Results 13,341-13,360 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am obviously following current developments in Egypt closely and have already made clear my great concern at last night's events which saw the removal, following military intervention, of President Morsi's democratically elected government and the suspension of the Egyptian constitution. I also regret the violence which has occurred following large-scale and otherwise peaceful...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (4 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The reports of alleged US surveillance of EU premises are naturally of concern to all EU Member States, Ireland included. The EU’s External Action Service has sought urgent clarification of the situation in both Washington and Brussels. I understand that High Representative Ashton has also spoken directly to Secretary of State Kerry in a meeting in Brunei. The Government has already...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies Membership (4 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is committed to upholding a multilateral approach to international relations, based upon the equality of States and the rule of law. This commitment has been expressed through our membership of, and active participation in, international organisations such as the European Union and the United Nations. Membership of these organisations has enabled us to promote the interests, value and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflict Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Of the Arab population of Israel, about 170,000 are Bedouin living in the Negev desert in the south of the country. While none of these are any longer truly nomadic, they suffer from the difficulties common to non-settled communities in many developed countries, including in Europe, and other Bedouin living in many Arab countries in the region. These include lack of title to traditionally...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On 25 June 2013, my Department received requests from the Embassy of the United States seeking permission for two Hercules C-130 aircraft with tail numbers 644852 and 650986 to land at Shannon Airport on 30 June for the purposes of crew rest and refuelling. Both flights were en route from Trapani-Birgi, Italy, to Newfoundland, Canada. The requests confirmed that the aircraft carried no...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for Irish citizenship through Foreign Births Registration to the Consulate General of Ireland in Chicago on 2 July 2013. The application will be processed in the normal manner.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Trade with Israel (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important to re-emphasise that the Government’s main focus is on the Israeli settlements themselves, their relentless expansion and the restrictions enforced to bolster them, rather than on the less significant sub-issue of settlement products. The comparatively small amount of settlement products available on the EU market are insignificant in terms of EU trade with Israel, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 131 and 135 together. The Government is concerned about the human rights situation of the Rohingya community in Rakhine State. We continue to work through our Embassy to Myanmar/Burma (based in Hanoi) and through the mechanisms of the EU and UN to ensure that human rights are respected in Myanmar/Burma, including those of the Rohingya people. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Expenditure (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In order to inform the Irish public on the outcome of Ireland's EU Presidency, space was reserved in the Metro Herald and Irish Independent newspapers on 2 July and 5 July respectively. The costs for these information features were €14,000 in the case of the Metro Herald and €14,000 in the case of the Irish Independent, both exclusive of VAT. No broadcast or online information...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Boston College Case (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The allegations of surveillance of EU premises, if true, are of concern to all EU Member States, including Ireland. The EU’s External Action Service has sought clarification of the situation in both Washington and Brussels. High Representative Ashton has also spoken directly about this matter to Secretary of State Kerry and at a press conference, President Obama emphasised the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The standard four-year assignment of the current Consul General in Boston will end on 21August 2013 when he takes up his new post at my Department's headquarters in Dublin. A replacement has been nominated and will take up duty on 22 August.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy will be aware that I have on numerous occasions made clear my serious concerns regarding the overall human rights record in Bahrain and the need for positive actions on the part of the Bahraini government to improve the situation. I am aware of the news report in question regarding a meeting which took place on 30 June between the Secretary General of my Department and senior...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 139, inclusive, together. I am aware of the tragic loss of four lives as a consequence of clashes between Colombia’s security forces and protestors in the north-eastern region of Catatumbo. At my request, officials are raising these events with the Colombian authorities and are also in touch with the European External Action Service. I welcome...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Surveillance of EU Offices (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The allegations of surveillance of EU premises, if true, are of concern to all EU Member States, including Ireland. The EU’s External Action Service has sought clarification of the situation in both Washington and Brussels. High Representative Ashton has also spoken directly about this matter to Secretary of State Kerry and at a press conference, President Obama emphasised the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is not the practice for Ireland to enter into reciprocal arrangements with other countries relating to the granting of citizenship and no such arrangement exists with Australia. The conditions for obtaining Irish citizenship are a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. Irish citizens may obtain Australian citizenship through meeting the requirements outlined under Australian law.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (10 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is vitally important for the future of Northern Ireland that a stable and lasting peace be firmly established. As stated in the Good Friday Agreement, the tragedies of the past have left a deep and profoundly regrettable legacy of suffering. We must never forget those who have died or been injured, and their families. In the context of the “Together: Building a United...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (10 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 65 and 66 together. I also propose to make a statement on the matter. The Government follows closely reports of human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including reported cases of organ harvesting, and is concerned about the situation. Human rights issues, including the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, are issues discussed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (10 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) has a statutory role in ensuring that appointments in the organisations that are subject to its remit and to which it has awarded public service recruitment licences, which includes the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, are made on merit and as a result of fair, transparent, impartial and ethical appointment processes that embrace...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (10 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am pleased to confirm that the Passport Service does operate a system to provide a second passport to Irish citizens who are regularly required to travel into countries where possession of an entry/exit stamp or visa from another state would likely prevent a person’s entry into that country. Applicants are required to complete the standard passport application form and additionally...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Expenditure (11 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 65 and 67 together. In the European Year of Citizens, we felt it important to keep Irish citizens informed on the developments of the Irish Presidency through a modest cost-efficient information campaign. An information feature was published in the Metro Herald on 9 January. Coinciding with the visit of the College of the European Commission to Dublin,...