Results 13,181-13,200 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Protocol Ratification (25 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The UN Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights opened for signature by UN Member States in New York in September 2009. To date, forty-two States have signed; this includes eleven of the twenty-seven European Union member States. Ten UN Member States have ratified the Optional Protocol: Argentina, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, El...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Expenditure (25 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The planning, implementation and management of Ireland’s EU presidency has been a major project involving all Government Departments and Offices over a period of approximately two years.In making preparations for the Presidency, there has been a consistent emphasis on delivering a cost-effective programme to a high standard. The budget agreed by Government in December 2011 was in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Funding (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On 8 February the European Council reached agreement on the European Union's multi-annual financial framework, MFF, for the period 2014 to 2020. Under the Lisbon treaty, the consent of the European Parliament is required before the MFF can be adopted by the Council. As Ireland holds the Presidency, we have had the responsibility of negotiating the text of the MFF regulation and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Funding (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I indicated, the Parliament rejected the multi-annual financial framework agreed to by the Council in February, with more than 500 Members voting against it. We have since been engaged in discussions with it to establish a basis for the taking of a further vote. A plenary session will take place next week and it is our objective that a vote will be taken at that stage. The negotiations...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Funding (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Agreement was reached yesterday on Horizon 2020, the plan for the research and innovation budget. The overall European Union budget for the period in question is a very substantial €960 billion for the period up to 2020. That funding is critical for the programmes it will underpin. The issue of own resources was one of those raised by the Parliament and agreement in that regard was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prisoner Welfare (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: This individual was arrested on 20 May under the Counter-Terrorism Act while transiting through Gatwick Airport. On 22 May he was charged in connection with terrorist offences committed in 1982. He is being held in HM Prison Belmarsh in south-east London where he has been designated as a category A high security prisoner. The Irish Embassy in London is providing consular support and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prisoner Welfare (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There are several aspects to this case. First, there is the strictly legal aspect and I am being careful not to stray into that. I am sure Deputy Crowe fully understands that. Second, there are the conditions under which he is being held. This has been raised by our embassy in London. Some issues relating to health matters were raised. The issues concerning visits have been raised....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prisoner Welfare (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have been in contact with the Secretary of State about this case. My Department has also been in contact with officials on the British side about it. There are two principal issues here, first, the conditions under which he is being held and the category A status that has been assigned to him. We have discussed these issues with the British authorities. The second, wider, issue is the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland has consistently taken the view that combating terrorism must be conducted with full respect for international law, in particular the law of armed conflict and human rights law. In line with the UN Global Strategy on Counter Terrorism, we believe that effective counter terrorism and the protection and promotion of human rights are mutually reinforcing and not competing goals....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Our view is very clear. Any of the measures used to combat terrorism must comply with international law, particularly the laws on armed conflict and human rights. Our view on this is well-known to the United States, among others. On the possible banning of drones, I draw the Deputy's attention to a recent statement by the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: What the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross stated was the provision of current humanitarian law, not his opinion. We have always led on the issue of disarmament. We want to reduce the use of weapons and the killing of people. This approach is very well known across the world. I do not see a prospect of an agreement to ban the use of UAVs. I want to see a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The ongoing conflict in Syria was a key item on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended in Luxembourg on Monday, 24 June. The Council had a thorough exchange of views on recent developments on the ground against the background of mounting casualties, with the death toll now estimated by the UN at more than 93,000, and the catastrophic humanitarian situation unfolding in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: First, it is important to state there is a unified European Union position that we have to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria. Second, there is a unified European Union position that it put its money where its mouth is. On the provision of humanitarian assistance, the European Union has provided €1.25 billion to date, with €400 million having been allocated on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, we have. We have drawn attention to the fact that there are countries that have made commitments to provide humanitarian aid and that these commitments have not been delivered on. We have delivered on our commitments and the European Union is also delivering. We support the holding of the Geneva II talks. A special preparatory meeting took place under Special Envoy Brahimi in early...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Marching Season (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I fully support the talks which were held in Cardiff on 18 and 19 May about the challenges facing policing in Belfast. The talks were organised by the PSNI, with representation from community leaders in the city. I was greatly encouraged by the cross-community nature of the meeting and the fact that the attendees included all of the main political parties, the Policing Board, community and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Marching Season (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As Deputy Crowe pointed out, it is important that we move forward. The Cardiff talks are ongoing and I understand there will be further meetings in Belfast. That engagement is to be welcomed and I hope it will ensure the language used during the parade season, particularly in respect of the 12th, will be measured and supportive of the difficult tasks the PSNI must carry out during the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Marching Season (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree that everybody shares a responsibility to step back. The Cardiff statement contains a number of elements, the first of which is respect for the PSNI's duty to uphold the law, while at the same time holding it to account. The appropriate way to hold the PSNI to account is by means of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I encourage everybody to minimise tensions during the parading...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Absolutely. There are no worries about it.

Other Questions: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 24 together. It is the intention of the consul at our embassy in Vilnius to attend on 27 June the appeal hearing of the person mentioned. The Embassy of Ireland in Lithuania and the consular assistance section in Dublin have provided consular assistance to the person in question since his initial detention in Lithuania and will continue to do so. The...

Other Questions: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have taken an interest in this case since Deputy Martin Ferris raised it directly with me some time ago and expressed his concern about conditions in Lukiškės Prison. As the Deputy is aware, the man concerned was transferred from Lukiškės Prison to another prison. The information I have on Pravieniškės Prison is that it is located in a forested area...