Results 8,761-8,780 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — North-South Ministerial Council: North-South Ministerial Council (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Since the previous meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format on 10 June 2011, meetings in sectoral format covering all areas of co-operation have been taking place and it is expected that a full range of meetings will be held before the next NSMC Plenary meeting scheduled for November. In addition, I met yesterday with the First Minister and deputy First...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passports Act 2008, details the circumstances in which the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade may offer emergency travel facilities to Irish citizens. Section 15 of the Act provides that the Minister may issue an emergency passport to a person where (a ) a passport that was issued to the person has been lost, stolen or damaged or is temporarily unavailable or the person does not...

Written Answers — Trade Relations: Trade Relations (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 122 together. The Government's decision to assign additional responsibilities in the trade promotion area to my Department has enhanced further the already close working relationship with Enterprise Ireland both at headquarters level and in the field throughout the Embassy network. Enterprise Ireland clients are successfully exporting to major...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together. I have not discussed any substantive Treaty change with my colleagues. As the Taoiseach has recently said, the Government does not believe further Treaty change is necessary in order to deal with current difficulties in the euro area. We are, however, pursuing the process of having the guarantees given to Ireland at the time of the...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The human rights situation in Iran is profoundly disturbing, and the period since the Presidential election of 2009 has been characterised by an intensification of human rights abuses on many fronts. I am greatly concerned about the targeting of the academic community and educators in Iran, amid a widespread and intentional erosion of political and civil freedoms in Iran. Within this context,...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world, on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including official channels, reports of the United Nations human rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies, reports of Independent Experts and Special...

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (4 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Trade missions, including those organised by the relevant State Agencies, are a valuable support to Irish business in developing the exports which are crucial to our economic recovery. This is particularly the case in countries where Government-to-Government contacts are a prerequisite for doing business. My Department and our Embassy network work closely with the agencies and other...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am very concerned at the verdicts handed down last week to a group of medical doctors and nurses in Bahrain, a number of whom were either trained by or have worked with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). The sentences, which are being appealed, range from five to fifteen years. I am concerned at both the lack of due process — for example, allegations of torture while the...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (5 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In 2004, the EU and Switzerland signed a Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part, to combat fraud and any other illegal activity to the detriment of their financial interests. The Agreement provides for comprehensive cooperation between European and Swiss administrative and justice authorities...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: What the Government has had to do is undo the mess Deputy Ó Cuív and his colleagues made prior to the general election.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In case Deputy Ó Cuív has forgotten the large number of people who are out of work, the Government, as part of its jobs initiative, introduced a temporary levy on pensions of 0.6%, which is considerably less than the amount many companies are charging in administration costs. The companies in question are perfectly capable of absorbing the levy. The jobs initiative launched by the...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: There has been a significant reduction in unemployment. In addition, the Government is continuing with its strategy to focus on job creation through the strategic investment programme we have announced and initiatives such as the global Irish economic forum which will take place at the weekend and is intended to bring together people who are in a position to create employment and encourage...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: All of the money being collected by way of the pension levy is to be used for job creation measures in the four year profile of the jobs initiative. As I indicated, the levy is a temporary measure, the purpose of which is to support the jobs initiative and the creation of employment. While the Deputy is correct that the number on the live register falls every September, the decline in...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I will not defend for one moment bonuses paid to anyone in Anglo Irish Bank. As the Deputy well knows and acknowledged, the bonuses she refers to arose prior to 2009 and the nationalisation of that bank. Since that date bonuses have been ended. Those she refers to are bonuses that arose or were contractually committed to prior to 2009. The Government is in the process of winding down Anglo...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy is wrong.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government does not have a strategy-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: -----of targeting people on social welfare or low pay. On the contrary, this Government is defending and supporting those who have lost their jobs-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: -----and find themselves on social welfare payments, and those on low pay.

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: That is why we reversed the cut in the minimum wage-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: -----and why we are introducing legislation to reinstate the joint labour committees, JLCs, and regulated employment agreements. That is why this Government will ensure that those who have lost jobs and are dependent on welfare payment and people who are on low pay will be defended and protected-----