Results 13,241-13,260 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

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

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process and hope that the ongoing negotiations will bring an end to the long conflict there that has caused much suffering. I am following closely developments in the talks underway and have welcomed the agreement reached last month on the land reform element of these negotiations as a very positive step forward. I wish the parties success in reaching...

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

Eamon Gilmore: At the beginning of our Presidency, the Government set out in its programme the measures we believed needed to be adopted to secure our priority objectives of restoring stability in Europe, and creating jobs and growth across the EU. With just a few days to go to the end of the Presidency we can note substantial progress in fulfilling these objectives and I can assure the Deputy that we will...

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

Eamon Gilmore: 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 through the extension of the so called E3 visa scheme to include...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The newly appointed Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Mr. Kristian Vigenin, had a meeting, at his request, with Ambassador Rowan on 6 June. The meeting was one in a round of introductory meetings with Ambassadors in Sofia. The Minister recalled his good relations with Irish colleagues during his time as a Member of the European Parliament and discussed matters of mutual interest in a European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shorter Working Year Scheme (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Operation of the Shorter Working Year Scheme Year Number of staff that availed of the scheme Total duration (weeks) Average duration (weeks) 2012 47 263 5.6 2013 52 269 5.2 There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Training (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together. The information requested by the Deputy for 2012 is set out in the table below. Normal salary was paid in all cases. No. of staff who availed of Study & Exam Leave in 2012 Average duration of Study & Exam Leave in 2012 44 6.07 days Based on the number of applications received in the year to date it is expected that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Court of Human Rights Nominations (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As explained in my reply to the Deputy's PQ No. 61 of 18 June, a judge is elected to serve on the Court in respect of each High Contracting Party (state party) to the ECHR, although judges sit on the Court in their individual capacity. The judges are elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) from a list of three candidates nominated by a state party. In the time...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passports for Investment Scheme (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Visa and immigration decisions are solely a matter for the authorities of the country to which the application relates and are therefore outside of my remit. The person should contact the relevant Embassy directly to ascertain the current status of his application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I believe that all parties in this house will share my frustration at the lack of progress on a Bill of Rights. A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland is a very important outstanding provision of the Good Friday Agreement. I believe that many of the contentious issues around parades, flags and identities have rights at their core and resolution of these issues can only be facilitated through...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government’s Employment Control Framework has established a staffing ceiling for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of 1,348 posts by end 2015. This figure represents a significant reduction in staff numbers compared with an equivalent figure of 1,572 from March 2009 - a loss of a total of 224 or approximately one in every seven posts since the introduction of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I attended the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday 24 June.As you will be aware, the Council had a very busy agenda; the final Council Conclusions agreed may be accessed on the official EU website . Before dealing in detail with the outcome of the meeting, I should mention that the Council adopted new Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On 25 June 2013, I chaired the final General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting of the Irish Presidency. The main items on the agenda were the enlargement and stabilisation process; a proposal by some Member States for an initiative on democracy, fundamental values and rule of law; preparation of the European Council of 27/28 June 2013; and the Multiannual Financial Framework. Ministers discussed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The decision to appoint an Honorary Consul in Almaty had been made prior to the commencement of the review of the Honorary Consulate network. The appointment, which was approved by the Kazakhstani authorities last month, is expected to raise Ireland’s profile in Kazakhstan and to assist in promoting trade between the countries.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The appointments of our nominees for Honorary Consul in Kathmandu and Antalya were both approved recently by the Nepalese and Turkish authorities respectively. The Honorary Consul in Antalya has already commenced providing consular services and will be fully operational very shortly. The Honorary Consul in Kathmandu is also in the process of being established and is expected to be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Redeployment (27 Jun 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The following table sets out details by grade and institution or body of staff currently on secondment from my Department. The durations of staff secondments to other Government Departments vary as they may be terminated at relatively short notice, or extended, by agreement with the other Department and the staff member concerned. Secondments to international organisations are approved...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Those of us who have the honour and privilege to be elected to this House assume a unique responsibility. We have a particular duty of care to the men and women of our country, that in upholding our Constitution we enact laws which will protect them. We are all aware of the significance of this Bill and of the complexity and sensitivity of the issues that it addresses. We are aware, too,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: This is not a good week for Deputy Martin to get into that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is population.

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ba bhaith liom thar cheann Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre comhbhrón a dhéanamh le clann Phádraig Ó Fachtna agus freisin lena pháirtí, Fianna Fáil. On behalf of the Labour Party, I join the Taoiseach and Deputy Martin in welcoming members of the Faulkner family to the House and I pay tribute to the life and career of Pádraig Faulkner who served this...

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy would know more about spying than I would.