Results 10,621-10,640 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Details are set out in the following table of a total of 8 retired officials of my Department who were temporarily re-engaged or who were already contracted to the Department during the period in question: GRADE POSITION HELD DURATION 1 Assistant Secretary Head of Task Force in connection with Ireland's Chairmanship of the OSCE, 2012 Contract from 7 January 2011 to 31 December 2012 1...

Written Answers — Child Abduction: Child Abduction (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The person referred to by the Deputy first came to the attention of my Department in 2007. Since then, my Department, through the Consular Assistance Section and Embassy of Ireland in Cairo, has afforded all possible consular assistance to the family of the person mentioned. I wish to inform the Deputy that this case has been raised with the Egyptian authorities at the highest levels on a...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The new scheme introduced for the provision of drivers does not apply to me in my capacity as Tánaiste.

Written Answers — Judicial Reviews: Judicial Reviews (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware that Leonard Peltier is a US citizen who was convicted in 1977 of the murders of two FBI Agents and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment. I also understand that a campaign has been mounted over the years seeking to overturn this conviction. I do not propose to make representations on this case.

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

Eamon Gilmore: On 19 April 2012, our Ambassador to South Africa presented his letter of appointment to the President of Zimbabwe. The formal presentation ceremony follows a strict protocol with the Head of State leading the conversation. The issue of human rights did therefore not arise in the course of President Mugabe's conversation with our Ambassador. However, Ireland's concerns on human rights have...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on all consultant expenditure and commissioning of such work is in full compliance with national and EU procurement regulations. The Department, through Irish Aid (Ireland's official...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I take it that the Deputy is referring to a meeting on adoption legislation which was jointly organised by the Kazakh Ministry of Education and Science and UNICEF on Friday 11 May in Astana. We understand that the purpose of the event was to inform Embassy representatives of updates in relation to Kazakhstan's adoption legislation. Ireland did not receive such an invitation; it was not in...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. The Government, along with our EU partners, attach high importance to the development of relations with the countries of Africa, to supporting economic and social development and to responding to the effects of conflict and natural disasters on that continent. Our national approach is guided by the Africa Strategy of the Department of...

Written Answers — Trade Strategy: Trade Strategy (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. Export-led growth is crucial for a small open economy like Ireland. The Government's Trade Strategy, formulated with the involvement of all the relevant Departments and State Agencies, seeks to build on our strengths in existing markets and to develop new opportunities in emerging economies. The Deputy will be aware that I established the...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland and its European Union partners monitor closely the human rights situation in many countries throughout the world, including in the Middle East. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources, including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. We make known our concerns about particular violations of human rights to the...

Written Answers — Western Balkans Issues: Western Balkans Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: All the countries of the Western Balkans were given a European perspective and their path to EU integration was confirmed as far back as the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki in 2003. The Summit Declaration also committed the EU to supporting the endeavours of the countries of the region to consolidate democracy, stability and to promote economic development. As the countries of the...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Neither Ireland nor, as far as I am aware, the European Union or the United Nations maintains a "top ten" list of countries in regard to the violations highlighted by the Deputy. In our foreign policy, which is expressed in direct contact with other countries or multilaterally through the EU, the UN, and other international bodies such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I have on a number of occasions stated clearly my grave concerns at the appalling situation in Syria. I have repeatedly condemned the unacceptable human rights violations and repression which are now estimated to have claimed well over 10,000 lives since the conflict first erupted in March 2011. While there was some brief improvement in the situation following the coming into effect of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The case of Chen Guangcheng has been raised frequently by the European Union including at the EU-China human rights dialogue on 16 June 2011. Mr. Chen, a blind human rights defence lawyer was, until recently, being held under house arrest in Shandong Province in China. Mr. Chen is no longer in China. He arrived in the United States on 19 May where he will take up a fellowship at New York...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (23 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland strongly supports the European Union's efforts to work with and encourage the parties to the Middle East peace process to reach a comprehensive settlement based on a two-state solution, in which Israel and a State of Palestine will coexist side by side in peace and co-operation with each other and their neighbours in the region. In our view, this is the only way the long-term...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Details are set out in the following table of a total of nine retired officials of my Department who were temporarily re-engaged or who were already contracted to the Department during the period in question: GRADE POSITION HELD DURATION ESTIMATED COST OF CONTRACTIN 2012 1 Assistant Secretary Head of Task Force in connection with Ireland's Chairmanship of the OSCE, 2012 Contract from 7...

Leaders' Questions (24 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: First of all, I want to confirm - as Deputy Cowen has said - that yesterday's meeting of EU leaders brought forward a number of proposals which will be worked on between now and June. They are aimed at stimulating growth and job creation within the EU. Those proposals fit in very well with the Government's plans to bring forward measures to stimulate the domestic economy. Yesterday's...

Leaders' Questions (24 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: With regard to the specific issue of water metering that Deputy Cowen has raised, the Government's decision is to establish a State water utility company, which will be done under Bord Gáis. Work is currently under way through Bord Gáis on the modalities of how that company will be established and what steps will then be taken following the establishment of the water utility company. When...

Leaders' Questions (24 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: First, it is important to recognise that the plans for water metering are at an early stage. The decision that has been made - perhaps some of this has arisen because some people speculated about what may or may not happen - is to establish the water utility company. That is being done through Bord Gáis Éireann. Those plans have to be brought forward in the first place.

Leaders' Questions (24 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: What the Taoiseach told the House, and what I confirm, is that it is expected there will about 2,000 jobs in water metering once that programme has been rolled out. The agencies which have responsibility for training will work in advance of that to prepare the courses and so on which will suit people on the live register who would be engaged in that work, but first we have to see the...