Results 10,581-10,600 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

International Agreements (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I wish to be clear about this, because Sinn Féin has a habit of constantly misquoting, selectively quoting and twisting words and terms. The treaty on which we will vote on 31 May is not being renegotiated. The text of that treaty is clear and it will not change. What we are doing, and what we have been doing since last year, is pursuing a growth agenda. We have always said that the...

Foreign Conflicts (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As chairman-in-office of the OSCE, I was delighted to host in Dublin recently a major conference which was entitled "Shared future: building and sustaining peace - the Northern Ireland case study". My aim in hosting this conference was to support and encourage those engaged in efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts elsewhere in the OSCE region by sharing our own successful experience of...

Foreign Conflicts (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In this year, while we hold the chair-in-office of the OSCE, we have decided to concentrate on the three areas of conflict which are within the OSCE region, namely, the conflict in Moldova regarding the Transdniestrian region; the conflict in Georgia regarding the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which is the subject of the Minsk Process. We are...

UN Security Council Resolutions (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's national action plan in regard to UN Security Council Resolution 1325, on women, peace and security, was officially launched in November 2011. The plan sets out how Ireland will promote and implement the objectives of UNSCR 1325 in its programme support activities, diplomatic advocacy and policy-making across the interrelated areas of peace, security and development. By adopting a...

UN Security Council Resolutions (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is very much in a leadership position in regard to UNSCR 1325. We have adopted a national action plan which has been published. My Department has committed considerable resources towards the preparation of the national action plan. In 2009, a total of €485,000 came from the Department's stability fund; in 2010 the figure was €412,500. As I stated in my reply, officials from my...

Northern Ireland Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: This is a legally difficult and complex issue. The concerns referred to in this question have been raised with me by the Pat Finucane Centre and other human rights non-governmental organisations. Following receipt of these concerns, I discussed the issue with the Secretary of State on 27 April last. He told me that the process which led to the detention of the woman in question fully...

Northern Ireland Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said earlier, there were a number of sentences in this case. There was a 20-year sentence which, I am informed, was the subject of the royal prerogative. I am further informed that the royal prerogative did not apply to life sentences which she had been given and that those life sentences are subject to the life licence which was withdrawn by the Secretary of State. As I said, we have...

Northern Ireland Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said, there has been a request for a medical assessment to be carried out on behalf of UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health and I have asked to be informed on the outcome of that visit. In respect of whether the royal prerogative applies to the life sentences or whether it applies only to the 20-year sentence, again, the parole commissioners looked at that and they concluded...

Written Answers — Petrochemical Embargo: Petrochemical Embargo (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Given the major concerns which exist over the Iranian nuclear programme (as documented in a series of UN Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions since 2006), and given Iran's continuing unwillingness to engage seriously on these concerns or to address the serious findings highlighted in the IAEA's reports, the international community has had little option but to...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I understand the legislation referred to by the Deputy has passed into law in the Saint Petersburg region. While this type of legislation purports to protect young people, it is more likely, in my view, to result in further stigmatisation, and even criminalisation, of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) young people. In fact, I am aware of reports that an individual has recently...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am concerned at any reports of violence against human rights defenders in Colombia. I would fully expect the Colombian government, no less than any other government, to protect its citizens from attack. Human rights defenders and trade union representatives can be particularly vulnerable in this regard and additional vigilance is required in preserving their safety. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The person referred to by the Deputy first came to the attention of my Department on 15 November 2008 when one of his sisters contacted our Embassy in The Hague seeking assistance in locating him. She advised that he had not been in touch with his family since 23 October which was unusual for him. Officials from my Department have remained in contact with his family since then and provided...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The humanitarian situation facing the Sahrawi people is a matter of profound concern. The majority of refugees from the Western Saharan conflict live in four camps in the desert regions of Tindouf in Algeria, all of which rely heavily on international aid. Ireland is one of a very small number of donors who have been involved in the provision of humanitarian support to the Sahrawi refugee...

Written Answers — Election Observation Missions: Election Observation Missions (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Parliamentary elections in Armenia took place on 6 May. They were observed by an Election Observation Mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), as well as delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, and the European Parliament. The EU, other than the European Parliament, does not organise...

Written Answers — Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe: Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The OSCE, as the world's largest regional security organisation, plays an important role in ensuring peace, stability and security within the area which it covers (sometimes described as "from Vancouver to Vladivostok"). The collective goal of the Organisation, as agreed at the Astana Summit in December 2010, is to work towards a genuine Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community, rooted...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: On 21 April, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2043 (2012) authorising the establishment, for an initial period of up to 90 days, of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS). On 24 April, in response to a request from the UN to participate in this mission, the Government approved the deployment of up 6 members of the Defence Forces to UNSMIS. On 11 May six members...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am monitoring closely the case of Mr Nabeel Rajab, who was arrested on 5 May on his return to Bahrain from Lebanon for comments he had made on a social networking site criticising the Ministry of the Interior in Bahrain. Mr. Rajab has now been charged in court on 17 May with inciting protests through the use of social networks. Mr. Rajab's case highlights issues regarding respect for...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I have previously stated in this House, the decision to close the resident Embassy to the Holy See will not be reversed in the immediate term. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that any discussion of the basis on which it might be possible to re-establish a resident Embassy in the future is best conducted in confidence and I do not intend to comment further on this aspect of the matter.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 131 together. I am aware of the case that has been raised by the Deputy, one which officials from my Department have been closely monitoring. It is my understanding that the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, which is tasked with the delivery of prison healthcare services and the administration of medications within the Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Irish Communities Abroad: Irish Communities Abroad (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 135, 141 and 199 together. The welfare of the Irish abroad is a very important priority for the Government. There are particular concerns in the United States where addressing the position of the undocumented Irish and reforming our migration arrangements are priorities for the Government in its contacts with the US Administration and Congress. The...