Results 12,521-12,540 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

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

Eamon Gilmore: Brazil, now the world’s sixth largest economy, is a priority market under the Government’s Trade Strategy. Officials of my Department work closely with State Agencies to promote trade and investment opportunities in this significant market. The overall trend in trade with Brazil is very positive. Ireland’s exports to Brazil reached €256 million in 2012, up 58% on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 81 together. The position of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States and the need to provide opportunities for future legal migration between Ireland and the US, through Ireland’s inclusion in the E3 visa programme, are important priorities for the Government. Both objectives featured prominently in the meetings the Taoiseach and I...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 77 and 78 together. The situation in Syria was the major issue discussed at the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which I attended in Brussels on 11 March, and also at the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which I co-hosted with High Representative Ashton in Dublin on 22-23 March. These discussions focussed on how the EU can best...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Graduate Support Schemes (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Since Ireland joined the European Union, Ireland has been well represented in the EU institutions relative to its population, including at very senior level. From 2004 to 2010, however, the annual recruitment competition was only open to the new Member States. Since the reopening of competitions to all EU Member States, there have been a disappointing number of successful Irish candidates....

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

Eamon Gilmore: I have discussed the role of the Parades Commission in the context of non-notified parades and the upcoming marching season with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers on a number of occasions. I have also discussed these issues in regular ongoing contacts with the party leaders in Northern Ireland, and most recently in Washington DC with the First and Deputy First...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 80 together. Enlargement is one of the most successful EU policies, and it is a priority for the Irish Presidency. We see it as a vital tool for promoting reform, democracy and stability in the Western Balkans and throughout Europe, and we are working to facilitate and advance the process for all candidates and prospective candidates. Of those...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 11 March. In her opening remarks to the Council, High Representative Ashton briefed Ministers on a range of topics including the Iran 3+3 talks, the elections in Kenya and progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. France and the UK intervened on developments in Mali, Germany debriefed on developments in the DPRK and...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Article 3 of the Treaty on the European Union states that the European Union’s “aim is to promote peace, its values and the well being of its peoples”. Furthermore, Article 21c of the Treaty specifies that the EU shall work to “preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security”. The EU’s achievements in this regard were...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The Government of Ireland is aware of attacks on women in India in recent months and is concerned about the situation. I have been informed that India’s Parliament recently passed into law the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance (2013) in response to recent attacks on women. This follows a call on 31 December 2012, from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 20 February concerning this matter. As the Deputy is aware, the shooting of Malala Yousafzai in October 2012 drew widespread condemnation from all levels of the international community including the EU and UN. The High Representative / Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, and the Secretary General of the United National Ban Ki Moon...

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

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware from previous replies in relation to this Irish citizen, my officials remain in close and direct contact with the person’s spouse and family and liaise directly with them on any request for assistance or on any development on this case. The Ambassador and officers in the Embassy in New Delhi, which is accredited to Sri Lanka, have also been very active in...

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

Eamon Gilmore: In 2012, the total value of merchandise exports was €92 billion, representing an increase of 1% on the 2011 figure (€91 billion), while services exports for 2012 reached €90 billion, an increase of 10.7% on the 2011 figure (€81 billion). Overall, Irish exports reached their highest level ever in 2012. Merchandise exports to Europe increased by 3.2% in 2012, with...

Return to Writ: Meath East - Introduction of New Member (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I join with the Taoiseach in welcoming Deputy Helen McEntee as a Member of Dáil Éireann. I wish her a long and productive Membership.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Refusals (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: A passport name change results in the establishment of a new identity for the passport holder. Accordingly the Passport Service must insist on certain minimum evidentiary requirements to protect against fraud and identity theft. The Passport Service has written to the applicant in relation to this specific change of name request. The applicant should contact Mr. Ray Devine, Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas, with levels of publicity and media attention unmatched by the national day of any other country. Programmes were put together with a view to maximising the promotion of Ireland’s trade, tourism and investment interests overseas and to spread a positive message...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the body of water which stretches from 12 nautical miles offshore out to a distance of 200 miles. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea a coastal state has exclusive rights within its EEZ over fishing (although all EU member states have transferred their competence for conservation and management of sea fisheries to the EU), the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government decision in November 2011 to close our resident embassy to the Holy See was taken with considerable reluctance as part of a necessary budget process to reduce costs. The closure of the resident embassy to the Holy See has yielded substantial savings, not least as it enabled the significantly larger embassy to Italy and the residence of the ambassador to Italy to be relocated to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Controls (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Diplomatic passports are issued in accordance with the provisions of the Passport Act, 2008. Section 16 of the Act makes particular provision for the issue of diplomatic passport to persons who hold a diplomatic rank or to persons whom the Minister for Foreign Affairs considers it appropriate to issue such a passport in order to carry out their duties. The broad provisions of this are as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Numbers (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passport Service technology system does not record “address” information in the structured format necessary to facilitate the production of management information in relation to place of residency, place of birth etc. The availability of this information would require a fundamental redesign of the system, which could not be cost justified for this facility alone. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Numbers (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 190, inclusive, together. The availability of this information would require a fundamental redesign of the system, which could not be cost justified for this facility alone. This matter will be addressed in the context of any major system changes which may emerge in the future.