Results 9,501-9,520 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Emigrant Support Programmes (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The emigrant support programme, ESP, 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 2011 over €93 million has been provided under the programme. The priority of...

Emigrant Support Programmes (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for his response and for his question. The round of grant allocations for 2012 is about to be opened. Those who have benefited from allocations in the past and any new organisations that have emerged since then will be eligible to apply. Our objective is to maintain our commitment to the provision of frontline support services to Irish emigrants. As the Deputy...

Official Engagements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will meet them in Belfast.

Official Engagements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I assure Deputy Martin that I do not have any problem encouraging and instructing Ministers to engage fully with the Executive and Assembly and the different organisations and groups which may be relevant to their responsibilities in a cross-Border sense. The North-South Ministerial Council meeting held in Armagh had a genuinely good discussion of the economic challenges facing the North and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 42 and 69 together. I have made clear my strong condemnation of the ongoing indiscriminate violence against those calling for greater democratic freedoms and fundamental rights in Syria, most recently in a statement on 20 December and in my reply to question number 47 on 11 January. I will be discussing the current situation in Syria, including the...

Written Answers — Election Monitoring: Election Monitoring (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland contributed five short-term observers selected by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A member of the Oireachtas took part in the observation mission of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and a former member of the Oireachtas observed the election at the invitation of a Russian non-governmental organisation. The OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission issued a preliminary...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to my answer to a previous Priority question on this matter. I would add that, in its statement of 11 January, the European Commission recalled that a stable environment, based on the rule of law, including respect for media freedom, democratic principles and fundamental rights, is the best guarantee of citizens' trust and the confidence of partners and investors, which...

Written Answers — Trade Agreements: Trade Agreements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Under the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union has exclusive competence for the EU's Common Commercial Policy. In international trade negotiations, the Commission negotiates on behalf of the Union, on the basis of a mandate that it receives from the Council. On 1 March 2010, negotiations on a Multiparty Trade Agreement between the EU and two member states of the Andean...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in December 2009 which held that the prohibition in the Bosnian Constitution against those from the Roma and Jewish minorities from standing for election to the Parliamentary Assembly and for the State Presidency violates the European Convention on Human Rights. As outlined by the European Commission in its...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 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 47 on 11 January. The UN estimates that over 5,000 people have been killed by Syrian forces since last March. I am gravely concerned that, despite the...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 53, 65, 66, 96, 99 to 101, inclusive, 103, 107, 112 and 113 together. Since the current economic difficulties in Europe arose, European leaders have been seized of the need to find a lasting resolution that allows us to put the crisis behind us and to focus on generating growth and jobs as a means of underpinning recovery. Significant steps have been...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The wording of successive EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreements has stated that the Agreements apply to "the waters falling within the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Morocco". Morocco regards the Western Sahara and its waters as a part of its territory. However, Ireland and our EU partners do not recognise Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara. Western Sahara...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 55 together. I am gravely concerned about the lethal force used against protestors in Egypt during recent demonstrations in Cairo as well as raids last month by Egyptian security forces on local and international non-governmental organisations. I deplore such loss of life and large number of injuries occurring in the midst of Egypt's transition to...

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government is extremely concerned about the latest report of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran issued on 8 November which concluded that there are strong grounds for serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme. The further confirmation from the IAEA in the past week that Iran has begun uranium enrichment to the 20% level at the Fordow...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Colombia has witnessed the longest period of terrorism of any Latin American country (fifty years). Overcoming the consequences of decades of terrorism, as well as the displacement of between two and three million persons, presents significant challenges. The 2007-2013 EU Country Strategy paper for Colombia recognises that the "situation as regards human rights and democracy in Colombia is...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 118 together. Addressing the situation of the undocumented Irish and reforming our migration arrangements with the United States remain important priorities for the Government in its relationship with the US Administration and Congress. The Taoiseach and I discussed these issues with President Obama when we met with him on 23 May last year in Dublin....

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy has noted, I have made clear my view that the continuing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories, and the ongoing settlement construction project, are now the major obstacles to a lasting peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours, including the Palestinians. Settlement construction is in the first place illegal under international law, and inherently involves...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights opened for signature in New York in September 2009. To date thirty nine (39) States have signed. Nine of the twenty seven European Union member states have signed. Five States have ratified the Optional Protocol: Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mongolia and Spain. The Optional Protocol will come into...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I assume the Deputy is referring to the airstrike near the town of Uludere in Sirnak Province that took place on 28 December last. The loss of civilian life is in all circumstances a tragedy. Military activity should always be conducted to avoid civilian casualties and States should adhere rigidly to the procedures and rules of engagement for offensive action. I understand that the Turkish...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: St. Patrick's Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland's image and interests abroad. No other country in the world attracts as much public and media attention for its national day as Ireland does. I intend to ensure with this year's programme of travel that targeted use will be made of the marketing opportunity that St. Patrick's Day provides globally. In keeping with this...