Results 9,481-9,500 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has transformed life on the island of Ireland. In the May 2011 elections, the people of Northern Ireland gave their overwhelming endorsement to the parties committed to making the institutions of the Agreement work. The Government remains committed to protecting all of the benefits that have emerged from the Good Friday Agreement, and to...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (12 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The economies that will be achieved by the closure of the Embassies to the Holy See and Tehran and the Irish Aid office in Dili are estimated to amount to €1.175 million over a full year. This figure includes the relocation of the offices of the Embassy to Italy and the residence of the Ambassador to Italy to the state-owned Villa Spada, which will allow for a considerable saving in rent,...

Overseas Development Aid (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger, especially in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The programme is central to our foreign policy and enjoys very strong cross-party support. It reflects the true values of the Irish people and our long-term interests globally. It is recognised internationally as one of the best in the world - the OECD...

Overseas Development Aid (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Ó Fearghaíl tar éis dó comhghairdeas a ghabháil liom i ndiaidh mo cheapacháin mar chathaoirleach ar an OSCE, agus freisin le mo chomhghleacaí, an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Costello. Deputy Ó Fearghaíl has acknowledged we are in difficult economic and fiscal circumstances. When these are taken into account, the adjustment made to...

Overseas Development Aid (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We should never say that something is impossible. The 0.7% target was set as an objective internationally. It is important that we all remain focused on that objective and make it clear that it is our intention to reach it. There is no doubt that achieving that target by 2015, given our economic circumstances, will be challenging. The immediate objective is, as far as is practicable, to...

International Agreements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In December, it was agreed that, as part of our collective response to the current economic crisis in the euro area, we needed to further strengthen economic policy co-ordination and to construct a new "fiscal compact" to achieve this goal. Negotiations are ongoing on a draft treaty to give legal effect to this agreement. This work is being advanced outside the framework of the EU treaties...

International Agreements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As Deputy Mac Lochlainn stated, there are three elements to the economic crisis that we are facing, and all three of those elements are being addressed. On the banking dimension, as the Deputy will be aware, the ECB agreed prior to Christmas to make a very substantial amount of money available over a three-year period to the banking system throughout Europe. On the dimension of jobs and...

International Agreements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: That is not the primary objective of the Government. The primary objective of the Government is to work with others in Europe to bring stability in the first instance to the euro and to the eurozone and to ensure that the European economy grows and second, in doing that, to do so in a way that secures the best possible deal and arrangement for the taxpayers and the public of this country....

Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I fully share in the widespread revulsion at the images to which the Deputy refers. International humanitarian law obliges parties to an armed conflict to treat the dead with respect and dignity. The footage appears to show disgraceful acts which are in clear violation of these obligations. The Deputy will be aware that the incident disclosed by the footage has been condemned in the...

Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I take seriously the strong condemnation by the US Secretary of State, Ms Clinton, and the US Secretary of Defence, Mr. Panetta, of the behaviour we saw on our television screens. This State is in no way complicit in providing comfort for torture, rendition or other actions which breach the human rights of anybody, irrespective of whether they are in this country or elsewhere. If specific...

Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Our law is very robust in respect of the control of our airspace and airports by military aircraft. As I am the Minister with direct responsibility for approving flights, the Deputy can be assured that the use of our airspace and airports will comply with international law. There is no question of any doubt about that. If there are specific allegations that can be investigated, they will be...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have closely followed developments relating to the Basque country, including the public declaration at the San Sebastian conference on 17 October 2011 referred to by the Deputy, and the subsequent declaration by ETA on 20 October 2011 that the organisation had "decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity". As I have said previously, the Government supports any development...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The ending of violence by ETA is very welcome. As the Deputy stated, the way forward in pursuing political objectives should be peaceful and democratic and all of those involved should reject the use of violence. I welcome the statement that was made by ETA arising from the declaration made at the San Sebastian conference which contained five different elements or objectives. It is, in the...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important that we in this House recognise it is a matter for Spain and the Spanish Government as to how to respond. If one lesson was learned in the Northern Ireland peace process, to which the Deputy referred, it is very much that the initiative needs to be left to the countries concerned. In the first instance, this is now a matter for the Spanish Government. Prior to the general...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 54 together. I have made clear my strong condemnation of the ongoing violence and serious repression of human rights in Syria, most recently in a statement on 20 December and in my reply to Question No. 47 on 11 January. The UN estimates that more than 5,000 people have been killed by Syrian forces since last March. I am gravely concerned that,...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: When I attend the House to answer parliamentary questions, I do so on behalf of the Irish Government. The position as far as Ireland is concerned is that we have not issued any licences for the export of military goods.

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes but that is the question. My responsibility to this House is on behalf of the Irish Government. To make it clear, the position is that Ireland has not issued any licences for the export of military goods to Yemen or Bahrain in 2011. I acknowledge Deputy Wallace's support and his comments on the strong position Ireland has taken in respect of Syria, but we are not cutting and dicing...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said earlier, there is a common EU position on the export of military equipment. Eight separate criteria must be met before a country can export either military equipment or equipment used for military purposes to any other country. Those eight criteria include strong human rights criteria. Ireland's position is that we expect all EU member states to comply with those criteria. The...

Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 50 together. I have made clear my ongoing concern at the human rights situation in Bahrain, including in the cases of the medical professionals originally sentenced by a military court to heavy prison terms following last year's disturbances but whose cases are now being retried in a civilian court. I therefore welcome the publication of the report of...

Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn for his kind remarks in respect of the action taken by the Government with regard to the situation in Bahrain. As I indicated in my reply, we will continue to monitor what is happening in Bahrain, particularly the retrial of the medics and the protests and abuses of human rights. It is important to acknowledge any indications of progress and of a response from...