Results 13,261-13,280 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Wallace should not be paranoid.

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, of course.

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree with Deputy Dooley that self-praise is no praise. Happily, on this occasion, the country has received very good complimentary remarks from other member states and from the leadership of the EU institutions about the conduct of the Presidency. I am pleased that we successfully concluded most of the files we set out to conclude. There is a satisfaction in that and I join in what has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passport Service may in limited circumstances issue an additional passport in accordance with the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 to a citizen where business, frequent travel or particular visa requirements make it necessary to hold a second travel document. A passport application for such business purposes was lodged with the Passport Service 2nd January 2013 by the person in question....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 158 together. There is no formal requirement on the devolved institutions to report to the Irish and British Governments on the implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements. Some provisions of the Good Friday and St. Andrews agreements such as a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, an Irish Language Act and an examination of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflict Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: is a journalist and Director of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression. With two of his colleagues he was detained by individuals believed to be from Syrian Air Force Intelligence in February 2012. He has been charged with 'promoting terrorism acts' under Syrian counter-terrorism law. There have been allegations that the detainees have been kept mostly in solitary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Arms Trade (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The brutal repression unleashed by the Assad regime in March 2011 in response to peaceful demands for change and reform in Syria has led to a full-scale civil war, with a mounting death toll (now in excess of 93,000) and one of the gravest humanitarian situations ever faced by the international community. The action of Russia, Iran and other parties in arming and assisting the Assad regime...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Rehiring (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department engages Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) primarily to assist the Passport Service during the annual peak passport demand period. A small number of additional TCOs were also recruited in 2012 to assist the Department in the lead up to and for the duration of Ireland’s EU Presidency in the first half of this year. Details of the numbers of TCOs engaged over the past...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As outlined in my reply to the Deputy's Question of 11 June, the recent unrest in Turkey is a cause of deep concern. The excessive use of force by police is deeply regrettable and should be investigated immediately. I would call on the government to fully engage with the protestors on their legitimate concerns, and I would urge calm and restraint on all sides. As also outlined previously, my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 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: Consular Services Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I can inform the Deputy that the Embassy of Ireland in Lithuania and the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin has, at my request, provided consular assistance to the person in question since that person's initial detention. We are in regular contact with the appropriate Lithuanian authorities in response to questions or matters which have arisen during the period of imprisonment. The person...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I stated in this House on 26 June, I am aware of failure of the national Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt a law on the Unique Master Citizen Number (JMBG), which is required for Bosnian citizens to exercise certain rights such as having access to health insurance and identity documents. This has had the consequence that as of 12 February newborn Bosnian citizens cannot get a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (2 Jul 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: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Jul 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: Passport Application Numbers (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Prior to the full introduction of our current technology system in Oct 2005 the Passport Service only recorded figures for passports issued on the island of Ireland. These pre-2006 records below do not differentiate between emergency and non-emergency passports. Issued in Ireland 2003 467,653 2004 506,889 2005 568,228 The following table outlines the country by country per annum...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Arms Trade (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 11 June 2013 to which the Deputy refers, the Government wish to see the rapid entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty, ATT, which will take place ninety days following ratification by the fiftieth State. Some of the provisions of the Treaty concern matters that fall within the exclusive competence of the European Union, as they...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government closely follows human rights issues in China, including reports of organ harvesting, and is concerned about the situation. Freedom of expression is an issue which is discussed regularly with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings. In March 2012, Ireland and China took a major step forward in strengthening our bilateral ties with agreement on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 68 together. I very much welcome the vote last week by the US Senate to approve a bill that provides for comprehensive reform of the American immigration system. This is a very positive development that takes us another step closer towards addressing the problems faced by undocumented Irish emigrants in the US and will allow them to emerge from the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Chairman for giving me the opportunity of presenting the revised Estimates for my Department for 2013. I do not propose to make an opening statement but will introduce each programme as it is being considered. However, given that the EU Presidency passed from Ireland just three days ago, it has been the single biggest international project in the past six to 12 months and longer...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The trade function in my Department is essentially a co-ordinating function. As the Deputy knows, a number of Departments have a trade function. All of that has been pulled together under the Export Trade Council, which I chair. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is on the Export Trade Council, as are the Ministers for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Transport, Tourism...