Results 11,481-11,500 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

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

Eamon Gilmore: My colleague the Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello, T.D., held bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Malawi and Mozambique on 16 October while he was in Brussels for the series of meetings and discussions organised by the Commission at the annual European Development Days event. Malawi and Mozambique are two of the eight priority countries for the...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Some 4,600,399 people currently hold Irish passports.

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

Eamon Gilmore: The Government and our EU partners are closely monitoring the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since the end of the all-out civil war in 2003, progress has been made in establishing a democratic system of government in the DRC. However, while much of the country has achieved a degree of stability, several localised conflicts have continued, in particular in the east...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 25 together. The fifteenth Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) was held in Armagh on 2 November 2012. At the outset, Ministers extended their sympathies to the family of prison officer David Black who was brutally murdered on his way to work on 1 November and condemned those who carried out this atrocity. Along with our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The peace process and the Good Friday Agreement have resulted in a transformation of society in Northern Ireland, perhaps most visibly in the normalisation of daily life and the dramatic decrease in terrorist-related incidents and violence. There remains, however, a threat from paramilitary groups who continue to assert their determination to impose a return to conflict on the people of...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 48 together. I remain very concerned about the overall situation in Bahrain and the increasing divisions in Bahraini society. This includes the recent indiscriminate bomb attack in Manama city which resulted in the deaths of two foreign workers. I have noted the recent decision by the Bahraini Government to ban protests, which I fear is likely...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I keep the operation of the Diplomatic Service under constant review in order to ensure that the service my Department provides to Irish citizens, the Oireachtas and other stakeholders continues to meet the high standards they have come to expect. In that context last year, and taking into account reduced resources, significant changes were made to the structures of the Department which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The individual referred to has been detained since 13 May 2011, following the revocation of her life licence by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Genuine concerns have repeatedly been raised about several aspects of this case in the House on many occasions, and I have raised them very frankly with the British Government. As the record of the House will show, I raised this case...

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

Eamon Gilmore: President Michael D. Higgins, accompanied by my colleague, Mr Joe Costello T.D., Minister of State for Trade and Development, recently visited Chile, Brazil and Argentina. Their programme had a strong trade dimension. During the visit to Brazil, now the world’s sixth largest economy, Minister Costello led an Enterprise Ireland trade mission. The President’s visit to Brazil,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Details of the staff recruited by my Department during the period in question are provided in the following table: 2010 Grade No of officers Location Full time / Part time Status Intern 7 Dublin Full time Temporary Special Adviser 1 Minister’s Office Full time Temporary Third Secretary 9 Dublin Full time Permanent Third Secretary 1 Limerick Full time...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The jobs and growth agenda remains the main priority of Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Tackling the effects of the financial crisis will remain an important challenge for the Union, but the focus must now shift to creating the conditions for economic recovery and job creation. Delivery on concrete initiatives, building on the Compact for Jobs and...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together. An overarching focus of the Government in planning for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2013 is to run an efficient and cost-effective Presidency. The Government decided in December 2011 to allocate a budget in the order of €60m over 2012 and 2013 to resource the Presidency,...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello, TD, made an official visit to Malaysia from 24-28 October. This was followed by a visit to Vietnam from 28-31 October. Malaysia is a priority market under the Government’s Strategy and Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015 which sets out the overarching framework for rebuilding and repositioning...

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

Eamon Gilmore: In September 2011, I launched the new Africa Strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the first Africa Ireland Economic Forum in Dublin. The Strategy builds on Ireland’s longstanding relationship with Africa, based on political support and the Irish people’s commitment to working to end poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries on the continent. It...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Catalan Self-determination (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: It is a matter for the people of any country of the European Union to establish the arrangements for their own democratic governance and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on that process in any one country.

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

Eamon Gilmore: No commitment has been made in the Programme for Government to discontinue the use of Shannon Airport by the United States military. What the Programme states is that “we will enforce the prohibition on the use of Irish airspace, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with international law”. Arrangements for the overflight and landing of US military aircraft...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 49 and 57 together. The EU and others have been engaged for almost eight years in efforts to negotiate with Iran a solution to the issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme. The EU High Representative, Cathy Ashton, has led negotiations for the E3+3 group (UK, France, Germany, US, Russia and China) with Iran at three negotiating sessions this...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland’s diplomatic network includes 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 which enhances the cost-effectiveness of our external representation. Our missions abroad perform a wide range of...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I am, of course, aware of the proposals referred to by the Deputy. The size, scale and distribution of Ireland’s diplomatic network is kept under review by my Department and considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. Any decision to adjust the State’s external representation by closing, opening or relocating missions must be made having regard to clear national...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 58 and 59 together. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the European Union for the seventh time during the first half of 2013. This Presidency will also coincide with the 40th anniversary of Ireland’s accession to the European Union. As in the past, our overriding objective will be to demonstrate that Ireland is a strong supporter of the...