Results 13,201-13,220 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Other Questions: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The man concerned was found guilty of trying to purchase and smuggle weapons and received a sentence of 12 years. There is an appeal, which Deputy Martin Ferris mentioned. There is a Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons but that cannot be activated until the appeal process is completed. Deputy Ferris referred to two other cases in which extradition requests...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am following closely developments in Brazil in light of the wave of demonstrations that have been taking place there. These demonstrations began earlier this month as a protest at a rise in bus fares. Demonstrations have since spread to cities across the country and have become an expression of broader discontent on a range of issues. Grievances are reported to include the quality of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions Participation (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 47 together. Canada, which is the world's 10th largest economy, has been identified as a priority market under the Government's strategy for promoting trade, tourism and investment Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy . Ireland's merchandise exports to Canada increased by 11% in 2012 to over €780 million and exports by indigenous EI client...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The search for a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict is among my top priorities as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. In January 2012, I visited Israel, the West Bank and Gaza to see the issues on the ground and speak to leaders on all sides. I and my Department continue to avail of every opportunity to meet leaders and officials from the region, as well as EU and other...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European External Action Service (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The European External Action Service (EEAS), established by Council Decision in 2010, is the European Union’s diplomatic service which has been created to support the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). At present, it numbers some 3400 staff, spread between the Brussels Headquarters and 141 EU Delegations throughout the world. Under the leadership of the High...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the report released by the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice in March. I am deeply concerned by the accounts of human rights abuses of prisoners incarcerated in connection with the conflict in Sri Lanka. Ireland along with our partners in the EU believes that genuine reconciliation among all groups and communities in Sri Lanka is essential and requires justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On 29 April 2013 I met with Secretary of State Villiers and with the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Belfast in quad formation. Separately, on the same date, I met with the First Minister and deputy First Minister on North South Institutional matters. In both meetings, the then absence of an agreed strategy to provide a framework for a stable, shared society for the people of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Since 2009, the Irish International Immigrant Centre in Boston (IIIC) has been accredited by the US State Department as a visa sponsor for the J1 Irish work and Travel 12 month programme. The terms and conditions under which the IIIC participates in this programme are determined by its contractual relationship with the State Department. The IIIC provides legal and welfare services to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the recent case of nine refugees from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), repatriated to their native country from the Laos People's Democratic Republic in May. I share the concern expressed by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, in a statement on 5 June 2013, and support her call for all States to observe the principle of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Diplomatic and bilateral relations between Ireland and Croatia are excellent, and we very much look forward to building on these as Croatia accedes to the Union. The importance that Ireland attaches to Croatian accession and to our bilateral relations was demonstrated when President Higgins paid his first State Visit to Croatia from 5 – 9 June this year. Ireland has been positively...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The detention of the person referred to does not arise by virtue of powers vested in the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland but under devolved powers vested in the Northern Ireland Courts which are independent in the exercise of their functions. This is in keeping with the devolved settlement arising from the Good Friday Agreement and the Hillsborough Agreement. As such it would be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 25, 40, 51 and 63 together. I am deeply concerned by the violent clashes which have been taking place in Turkey. Pluralism of opinion, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful protest, should be part of every democracy, alongside the rule of law. The disproportionate use of force by the police against mostly peaceful demonstrators has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 53, 54 and 61 together. A resolution of the situation facing the undocumented Irish in the United States has been and remains a priority for the Government in ongoing contacts with the US Administration and Congress. The Government have also attached great importance to providing for future flows of migration between Ireland and the United States...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Venezuelan Presidential Election (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Presidential election that that took place in Venezuela on 14th April last was closely contested. The Venezuelan National Electoral Commission recorded President Maduro ahead of the leading opposition candidate, Henrique Capriles, by 1.49%. I am aware that Mr Capriles has disputed the outcome and is pursuing his claim through legal channels. The European Union and its member states...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Corporation Tax (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together. My Department has worked closely with the Department of Finance, the Revenue Commissioners, and the IDA to address inaccurate references to Ireland’s corporate tax regime arising from a recent hearing held by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Although the central focus of the hearing concerned perceived...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The quickest and cheapest way for customers resident on the island of Ireland to obtain their passport is to submit their applications through the passport express services offered by An Post and the Post Office in Northern Ireland. With effect from 30 June 2013, applications received by regular and registered post, which attract a higher charge and are more costly to process, will no longer...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 52 together. Customers applying through the Passport Express service are given a commitment by the Passport Service that ten days from the date of receipt by the Passport Service of properly completed applications a passport will be issued. Last year over 83% (428,000) of all persons applying for their passports in the State used Passport Express Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the recent protests in Sarajevo over the failure of the national Parliament to adopt a law on the Unique Master Citizen Number (JMBG). In May 2011, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ruled that Article 5 of the Law on JMBG was not in compliance with the Bosnian Constitution because of the inaccurate use of some municipalities’ names. The Constitutional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have closely followed developments in relation to the Basque Country, including the outcome of the San Sebastian Conference in October 2011 and the subsequent declaration by ETA on 20 October 2011 that the organisation had “decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity”. The Government supports and encourages any initiative that could lead to a definitive peace in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided to appoint the Secretary General of my Department as non-resident ambassador to the Holy See, thereby ensuring that contact with the Holy See is maintained at the highest possible diplomatic level. Ambassador Cooney has travelled to the Holy See thirteen times since the announcement of the embassy closure in November 2011, nine of which have...