Results 12,501-12,520 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Criminal Court (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My understanding is that, following the admission of Palestine to sit in the UN General Assembly as an Observer State, Palestine is now eligible to become a party to the Rome Statute. Ireland is, of course, a very strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and has always supported and encouraged universal adherence to the Rome Statute. The main consideration for any state in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 46 together. Since the outbreak of street violence in early December, I have had frequent contact, both with the British Government and with party leaders. My most recent meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers MP was in Washington last week. We have agreed to continue working together to support the parties in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: At the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which I co-hosted with High Representative Ashton in Dublin on 22-23 March, a range of issues were discussed in relation to the current Review of the European External Action Service. Some member States have suggested that the Service might take on a greater role in relation to consular assistance. Ireland believes that the EEAS has the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the next Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council which will take place in Dublin in July 2013. The agenda for this meeting has still to be agreed with the Northern Ireland administration but I expect that the meeting will include discussions on a number of relevant issues such as the current economic situation on the island and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware my Department through our Embassies and Consulates abroad provides consular assistance to Irish citizens who encounter difficulties, including victims of crime. These services are coordinated by the Department’s Consular Division based in Dublin. The assistance offered is appropriate to the individual circumstances of each case. The range of assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I very much welcome the fact that there has been some progress recently in relation to political dialogue in Bahrain, with the main opposition parties agreeing to meet with the Bahraini Government within a process of national dialogue which recommenced last month. It is important that all sides engage constructively in this dialogue with a view to furthering reconciliation and reform within...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Syria has been the major issue discussed at the last two EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings in February and March, each of which I attended, as well as at the informal Ministerial meeting which I co-hosted with High Representative Ashton in Dublin on 22-23 March. The focus at these meetings was on the most appropriate steps which the EU can take in support of the ongoing efforts to achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Food Labelling (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Netherlands Government recently issued a clarification notice on product labelling. This was to the effect that, for products where place of origin is indicated, it would be misleading consumers to label products made in settlements as being ’Made in Israel’, as the settlements are not in Israel. Likewise, it would be misleading to label them as ‘Product of the West...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Fiscal Policy (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: While the issue of the transfer of fiscal powers from London to Stormont is a matter for another jurisdiction, I have said publically that I would view a reduction in the corporation tax in Northern Ireland as an opportunity for the whole island. This issue has been a subject of discussion at meetings I have had with the British Government and has also been raised at Plenary meetings of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Prison Committals (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 52 together. Policy on the placement and treatment of a country’s nationals in prison in the European Union is a matter for the democratically elected government and the relevant competent authorities in each Member State in accordance with domestic, European and international law, and, as such, it would be inappropriate for me to become...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European External Action Service (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: A number of member States have suggested that the EU External Action Service should have greater control over the European Union’s Neighbourhood Policy and development aid budget in the context of the EEAS Review. Ireland is supportive of a strong EEAS that fulfils the vision set out in the Lisbon Treaty of an effective and coherent EU foreign policy. The EEAS has achieved much in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 61 together. As the project in question is in the process of undergoing an economic review within the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland, it would be inappropriate at this time to discuss it at the North South Ministerial Council level. I can assure you, however, that we support this important project. The Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have noted on many occasions in the past year, including here in the Oireachtas, that the Middle East Peace Process has become bogged down and is badly in need of a renewed impetus. The uncertainties linked to the elections in both Israel and the USA contributed to this stalemate. Conversely, the renewed electoral mandates now of both the Israeli Government and the US Administration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. I have consistently stressed, since I took office, the need for an end to the wide range of restrictions imposed on Gaza by Israel. These restrictions have been imposed in response to actions by militant groups in Gaza but their effect is impacting very negatively on the whole population. One of them has been the confining of fishing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Programmes (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: EU cooperation programmes with external partner countries, and entities located in them, are administered by the European Commission; my Department is not in a position to monitor enterprises in those countries or entities which might be in receipt of some degree of EU support. I think it is likely that some enterprises based in settlements may have benefitted from EU programmes in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have made every effort to ensure that the Northern Irish Administration has been fully sensitised to our Presidency of the EU and I first raised it in a detailed manner with the First Minister and deputy First Minister at an NSMC Institutional meeting on 27 April 2012. My aim has been to ensure that we gain maximum mutual benefit from the Presidency. The Irish Presidency and other...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On Wednesday 20 March Syria formally requested the UN Secretary General to undertake an investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in Khan al-Asal, near Aleppo, following an alleged attack on Tuesday 19 March. It is not the first time that allegations of chemical weapons use have been made in the current Syrian conflict. Reports concerning the use of a known chemical weapon...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Nuclear Proliferation (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland has for some time called upon Israel to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) without further delay and to place all of its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. We have repeatedly called for universality of the Treaty in national as well as EU statements and also through our participation in the New Agenda Coalition....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the case of the Zimbabwean human rights lawyer who was arrested recently in Harare. The European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe in Harare is also following the case closely, and members of its staff have maintained regular contact with the person involved. We have been informed by the Delegation that the lawyer was granted bail by the Zimbabwean High Court on Monday, 25 March,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government identified the need to advance the prospects of an EU-US trade and investment agreement as a key priority for Ireland’s EU Presidency. I am pleased to report that significant progress has already been achieved with the decision of 13 February last by EU and US leaders to launch negotiations in the coming months. The EU and the US are two of the world’s largest...