Results 8,981-9,000 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (9 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 to 58, inclusive, together. In 2013, Ireland will hold the Presidency for the seventh time. As in the past, our objective will be to demonstrate that Ireland is a strong supporter of the European project and a committed member that is capable of contributing to progress on the EU's wide agenda. Ireland will adopt a determined approach to ensure that its...

Written Answers — OSCE Chairmanship: OSCE Chairmanship (9 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland will assume the chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January 2012 for one year. Comprising 56 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America, the OSCE is the world's largest intergovernmental regional security organisation, dealing with a range of issues in the areas of democratisation, human...

Written Answers — OSCE Chairmanship: OSCE Chairmanship (9 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I will hold the position of Chair-in-Office of the OSCE for the duration of Ireland's Chairmanship of the organisation in 2012. I will bear overall responsibility for the executive action of the OSCE next year and the co-ordination of its activities. Officials in my Department have been actively engaged since autumn last year in...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (9 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, I attended the first Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh in 2009 where I met many of the attendees at the 2011 Forum. Since taking up my post as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in March, 2011, I have made a point of meeting with Global Irish Network members on my travels abroad. I met a number of the Network members in the US both during...

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

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will recall from my reply to him on 29 September, PQ No 44, I gave an undertaking that my Department would contact him when the Embassy received a response from the Isle of Man authorities in respect of this case. I understand that an official of the Consular Assistance Section of my Department contacted the Deputy's office on 19 October to let him know that the police...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I welcome the end of the conflict in Libya which, according to some estimates, has resulted in the deaths of more than 20,000 Libyans. I represented Ireland at the High-level Meeting on Libya which UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon convened in New York on 20 September on the margins of the sixty-sixth session of the UN General Assembly and was impressed by the new authorities' vision of an...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The Irish Government conveys its concerns about the situation in Tibet and related human rights issues directly to the Chinese authorities, through regular diplomatic contacts in both Dublin and Beijing. The European Union, on behalf of its Member States, also raises human rights issues on a regular basis with China. This includes human rights problems in Tibet and the disturbing events in...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (9 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The second Global Irish Economic Forum was held in Dublin Castle on 7 and 8 October. The primary purposes of the Forum were 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 ties with the Irish...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: When it comes to revisionism-----

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: -----there was a fair bit in the question. Fianna Fáil is hardly in a position to lecture the Government on taking firm action against the banks.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Let me deal with the issue. I welcome Deputy Ó Cuív's support for the strong stand the Government has taken on the decision made by some of the financial institutions not to pass on the interest rate reduction to their customers. Yesterday the Government had already arranged a meeting with Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Allied Irish Banks to discuss with them the issue of lending to...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, it is the view of the Government that the interest rate reduction should be passed on to customers and we are going to take this one step at a time. As the Deputy said, it is about taking action, not words, and the Government is acting on the matter. We had a meeting yesterday with the banks concerned, at which we told them what our objective and intention were - we believe this was...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Should, of course.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: That is step number two. If the banks do not reconsider their position, as expressed to us yesterday at the meeting of the Economic Management Council, on the basis of the assessment we receive from the Financial Regulator, we will take action, as appropriate.

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: We made it clear to the banks yesterday that the Government was contemplating introducing legislation in this regard. There is a period of time within which the banks can reflect on what we said to them yesterday and reconsider the position they have adopted. I hope they will take the opportunity to do this. If they do not, we will have the assessment of the Financial Regulator and will...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government has been very firm with the banks on this issue. The Deputy was not present at the meeting yesterday which he has portrayed as a polite conversation. The Government was very clear with the banks about its wish and determination that the interest rate reduction be passed on to customers. We made it very clear to them that if that did not happen, the question of introducing...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy may be absolutely assured that the Government will act in the interests of the people, in particular in this case the interests of those who have borrowed from banks and to whom the banks are saying they will not pass on the reduction in the interest rate. We have made our position very clear to the banks. One can communicate with them; one does not necessarily have to pull on a...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: We have made it very clear-----

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government has made its position very clear to the banks which I hope will reconsider the position they outlined to us yesterday. They know, as we do and everybody knows else, that when the ECB reduced the interest rate, the intention was that it would be passed on to customers and that the money would not be pocketed by the banks. We are considering whether we should legislate to deal...

Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy has said that a few times, but we have not received it. Immediately after the banks had told us yesterday that they did not intend to pass on the interest rate reduction, the Taoiseach made contact with the Financial Regulator by telephone-----