently being reviewed, along with all aspects of my Department's operations, as part of the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. Given the current budgetary situation, and recognising the role that our diplomatic network is playing in Ireland's economic recovery, any adjustments to our diplomatic network will continue...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 77 and 114 together. The United States has a critical role to play in the search for peace in the Middle East. Notwithstanding its long political and practical commitment to the security of Israel, successive US administrations have sought to encourage a political engagement between Israel and the Palestinians to reach a comprehensive peace, based on...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the case of the French citizen in question and of the controversy surrounding it. This case is being dealt with as a bilateral matter between France and Mexico. It is, however, being monitored by our Embassy which, together with the other EU diplomatic missions in Mexico, pays close attention to the situation regarding the administration of justice there.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland continues to support the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and the continuing engagement of the United Nations in the search for a political solution in the territory based on the principle of self-determination. UN Secretary General Ban's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, has convened several rounds of informal talks most recently in...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Emigrant Support Programme, administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish emigrant communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. Between 2004 and 2010 almost €81.5million was provided to organisations, the majority of which...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 to 93, inclusive, together. The calculation, payment and tax-treatment of superannuation benefits payable to retiring and retired staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are matters for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. However, I can advise the Deputy that three individuals who retired from the former Agency for Personal...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department engages the services of a range of professionals in the course of its work. They are used to provide specialist skills where they do not exist in my Department, to provide extra resources where necessary or to provide an external perspective where this is appropriate. In engaging such professionals full account is taken of the need for the service to provide added-value to...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Constituency Office is staffed by one Personal Assistant, one Personal Secretary and one Clerical Officer receiving combined annual salaries amounting to €132,963. While staff are not paid on a daily basis, I estimate that the salary cost of employing them for the first 100 days following my appointment was €36,428.

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 102, 104 and 105 together. I retain overall Ministerial responsibility for the co-ordination of EU affairs, including preparations for Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 2013. Following the transfer of the European Union Division at my Department to the Department of the Taoiseach, the Second Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach will be...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The St Andrews Agreement provided that, under the auspices of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC), a review group would be appointed objectively to examine (1) the efficiency and value for money of existing implementation bodies and (2) the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the NSMC, where mutual benefit would be derived. The group would also input into the...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to issue the regular 6 Monthly and Annual reports on Developments in the EU over the coming year.