Results 9,701-9,720 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will begin by speaking about the embassy in the Vatican. I would like to set out the context for the decision to discontinue having a resident ambassador in the Vatican. As I said earlier, our small diplomatic service is very stretched. We have to make the maximum use of that.

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am talking about the decision in respect of the Vatican. That decision was taken in the context that we have a small diplomatic service and we have to make maximum use of its resources. We are in circumstances where representation is spread very thinly. What I would like to have been able to do would have been to combine the embassy in Italy and the embassy in the Vatican. The position...

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We are talking about two embassies in Rome. It was in that context that the decision was taken to discontinue having a resident embassy in the Vatican. I wish to be very clear that our diplomatic relations with the Vatican are good. The Government has decided to appoint the Secretary General of my Department, David Cooney, to be the ambassador to the Holy See and to service that mission...

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will take them.

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I apologise to Senators Leyden and Cullinane but my notes in response to their questions were on the same page. No offence was intended.

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Senator for the invitation to the Council of Europe, which I will consider. My programme for this year is extensive. I am fortunate that the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, will bear responsibility for part of it in conjunction with her EU work. We hope we will be able to work something out between us. On Senator Cullinane's question, I and the Secretary of State, Mr....

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: People operating in a political bubble are constantly speaking of referenda and the political implications of the treaty and so on. The issues of most importance to the people are safety of the euro, what is happening in the European economy and the implications of this in terms of their jobs and businesses and future investment here. The Irish Government's focus in dealing with this issue...

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We must do so in a way that makes sense and that corresponds with our economic priorities.

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am surprised, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, to hear that the Seanad is regarded as matter of foreign affairs.

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There is an agreed Government position on the Seanad, as contained in the programme for Government, namely, that there is to be a referendum on the future of the Seanad.

Seanad: Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer to Senator Bradford's question on President Obama and the issue about investment abroad. This issue arises in the United States at election time - it is raised by President Obama and other candidates - just as the issue of Ireland's corporate tax rate also arises during elections in some European countries. There is a very high level of investment from the United States in Ireland,...

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendments: Constitutional Amendments (7 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In the negotiations on the 'Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union' the Government's main objective was to secure a good deal for Ireland and for Europe. The Irish negotiating team – political and official – pursued a number of priorities, each of which was fully secured. These included ensuring that the position of countries in an EU/IMF...

Written Answers — Court Proceedings: Court Proceedings (7 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I understand that the matter in question relates to legal proceedings currently before the courts. It would not be appropriate for me to comment any further at this stage other than to confirm that officials from my Department continue to monitor developments very closely.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (7 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Emigrant Support Programme, administered by my Department, provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The strong emphasis of the Programme is on supporting culturally sensitive, frontline welfare services, which are targeted at the most...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (8 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Following on the recommendations contained in the report "A Place and a Name" of the late Tánaiste and Victims' Commissioner, John Wilson, the Remembrance Commission was established in 2003 to help address the issue of funding and support for individuals who were affected by the Troubles in this jurisdiction. The Government approved a budget of up to €9 million for this Commission and...

Written Answers — Land Annexation: Land Annexation (8 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department has no information on this matter.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The EU, US and Canada have enacted further restrictive measures against Iran in the light of the International Atomic Energy Agency's report on 8 November 2011 on the Iran nuclear issue. In its report, the IAEA expressed serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme and concluded that information available indicated that Iran had carried out activities...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government has closely followed the reported violent events in January in areas of Tibetan population in Chinese provinces neighbouring Tibet and is concerned about the situation. The recent protests and self-immolations – and the subsequent loss of life – are deeply regrettable. Ireland together with our EU partners believes that constructive dialogue between the Chinese Government...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, immigration policy is primarily a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. However I, and my Department, work closely with the Department of Justice, on an ongoing basis, on student visas and other issues. Officials from my Department attend meetings of the interdepartmental consultative group, established by the Department of Justice and Equality, to...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (9 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My officials will be participating fully in the forthcoming meeting of the Preparatory Committee from 13-17 February and in the Diplomatic Conference from 2-27 July where I hope agreement can be reached on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Our objective in these meetings will be to secure the most robust legally-binding and comprehensive treaty with universal application possible. Ireland...