Results 10,741-10,760 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Referendum Expenditure: Referendum Expenditure (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Media monitoring services were provided for the duration of the Stability Treaty referendum campaign at a cost of €3,075. No public funds were spent or budgeted for research, focus groups or polling in relation to the referendum.

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 176, inclusive, together. The Government's approach to humanitarian assistance is set out in Irish Aid's Humanitarian Relief Policy, which identifies the primary goals of humanitarian action as saving lives, alleviating suffering and maintaining human dignity. This policy highlights Ireland's commitment to upholding the application of international...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no organisations of the type referred to by the Deputy under the auspices of my Department.

Written Answers — State Visits: State Visits (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I have previously made clear in public statements, if the Government receives an indication that the Pope wishes to travel to Ireland, the Government will be more than ready to issue a formal invitation and to welcome him here. The willingness of the Government to invite Pope Benedict to Ireland has been made very clear by our Ambassador to the Holy See in the course of his meetings with...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland had 56 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices overseas. In addition to their country of primary accreditation, many Ambassadors are also accredited to additional countries on a non-resident basis. There are also 94 Honorary Consuls located in 54 locations around the world which assist primarily with consular functions on behalf of my...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The salary scales applicable to diplomatic grades are the same as those that apply to equivalent grades in the general civil service and, as such, are a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The salaries of diplomats and other staff temporarily posted abroad are subject to Irish income tax and other statutory deductions in the same way as any Irish based civil servant....

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There are approximately 35,000 passport applications in the system at present. Of these, 25,000 are applications received through the Passport Express service which attracts a ten day guaranteed turnaround. The other 10,000 are a mixture of urgent counter applications, postal applications, applications from Northern Ireland and applications from our missions around the world. I am pleased...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I have indicated to the House on a number of occasions, most recently on 6 March of this year, the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) has been the subject of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as its special committee on decolonisation. In its most recent resolution, adopted on 14 June 2012, the committee expressed its regret that, despite...

Written Answers — Job Initiatives: Job Initiatives (19 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department does not have a central role in the jobs initiative of May 2011 and has not raised any funds from same.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I have stated in reply to previous Questions, I was very pleased when agreement was reached last month following successful Egyptian mediation between the Israeli authorities and the large numbers of Palestinian prisoners who had been on hunger strike, apparently addressing a range of issues which had occasioned the protests. I have been very concerned however about two prisoners who did...

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We all agree that the report published yesterday is shocking. What it describes is a disgrace, the way in which children died while in the care of the State or afterwards. My own reaction after reading about some of the cases was that this was in the period of great prosperity. The report covers the period between 2000 and 2010, when there was so much partying going on, when there was much...

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The referendum will not be rushed, particularly as it has been signalled for some time. It has been made clear by the Government - in its programme for Government - the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, and the Taoiseach that the referendum will proceed and the intention is that it will be held in the autumn. As the Deputy is aware, there is a set timetable in respect of the introduction of the...

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ba mhaith liom ar dtús aontú leis an gcomhbhrón a rinneadh le clann Nolan de bharr bhás James Nolan sa Pholainn. Mar is eol don Teach tá ambasáid na hÉireann sa Pholainn ag comhoibriú leis an chlann faoi láthair. I wish to clarify a number of points. The budget in respect of homelessness has been maintained and is not being cut as alleged by Sinn Féin. A considerable sum of money...

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Deputy for acknowledging that the homeless budget is not being cut. It is, in fact, being maintained. With regard to arrangements with NAMA and discussions on acquiring housing from the agency, it will depend on the houses available. In some cases it will be appropriate to acquire houses and in others to rent them. Leasing terms will depend on the set of circumstances involved....

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Rent supplement was introduced as a short-term measure. The original idea was that rent to a private landlord would be supplemented for a short period of time until a person was housed through the local authority system or rehoused in some other way. It has become a much more long-term provision. The intention is that the longer term element of the rent supplement system will be integrated...

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Labour Party is not abandoning its commitment to the provision of housing for those who need it.

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett said, there are 230,000 empty dwellings in the State. As I said in reply to an earlier question, the Government is working with NAMA to have houses transferred to the public system in order that they will be available for people who need them. That makes sense. If residential property is not being used and is tied up in NAMA, it makes sense to use these...

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Boyd Barrett cannot have it both ways. He cannot on the one hand say that the cap on rents is resulting in people being made homeless and on the other hand say we should not pay the rent allowance at all.

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: But that is in effect-----

Leaders' Questions (21 Jun 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: What we need to do and what we are working on is doing what is necessary to get people housed as quickly as possible. I repeat that the Minister of State with responsibility for housing and planning is working with NAMA to transfer to the State houses and dwellings that are currently in NAMA ownership so that those dwellings will be made available for people who have a housing need. The...