Results 9,041-9,060 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Diplomatic Representation (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The beef is in the country's improved reputation. It is fair to point out that, when we took office in March, Ireland had suffered considerable damage to its international reputation and the weekly reports we got on what was being said about Ireland in the international press made for embarrassing reading. I am happy to say that this situation has been turned around. Our strategy is aimed...

Diplomatic Representation (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am very clear about where the difficulties originated. At these sessions, I try to be as non-partisan as I can-----

Diplomatic Representation (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: -----but the Deputy keeps tempting me.

Diplomatic Representation (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Let us be clear about where the problems originated. In fairness, Deputy Ó Fearghaíl acknowledges that the work done since the change of Government has been proactive and that we have consciously set out to rebuild the country's reputation at official level with other governments. For example, our work in talking with media and business leaders has achieved a great deal. Compare the...

Middle East Peace Process (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland has supported the achievement of an independent Palestinian state for 30 years. I have made clear my strong view that I would wish to see this achieved very soon, and that the indefinite continuation of the occupation is quite unacceptable. It is incumbent on all parties, including Israel, to seek actively to bring the occupation to an end through the negotiation of a two-state...

Middle East Peace Process (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Deputy Halligan for his comments. The Taoiseach and I have already discussed the Palestinian issue and the Middle East peace process with President Obama. We discussed it with him when he was here in May. In EU-US bilateral discussions I have also discussed the issue with the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. In addition, I have also spoken directly with the Israeli and...

Middle East Peace Process (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: See how fair I am. I am deeply disappointed about what happened this afternoon and we have made very strong protests to the Israeli authorities.

Middle East Peace Process (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I understand that the issue this morning had to do with the airlines. Because they were presented as deportees the airlines were not willing to take more than two at a time. We felt we had that issue resolved by this afternoon and that all seven would be on board a flight. I understand that what happened this afternoon was that two of the seven were detained because of security clearance...

State Visits (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I hope to visit China on an official visit at a mutually convenient date in the coming months. The Government attaches great importance to widening and deepening bilateral relations with China, including the political and economic relationships. China was at the heart of the Government's Asia strategy and remains a key high-growth and high-potential market for Ireland under the strategy and...

State Visits (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Human rights issues in China, including individual cases, are regularly discussed on a bilateral basis with the Chinese Government, both in Beijing and in Dublin. At such meetings the Government continues to stress the importance attached by Ireland to human rights, and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and to urge the Chinese authorities to ratify the international covenant on civil...

Foreign Conflicts (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the report of DCI-Palestine, which documents the cases of 27 teenage children shot and injured while collecting building material near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel between March 2010 and February this year. These children and a number of adults scavenge for building materials among the destroyed buildings close to the border fence. This is testament to...

Foreign Conflicts (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Deputy for his kind remarks about my departmental officials who have worked very hard in the past week. Each day they have visited the 14 people in detention and worked to have them released and returned to their families here as quickly as possible. I have been in daily contact with our officials both here and in Israel on the matter. I had hoped that seven of the 14 people...

Foreign Conflicts (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: We have to seek a resolution of the conflict and the difficulties involved. Some progress has been made through the Quartet's statement. I have made the Government's position clear on the issues of Palestinian statehood and membership of the United Nations. We have to work constructively in order to find a solution. That is the approach I intend to take. I do not intend to mince my words...

Diplomatic Representation (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Vacancies at ambassadorial level occurred at the embassies in the Holy See on 11 June, in Brussels on 31 August and in Canberra and Stockholm on 22 and 30 September, respectively. As the Deputy will be aware, last week the Government decided to close the Irish Embassy to the Holy See. It also made arrangements to fill the other above-mentioned vacancies and others that will occur in the...

Foreign Conflicts (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: While there have been some improvements in living conditions in the north and east of Sri Lanka, areas formerly held by the LTTE, there are still many matters of concern. The north and east remains heavily militarised. The Sri Lankan army is closely involved in daily life, with the local population under surveillance by soldiers and military intelligence. I am concerned at reports of...

Foreign Conflicts (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: First, Ireland has played an active part in the European Union and particularly in the decision in 2010 to suspend duty free access for Sri Lankan exports under the generalised system of preferences after the Sri Lankan Government failed to deliver a written undertaking on human rights conventions dealing with torture, children's rights and political rights. Second, Ireland is active at the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I share the Deputy's concern at reports of human rights related deaths in northern Honduras. We have worked closely with our European partners to ensure that our concerns relating to human rights abuses are conveyed to President Porfirio Lobo and his Government. Honduras was reviewed under the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism in November 2010. At the UPR,...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's overseas development programme, managed by my Department, has an enviable international reputation and is rightly recognised as one of the best in the world. The programme's primary objective is the fight against extreme poverty and hunger. It is concentrated in some of the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa, has a rigorous focus on achieving results and provides strong...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 19 together. The decision to close the Irish Embassy in Iran was taken following a review of overseas missions carried out by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which gave particular attention to the economic return from bilateral missions. Trade volumes with Iran have fallen short of expectations with merchandise trade between the two...

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (10 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: A programme of Minister-led trade missions, organised in association with Enterprise Ireland to develop and expand Ireland's exports to existing and new markets abroad, is planned for next year. The full range of destinations is still being finalised at this stage. Once this has been done, I will be discussing the allocation of leadership responsibility for individual missions with my...