Results 12,861-12,880 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

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

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister of State with responsibility for trade and development Joe Costello, TD, visited Mongolia from 28 to29 April, becoming the first Irish Minister to visit the country. He also had a series of bilateral engagements, including meeting the Foreign Minister of Mongolia, Luvsanvandan Bold, Irish business people resident in Ulaanbaatar, representatives of a number of Mongolian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Service (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland’s diplomatic network includes 56 embassies, seven multilateral missions and ten 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. These include representing and advancing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 62 together. Trade missions are an important element of the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, which recognises the valuable role they play in developing and creating new trade, tourism and investment opportunities for Ireland. Ultimately, the contracts won and contacts made during trade missions lead to job creation and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Treatment of Prisoners (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) conducts periodic visits to places of detention in each Member State. The detailed response of the Spanish Government to the CPT report was also published at the same time. The visit was the sixth such one to Spain. It involved, at central level, meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government remains firmly committed to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrew’s Agreements. I will also continue to urge all the parties in the Assembly to engage in constructive discussion with a view to reaching agreement on the substance of a Bill of Rights. A Bill of Rights drawn up by agreement between the main parties of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Development (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Europe has faced an unprecedented economic challenge in recent years, with serious economic and social consequences. The Government has been engaged intensively with colleagues to meet these challenges and to get to grips with the consequences. At the core of this were the steps taken to underpin the security of and confidence in the euro. Mechanisms to provide support to Member States were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm to the Deputy that the issue he has referred to was not discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council nor, indeed, could such an issue be expected to be discussed in a forum focussed on EU external relations questions.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Marching Season (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The overall situation in Northern Ireland forms a key element in all of my regular discussions with the British government and with the Northern Ireland Executive. I can confirm that both issues formed part of my bilateral discussions with the Secretary State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP on 29 April in Belfast. They also featured in the joint meeting which the Secretary of State...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 59 together. The human rights environment in Bahrain continues to be of serious concern, particularly with regard to the ongoing reports and allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and detention of human rights activists. I fully understand the disappointment expressed by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan Méndez, in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: A passport reminder service is available on the Passport Service website . The reminder service sends an e-mail, to those who have registered three months before a passport is due to expire. Registration is simple and merely requires those interested to record their name, e-mail address and the expiry date of the passport. It is possible to register a number of different passports (e.g....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I welcome the extension of the mandate of the MINURSO Mission in Western Sahara, in the context of the key role being played by the UN in the efforts to bring about political dialogue between Morocco and the Polisario in Western Sahara. We have consistently supported for some time the proposal that there should be a specific human rights monitoring and reporting element forming part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Teachers' Remuneration (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 98 of 15 May 2013, which was as follows:I understand that the teachers' dispute with the ISM in Tripoli has been ongoing for some time. The case, however, has only been brought to the attention of my Department in the past week. The issue is currently being handled by the Department of Education and Science and the State Examinations Commission,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am involved in ongoing and frequent North-South engagement, with extensive contact with the Northern Ireland Executive. The Irish Government has no better or stronger relationship than we do with the Northern Ireland Executive. My colleagues in Government and I are committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive and continue to meet regularly with our Northern counterparts,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of concerns regarding the current security situation in the Sinai and of various media reports about the alleged kidnapping of migrants as well as possible exploitation, forced labour and organ trafficking. This is not least due to prevailing insecurity in the peninsula and the difficulties involved for local authorities in effectively monitoring all movements of persons and goods...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 60 together. I am very aware of the cases to which the Deputies refer and my officials monitor these and other cases very closely. The first individual was released by the British authorities under licence in 1992. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland revoked that licence in April 2010 and the individual has as a result been in custody for over...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland has repeatedly called for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, urging that those detained there be either brought to trial or released as soon as possible. I discussed this issue with Hillary Clinton when she was US Secretary of State. It is also mentioned regularly in discussions between Irish and US officials and between the EU and the US. I am conscious that his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Oversight (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department has in place rigorous accounting and audit controls that recognise the various types of risk inherent in delivering a large scale and multi faceted overseas aid programme in difficult and challenging environments. This is confirmed in the Statement on Internal Financial Control which is annexed to the annual Appropriation Accounts for this Department. This is confirmed in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On behalf of the Irish Government, I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the Government and people of Bangladesh on the tragic loss of life suffered following the collapse of a garment factory in Dhaka. I share the concern of Ireland's UN and EU partners regarding the current state of labour conditions in Bangladesh. Ireland's commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I had the opportunity to have a wide ranging and constructive discussion with members of the Elders group when they visited Dublin last Friday 10 May. The Elders are independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide. The Elders' visit to Dublin followed the organisation’s twice yearly meeting, held at Mount Juliet on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plays a critical role in ensuring humanitarian access to alleviate the suffering of millions of displaced people. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe...