Results 11,881-11,900 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department provides support through the peace and reconciliation funds and the anti-sectarianism fund for community-based projects which are aimed at building cross-community relationships in Northern Ireland. We also place a high value on funding from the International Fund for Ireland and the European Union's PEACE programme. One of the Irish asks in the negotiations on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Use of Non-Conventional Weapons (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In contrast to the 2009 conflict, no hard evidence has emerged to suggest that Israel used non-conventional weapons in Gaza in November 2012. While claims of this kind have been made, there has been no statement by UN organisations or reputable NGOs on the ground alleging the use of non-conventional weapons. I have not seen any allegation to this effect from the de factoministry of health in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Use of Non-Conventional Weapons (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: We must deal with what we know. I would like to make it clear that non-conventional weapons should not be used at all. We do not have evidence that they were used, but we do have evidence of the considerable damage and deaths caused by the use of conventional weapons. Ireland was in direct contact with the Israeli authorities throughout the crisis, both through the ambassador here and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Use of Non-Conventional Weapons (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My officials and I are open to receiving first-hand information, particularly from people working on the ground. Apart from that, this is a foreign policy issue which is a priority for the Government. I expect the Israeli-Palestinian-Middle East peace process will be the subject of discussions again shortly at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council. While the hostilities have now...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland was recently elected to serve as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for a period of three years, which began in January 2013. We have long championed the vital role of the United Nations in the promotion and protection of human rights and will continue to do so as a member of the Human Rights Council. I am aware of the case of the individual mentioned which is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It needs to be made clear that this man's case is due to be heard by the Supreme Court in Belfast shortly. It would not be appropriate to have a public discussion on the merits or otherwise of that case in advance of it being heard. I am very much aware of the cases of a number of prisoners in Northern Ireland. I have discussed them with the current Secretary of State and her predecessor....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Of course I am willing to meet the delegation that travelled to Northern Ireland. As the Deputy has acknowledged, there has been some confusion about the logistical arrangements for the meeting. I would be quite happy to have the meeting as quickly as it can be arranged. I would be particularly interested to hear the assessment of the delegation that visited the prison. I must make it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Over 3,500 people died during the Troubles. The pain that their relatives and friends continue to endure to this day is considerable. There is no hierarchy of loss or grief for these families. They all seek the truth of what happened to their relatives. The Finucane family is no different in this regard. The Government continues to seek a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The British Government is aware of the Government's position on this issue. The Taoiseach has communicated that directly to Prime Minister Cameron and I have communicated it directly to Secretary of State Villiers. When I have had an opportunity to do so, I have raised it with Deputy Prime Minister Clegg and Foreign Minister Hague as well. The British Government decided not to hold a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree with Deputy Smith that the Finucane family, Geraldine Finucane in particular, have pursued this issue with great determination and great dignity. I spoke with Geraldine Finucane on the day the report was published. We agreed I would meet her and her family early in the new year to discuss where we go from here. I hope to arrange that meeting in the near future and to keep in close...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: With the move to performance budgeting in 2012, the layout of the Estimates has changed. All expenditure is now grouped under departmental programmes which combine administrative and direct expenditure attributable to each area of activity. In the case of Programme C – Reconciliation and Co-operation On This Island, the overall allocation for 2013 is €18.334 million, a slight...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: First, in respect of the Estimate, which was the subject of the question, I would be very happy to take the opportunity at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, if the Deputy wishes, to tease through some of the detail. The 2012 Estimate was the first on which we undertook this performance budgeting. The...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government and the European Union share the widespread international concern about the situation in Mali. The UN Security Council has adopted three resolutions on the situation since July 2012. During the past week there has been a serious escalation in the conflict as militants based in the north pushed southwards towards Mali’s capital, Bamako. On 10 January the UN Security...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As stated, the situation in Mali will be discussed at the special meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council tomorrow. Unfortunately, as I am attending the meeting in Belfast I will not be able to be in Brussels but the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, will represent me at tomorrow's meeting of foreign ministers. There will be a full discussion on the action that has been taken. We will...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The situation in Mali is very serious. I agree it is the case that there is a spillover from one country to another. The French intervention and the intervention of the African Union and ECOWAS is all being done to support the Malian authorities. There is a very serious danger of terrorism in that area. Recent meetings of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council have adopted conclusions...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank both Deputies for raising this issue. In the light of the ongoing protests and tensions in Northern Ireland, there is a need for broad political agreement among the political parties on a way forward. In recent weeks we have seen widespread street violence in Belfast and elsewhere in Northern Ireland. We have seen attacks on the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, including...

Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important that we recognise progress has been made. Deputy Micheál Martin will remember, as he was directly involved, that there was a time when it was stop-go with the institutions in the North. They were up and running, before being suspended and are now up and running again. Since then there has been a prolonged period, including an election period, where the Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 27 and 34 together. The conflict in Syria, which arose from a basic demand on the part of ordinary Syrians for greater freedom and democracy and which by the UN’s estimate has to date cost up to 60,000 lives, has been a major priority for the European Union over the past two years. It will remain a major priority during the period of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Nuclear Proliferation (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 21 and 64 together. Ireland fully supports the diplomatic efforts which are being made with Iran to address the serious international concerns arising from its nuclear programme. It also fully supports the sanctions imposed on Iran with a view to securing diplomatic engagement. Progressive sanctions have been reluctantly imposed by the EU, particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Presidency Programme (16 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The founding fathers of European integration sought to develop a Europe of peace, security and prosperity for its people. The success of the European project can be in no doubt today in that regard. However, the considerable challenges that Ireland and the EU face today are very different to those of sixty years ago. Our values remain the same. But the challenge of delivering to our...