Results 11,441-11,460 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

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

Eamon Gilmore: I will begin with the issues raised by Senator Healy Eames. I reiterate that there is no issue which is more urgent for Europe and ourselves than the issue of youth unemployment. The level of unemployment here at 14.8% is too high and we must get it down. That is the reason the singular focus of Government is towards growing the economy and the creation of jobs. There is a particular...

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

Eamon Gilmore: We live in a knowledge society. In regard to infrastructural projects, the stimulus package agreed by the Government during the summer is aimed at schools projects, health centre projects, and the recent decision on the national children's hospital. All of those, in addition to addressing service needs, are about the generation of employment. There are areas where the potential for growth...

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

Eamon Gilmore: In the European Union context we are talking about a seven-year budget. That is a false choice that is being presented. It is not easy to make that distinction, particularly where youth unemployment has to be addressed. We need to be careful not to sacrifice the urgency of dealing with the youth unemployment problem for some debate which has its-----

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

Eamon Gilmore: We are not in disagreement with that. Deputy Durkan made a point about solidarity. The European Union is built on the concept of solidarity. I tend to take the more positive view. The decisions made in June and October are clear demonstrations of solidarity. The decision to proceed with banking union and the decision in October in regard to timelines to complete the legislative...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I take the opportunity to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the brutal killing of prison officer David Black on Thursday, 1 November. This was a murder, pure and simple, carried out by people who have no regard for human life. The universal condemnation from across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland and the unified reaction from the two Governments underlined the solidity of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Deputy for his support and acknowledge the presence of the Fianna Fáil leader at the funeral of Mr. David Black. The Deputy referred to the claim of responsibility for this murder from a newly merged group of dissident republicans. According to news reports, responsibility for the murder of Mr Black has been claimed by a group of so-called dissidents comprising the Real...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am deeply concerned about the recent misappropriation of Irish development funding in Uganda. Ireland has no tolerance for fraud or any other form of financial irregularity in our development co-operation programme. This is clearly known to all of our development partners, including the Government of Uganda. I have suspended approximately €16 million of Irish development assistance...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Deputy for his support in this matter. It is important to remember that the misappropriation of funds was discovered by the Auditor General of Uganda. We take reassurance from this because our aid programme has been working to support institutions such as the Office of the Auditor General of Uganda. Therefore, the system worked. Second, we should remember that not only Irish...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Efficient and fair tax systems in developing countries are essential for sustainable growth, poverty reduction and the provision of basic services. They are also vital for the promotion of good governance. Tax avoidance and evasion, therefore, present a major issue for developing countries seeking to drive their own development. Ireland is playing a strong role at national level and in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, it did.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Deputy for her compliments in relation to Ireland's election to the UN Human Rights Council. When I attended yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on EU Affairs, I acknowledged the work of that committee, under the chairmanship of Deputy Hannigan, and the work of Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, under the chairmanship of Deputy Breen. The members of both...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will arrange to get a report on it. Obviously, we will not be represented at ministerial level at that conference because it is taking place on budget day. I will make it my business to get the papers from the conference.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The audit policy and approach in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is regularly reviewed and updated in the light of risk assessments, particularly with regard to the overseas aid programme which accounts for the largest proportion of the Department’s expenditure. The audit approach in my Department is in line with international auditing standards. The Department has taken a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree that this money, which was intended to go to programmes in areas like HIV-AIDS, schools and medical facilities, clearly should not have been misappropriated. We will not tolerate any misappropriation of Irish Aid funds. That is why we have acted so quickly in this matter. I assure the Deputy who referred to the recommendations of the audit committee that my Department takes the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes. As I said , the funds of three other countries - Denmark, Sweden and Norway - were misappropriated in this whole business in the Prime Minister's office. Our ambassador in Kampala co-ordinated meetings of the embassies of the three other countries concerned and worked to co-ordinate a joint approach on the issue with the Ugandan authorities. I was very pleased with the level of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Irish Embassy in Ankara, with other EU delegations, continues to monitor closely the human rights situation in Turkey, including the treatment of Kurds and other minorities. Respect for human rights, minorities and fundamental freedoms are core values upon which the European Union is built. Turkey, as an EU candidate, is expected to uphold these values. The European Commission’s...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We have some experience on this island of hunger strikes and where that can lead. The latest report I have is that there are 707 Kurdish prisoners on hunger strike and that there is a core group of 64 who went on hunger strike on 12 September and who are now on their 64th day. I understand three issues form the basis for the hunger strikers' demands. The first issue is an end to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I remain very concerned about the overall situation in Bahrain and the increasing divisions in Bahraini society. I condemn all acts of violence, including the recent bomb attack in Manama city which resulted in the deaths of two foreign workers. I urge the opposition to refrain from violent provocation of any kind. I have made clear in this House my view that all charges against the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I acknowledge the work done by Senator Averil Power and one of my predecessors, the former Minister, Mr. David Andrews. I met both of them in connection with their visit to Bahrain which this country has been pressing in multilateral fora to undertake human rights reforms. At the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva we raised our concerns about the grave allegations...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There is no bias in the way in which we approach human rights issues. We regard human rights as universal and want them to be applied in an even-handed way. I am greatly concerned by the decision of the Bahraini Government to revoke the citizenship of 31 activists, including former Members of Parliament. This renders some of those concerned stateless and deprives them of their most basic...