Results 11,461-11,480 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The European Union has for many years asserted that the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be a two-state solution, involving a sovereign state of Palestine which coexists peacefully with Israel. Ireland has contributed strongly to the development of this policy, which now commands near-consensus internationally. Regrettably, progress towards this goal has been much less...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Middle East peace process is discussed at almost all Foreign Affairs Council meetings. We had a discussion on it in October and another discussion took place at the informal meeting in September which focused largely on Gaza and the difficulties in that area arising from contamination, particularly of water. What I am seeking is that at some point in the coming months the Council will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The attacks that have been taking place in recent days are extremely worrying. I reiterate that rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel must also stop. Israel is entitled to security for its people. Attacks of a terrorist nature from Gaza must stop, as must the attacks by Israel on Gaza. Just before I came into the Chamber to take questions, I received a preliminary report of a rocket attack...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Presidency (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade received a temporary reprieve from the impact of the Government’s employment control framework and was also allocated 50 temporary extra posts for 2012 and 2013 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 additional staff required by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Presidency (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: That is a matter of which we have been very conscious. We have taken on eight interns as part of the recruitment drive relating to the Presidency. We have also reassigned some experienced staff to various missions and consulates in order that they might carry out specific duties in the lead up to and during Ireland's Presidency. We have replaced them with temporary staff in some instances....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Global Economic Forum (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 26 and 28 together. Since coming to office in March 2011 I have repeatedly stated my belief that the Diaspora can make a meaningful contribution to Ireland’s economic recovery. The Global Irish Network is a central element of the Government’s engagement with the Diaspora in support of our economic goals. On 26 October 2012 last I published...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Global Economic Forum (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The population of the State is approximately 4.6 million, according to the last census. Approximately 70 million people throughout the world claim Irish heritage and there are 40 million people in the United States. It is a huge network. The traditional events such as St. Patrick's Day events are very important and they gather a big catchment of people. We have involved people who are...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 24, 39, 44, and 50, together. 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 with regard to our development programme. I have suspended approximately €16 million of Irish development assistance which was due to be...

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

Eamon Gilmore: As I stated in reply to this and previous questions, all aid from Ireland distributed through the Ugandan Government has now been suspended, and will remain so. We are at a crossroads in our relationship with the Ugandan Government. I am pleased the auditor general identified the misappropriation of funds and that we have a commitment from the Ugandan authorities to repay in full the money...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The millennium development goals were agreed by world leaders at the United Nations in 2000 as the framework for international development policy up to 2015. They provide a clearly measurable way to track progress in the fight against global poverty. The goals are central to Ireland’s overseas development programme, and to the Government’s development policy. As we approach...

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

Eamon Gilmore: In terms of our historic experience as a country, the Famine had a huge impact on our collective memory. We have always had a strong empathy with people and countries facing famine, hunger and poverty. There are almost 1 billion people living in the world who are undernourished and lack basic nutrition. Our aid programme is literally saving lives. It is helping to feed hungry people and...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I will arrange for my Department to circulate a brief paper on the figure for hunger and lack of nutrition. I was drawing a distinction between going to bed hungry and nutrition, but we can circulate information on it. It is important for us to remember that our aid programme is the right thing to do. It fits in with our values as a people but it is also opening up doors and opportunities...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Am I already into overtime?

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

Eamon Gilmore: I thought I should have been finished a while ago but I was too polite to say it.

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

Eamon Gilmore: I am 15 minutes over time.

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

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Acting Chairman. I am delighted to hear that and that the Minister for Health has entered the Chamber to relieve me.

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

Eamon Gilmore: The Acting Chairman just kept calling the questions.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government continues to attach particular importance to the welfare of the Irish abroad in general and especially to the position of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States. A resolution of the situation for undocumented Irish migrants will continue to be pursued by the Government in our ongoing contacts with the US Administration and Congress, including by myself and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: This Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme. Every day it makes a real difference in the lives of millions of the world’s poorest people. The programme is central to our foreign policy, has an enviable international reputation, and consistently enjoys strong political and public support. Over the past few years, and despite the very challenging fiscal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 45 and 60 together. Ever since the Syria crisis erupted 20 months ago, Ireland has worked tirelessly together with its EU and international partners to end the appalling violence that has so far claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people and to launch a necessary dialogue among all Syrians for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Since his...