Results 10,061-10,080 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Israel has never officially declared itself to possess nuclear weapons. It is one of just three states not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is acknowledged as a cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Ireland has a long and very close association with the NPT and, in national and EU...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 56 together. I am greatly concerned that Joseph Kony remains at large in Central Africa and has not been held to account for the atrocities which he and his so-called "Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA) are reported to have committed over two decades in Northern Uganda and the wider region. Recent publicity has raised international public awareness of the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government is giving consideration to all of the elements necessary to advance preparations for the referendum on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. The process of preparing an Amendment of the Constitution Bill has already begun. We will aim to publish it as soon as possible, once we have given careful consideration to its contents,...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: (Minister of State Mr. Joe Costello T.D.) The European Union - Commission and Member States collectively – is the most significant international aid donor, providing over 55% of all Official Development Assistance to poor countries. The Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) is one of three major funding instruments for EU development cooperation programmes, along with the European...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have made clear in answer to previous questions my deep concern about the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq, in light of the serious violence which took place in the camp in April 2011 and the Iraqi Government's clear insistence that it wishes the camp to be closed. Ireland and its EU partners fully support the process now underway and led by the UN to manage the closure of the camp. I...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am extremely concerned about the case of Pastor Nadarkhani, a thirty-four year old father of two who faces the death penalty for the charge of apostasy if he does not renounce his Christian faith. This comes amid repressive actions against followers of diverse faiths in Iran, including Sufis and Baha'is. I am particularly disturbed by reports that an execution order has been issued for...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the case of Mr. René González Sehwerert, who was one of five Cuban nationals known as the "Miami Five", who were convicted on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder in 2001 in the United States. I am also aware that Mr. González, who was accused of conspiracy to commit espionage, was released on probation on 7 October 2011. The government of Ireland has no...

Written Answers — Irish Communities Abroad: Irish Communities Abroad (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department offered all possible assistance in this case, through our Embassy in Paris and the Consular Assistance section in Dublin, during this person's detention in France. I am informed that our Embassy in Paris contacted the investigating Magistrate's Office in January 2012. The Magistrate's Office confirmed that the file of the person referred to remains...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no State agencies or bodies operating under the aegis of my Department. Three advisory committees - the Development Education Advisory Committee, the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group and the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as the Díon Committee) - operate under the auspices of my Department, as do the board of the Ireland–United States Commission for...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The table that follows this reply provides details of the mileage claimed by each Minister of State at my Department between 2005 and 2010. Official cars are not provided to Ministers of State. The figures reflect the motor travel allowances claimed for official travel undertaken, subject to the guidelines set out by the Department of Finance. 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Mileage...

Written Answers — Visa Agreements: Visa Agreements (21 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Enabling Irish people to apply for E-3 temporary US work visas has been a particular focus of the Government's efforts in the context of our overall ongoing exchanges with the US Administration and Congress on immigration-related issues. The Deputy can be assured that my Department, including the Embassy in Washington, is extremely proactive in pursuit of this goal. The Taoiseach and I...

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Niall Collins is correct that the Government committed to imposing no reductions in basic social welfare payments.

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We honoured that commitment in the budget. The Government is absolutely committed to defending the position of people with disabilities and their families, working with them and supporting them. That work is underpinned by that being carried out by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, and the Minister for...

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The change to the disability allowance was, as the Deputy says, paused. That position has not changed. I find it remarkable that on a day the Government has progress to report in regard to the promissory note and when we have just seen the publication of the report of the Mahon tribunal, the only issue Fianna Fáil can find to raise during Leaders' Questions is one that has-----

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: It is an issue that has already been dealt with by the Government.

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: First, to correct the Deputy, the debt did not just materialise in 2010. It materialised in 2008 when her party voted for the bank bailout.

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: That is the reason we are in this fix and the reason the Government is trying to fix it. It was landed with the highly expensive method of financing Anglo Irish Bank and the Irish Nationwide Building Society via promissory notes as a result of the disastrous banking policies of the previous Government.

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, and we have.

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Since taking office the Government has been working hard to lessen the cost to the taxpayer of rescuing the banks.

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: This has involved a long process of building trust and confidence with our partners in Europe.