Results 11,421-11,440 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (8 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Comprehensive Expenditure Report, published last year foresees a current budget allocation to my Department for 2013 of €733 million. This funding will support the achievement of my Department’s High Level Goals as outlined in its Statement of Strategy. On a “No Policy Change” basis, it is estimated that a total of €756m would be needed in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Immigration Policy (8 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: United States of America: In respect of the United States, the following are the relevant statistics based on information made available by the US Department of Homeland Security: Period Total Criminal Non-criminal Federal Year 2011(October 2010 – September 2011) 58 28 30 Source: Department of Homeland Security Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, 2011 Canada: In respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (8 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no State agencies or similar bodies operating under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Pensions (8 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: With regard to the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the calculation and payment of superannuation benefits is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Staff of the former Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) were integrated into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2003. Two former APSO staff and a spouse of a deceased APSO staff...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Human rights have been a priority of successive Irish Governments and are a key aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy. The Government is concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China. In April of this year, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade met with representatives from the Falun Dafa Association of Ireland and discussed the ways in which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Agencies (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no State agencies under the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is a strong supporter of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU perspective, and closely monitors developments in the country. Ireland’s embassy in Slovenia is accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina. While an Irish diplomatic presence in Sarajevo would be desirable, the considerable financial pressures of recent years have led to further reductions in Ireland’s already small...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Redeployment (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department was given a temporary reprieve for 2012 and 2013 from the impact of the Government’s Employment Control Framework and was also allocated 50 temporary additional posts by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in order to enable it to plan and fulfil its EU Presidency responsibilities and activities in the first half of next year. Most of the temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Communities Abroad (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, together. I am acutely aware of the plight of vulnerable Irish citizens around the world and in Britain in particular. Since 2004 the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), previously Díon, has provided financial support for frontline welfare services. There is an Irish Abroad Unit in my Department and an Irish Communities Section in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 173 together. As the record of the House will show, I raised the matter of prisoners with former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson on several occasions, and more recently have raised this issue with the new Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers. I know that the Taoiseach also took the opportunity to raise the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I have a broad range of responsibilities for Ireland’s forthcoming Presidency of the European Union. In identifying the main priorities of the Presidency, the Taoiseach and I have asked all members of the Government to use the Presidency to focus on the jobs and growth agenda across all policy formations. Tackling...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Promoting and expanding North/South cooperation is a priority for the Government. At the NSMC Plenary meeting which took place on 2 November 2012 in Armagh, I had the opportunity, together with my colleagues, to review progress across a range of areas of already existing North South cooperation. I have also been working with my Government colleagues in identifying further areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scottish Referendum (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 176, inclusive, together. The debate on Scottish independence is naturally one that I am following very closely. Any change in the status of Scotland within the United Kingdom would certainly have implications for our relations, both with Scotland and with the United Kingdom. Of course, the issue of independence is a matter for decision by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 179 together. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I seek to promote Ireland’s trade interests wherever possible, whether at targeted events organised by Enterprise Ireland or in the course of broader working visits. Enterprise Ireland is currently preparing proposals for Ministerial Trade Missions in 2013 which will be transmitted both...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The deeply worrying situation in Syria was a key item addressed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council which I attended in Luxembourg on 15th October. The Council adopted strong conclusions which made clear that the EU continues to stand by the Syrian people in their courageous struggle for freedom, dignity and democracy. The absolute priority remains stopping all violence and ending...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Reform (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Public Service Agreement, 2010-2014 (the “Croke Park” Agreement) provides a framework for public service management and staff to work together to reduce the cost of delivery of public services while also maintaining or improving the quality of those services. While Departmental Action Plans are a management responsibility, staff in all grades have been invited to input...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Thank you, Chairman. I am pleased to have the opportunity to brief the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs ahead of this month's meeting of the General Affairs Council which will take place in Brussels on Tuesday, 20 November. The General Affairs Council will meet for a morning session, at which I will represent Ireland and be joined by the Minister of State, Deputy Lucinda Creighton....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Senators Leyden and Reilly for their congratulations on Ireland's election to the UN Human Rights Council. It demonstrates the high regard in which Ireland is held by the international community. I pay tribute to my colleagues in government, and to members of the committee and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, who promoted our case, to become members of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will comment on the point made by Deputy Paschal Donohoe on Greece. Difficult discussions are under way aimed at helping Greece to return to the path of sustainability. It is fair to say one year ago there was much public and political discussion about whether Greece would leave the eurozone. That is not on the agenda and is not being raised as a serious prospect. It is important to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I apologise. We will work to ensure there is maximum Irish access to cohesion funding at regional level. It is not just a national policy. We are keenly aware in the negotiations of the need to maximise our access to those funds. We will watch the statistics relating to the relative prosperity of the regions carefully. More developed regions need to continue to be able to access cohesion...