Results 12,041-12,060 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (30 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Investigating the existence or otherwise of a will is a private civil matter and is outside of my remit. However the following organisation (details supplied) may be of assistance to your constituent. (Massachusetts Probate Records: Link to website where enquiries can be made online: )

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Colombian Peace Process (30 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process and hope that the negotiations underway will bring an end to the long conflict that has caused much suffering. I recently led the Irish delegation at the EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean countries) Summit in Chile and I availed of the opportunity to meet with Colombia's President Santos and Foreign Minister Holguín. We...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Since the crisis first erupted almost two years ago, the EU has been prompt in adopting a wide range of stringent measures against the Assad regime and its supporters so as to compel them to stop the violence and to engage in a genuine and inclusive process of national dialogue mapping a way out of the crisis. EU sanctions include a range of individual listings as well as restrictions on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (30 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish emigrant communities overseas. The priority of the ESP, and of the organisations it supports, is in assisting the most vulnerable members of overseas Irish communities. These organisations have made a substantive difference to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations Conventions (31 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Under Part V of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea all coastal states are entitled to claim an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The EEZ is that body of water lying beyond the outer limit of a state’s 12 mile territorial sea which may extend to a maximum distance of 200 miles from shore, subject only to the same rights of its neighbours. The EEZ represents a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (31 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: EU enlargement is a priority for the Irish Presidency, and we will work to facilitate and advance the process for all candidates and prospective candidates. This commitment was demonstrated earlier this month when my colleague the Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton T.D., hosted representatives of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as representatives from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Agencies (31 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no state agencies or bodies operating under the aegis of my Department. Set out as follows are the details of one advisory committee and one commission which operate under the auspices of my Department that have vacancies. Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as the Dion Committee) The primary role of Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC)is to advise the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (31 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The EU and the US are two of the world’s largest trading blocs and already have very strong trading and investment ties with each other. The joint EU-US High Level Group on Jobs and Growth, set up following the last EU-US Summit in November 2011, was tasked with identifying policies and measures to increase EU-US trade and investment including a possible Trade and Investment Agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (31 Jan 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The welfare of the Irish abroad in general and especially the position of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States remains an important priority for the Government. 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. The advice of Ireland’s friends...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scottish Independence (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The people of Scotland will vote in a referendum in 2014 on the question of independence. Until then, any question about possible independence is hypothetical. If Scotland decides to become an independent country, the matter of EU membership would be for the government of Scotland to consider in the first instance and it is not appropriate for me to say what they should do. As part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Subject to confirmation in the revised estimates process, a sum of €1.9 m has been provisionally earmarked from my Department’s capital budget for necessary maintenance and refurbishment of State owned premises in 2013. The specific list of projects which will be taken forward in 2013 will be decided thereafter on the basis of an assessment of the relative need and urgency of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The NSMC most recently discussed the North West Gateway Initiative at its meeting in November 2012, and directed officials to prepare for further discussions at Ministerial level in 2013. Work is in hand to prepare for these discussions, although a date has not yet been set for the Ministerial Meeting. For my part, I would like to see the ministerial meeting take place in the near future so...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a number of funding streams for which community, voluntary and sporting organisations may be eligible. The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The emphasis...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 228, 230 and 231 together. The welfare of the Irish abroad in general and especially the position of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States remains an important priority for the Government. A resolution of the situation for undocumented Irish migrants will continue to be an important priority for the Government in our ongoing contacts with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland which would reflect the principles of mutual respect for the identity and ethos of both communities and parity of esteem, as well as the ECHR, is an important provision of the Good Friday Agreement. As recent events have shown, these rights remain as important to a peaceful future as they did when the Agreement was approved by the people of Ireland, North...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The UK’s relationship with the European Union is a matter, in the first instance, for its Government and people. I would, however, hope to see it continue to play a full and active part into the future. Like all Member States, the UK gains from its membership of the European Union, not least through unfettered access to a Single Market of more than 500 million people. At the same...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department attends and participates in conferences and seminars both in Ireland and abroad on a regular basis. It has not been possible, in the time allowed, to account for every conference or seminar attended in 2012. The following is a list of conferences/seminars attended where the fee was paid by the Department’s Training Units. Cost (€)PurposeLocationNo. of Delegates ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The total administrative cost of Irish missions abroad was €52.23m in 2011 and €51.66m in 2012. This was a year-on-year reduction of €0.57m for the diplomatic network of 56 Embassies, 7 multilateral Missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices overseas. Three diplomatic missions – Embassies to the Holy See and Iran, and our Irish Aid office in East Timor -...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Pension Numbers (5 Feb 2013)

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 (5 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no sanctions on the provision of medicines or humanitarian goods, or indeed on the great majority of normal commercial goods, to Iran. Sanctions have been placed on some Iranian financial institutions because of their involvement in supporting the nuclear and military programmes, or their involvement in evading sanctions or money-laundering. While this has meant some inconvenience...