Results 13,461-13,480 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: First, on the issue raised by Deputy Tuffy, when responding to this issue earlier I had in mind the performance of the Opposition rather than the performance of Members on the Government side. However, I did not wish to be unduly adversarial in my response.

Order of Business (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree that on the issue of the involvement of all Members of the House, the principle of equality of treatment of all Members of the House must govern the manner in which Dáil reform is considered. In response to Deputy Ó Cuív on the number of Bills, 12 Bills have been published thus far. Four Bills have been approved by the Cabinet and are awaiting publication and five...

Proposed Deployment of the Permanent Defence Force to UNDOF: Motion (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As Members are aware, the resolution before the House is part of the triple lock system, under which overseas deployment of the Defence Forces depends on a UN mandate, a Government decision and a resolution of the House. I strongly support the approval of the resolution before the House. I have been working closely with the Minister, Deputy Shatter, on this request. I fully support the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 61 together Immigration reform was the key feature of my visit to Washington DC on 11/12 July during which I met with many of the most significant Congressional leaders on immigration issues from both sides of the US political divide and at senior official level in the White House. These meetings included Congressman Paul Ryan, Congressman Bob...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 28 and 29 together. I propose to take questions 27, 28 and 29 together. The three terms of reference of the review of the existing North South bodies and of North South co-operation generally which is being undertaken in accordance with the St Andrews Agreement, are to examine the existing bodies in terms of efficiency and value for money, to look at the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Paragraph 34 of Strand One of the Good Friday Agreement provided for the establishment of a consultative Civic Forum. Section 56 of the Northern Ireland Act1998 required the First Minister and the deputy First Minister, with the approval of the Assembly, to make arrangements for obtaining the views of the Civic Forum.The Forum was set up in October 2000 and was suspended along with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance, and I would refer the Deputy to his substantive answer to No. 72 of 11 July 2013 which contains a list of representations received on the Directive, some of which were received through the Permanent Representation in Brussels. Given the extensive and routine contacts on legislative matters...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Foreign Affairs Council on 20 June, which I attended, discussed the broad situation in relation to the Middle East Peace Process, and in particular the prospects for the current efforts of US Secretary of State Kerry to get the parties to resume direct negotiations. Secretary Kerry has been working intensively on this issue since he took office, and is presently making his sixth visit to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Conflict Resolution (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 35 together. The conflict in Syria and the search for a political settlement will figure prominently on the agenda of the next Foreign Affairs Council, which I will attend in Brussels on 22 July. Recent diplomatic efforts, particularly the initiative of the US and Russia aimed at bringing both sides in Syria to a further peace conference in Geneva on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Monthly profiles for expenditure and receipts are in place in my Department and performance against profile is reported regularly to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and published by the Department of Finance as part of the Monthly Exchequer Statement. The Monthly Exchequer Statement for June has been published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Information and Communications Technology Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department is committed to maximising the use of available information and communications technology to enhance interaction with the citizen and the internal functioning of the Department and this is reflected in the ongoing investment in ICT. It is my Department's strategies, objectives and business process improvement initiatives which drive the selection, development and types of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has responsibility for the provision of consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad. Consular Services Division is the lead Division in relation to the response to consular emergencies and the provision of travel advice. The Development Cooperation Division which, inter alia, manages the Government's overseas aid programme, is also concerned with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rockall Island (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I have explained in previous replies to parliamentary questions in respect of maritime claims in the Hatton-Rockall area, Rockall itself is of no relevance in the delimitation of maritime boundaries. Denmark (on behalf of the Faroe Islands), Iceland, Ireland and the UK all make claims to continental shelf in the Hatton-Rockall area. Ireland and the UK have reached agreement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to the comprehensive report Results of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union which was laid before this House on 2 July, 2013, and which covers the achievements of the Presidency for Montenegro and all other countries in the accession and pre-accession process.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to the comprehensive report Results of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union which was laid before this House on 2 July, 2013, and which covers the achievements of the Presidency.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Lisbon Treaty which entered into force on 1 December 2009 restructured the working methods of the EU at a multilateral level in terms of co-ordination and representation. In particular, it called for EU Member States to co-ordinate their actions when participating in international organisations. This responsibility now rests with the European External Action Service, under the authority...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: During Ireland's Presidency of the EU, our main objective in the area of the Common Security and Defence Policy was to support the European External Action Service and the High Representative in their work in responding to crises as they arose. Two new CSDP Missions were launched during the first half of 2013: the European Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) and the EU Border Assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Marching Season (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 58 together. I am very well aware of the long standing concerns of some communities in Northern Ireland over parading and the potential for violence arising there from. It was to alleviate those concerns that the Parades Commission was established under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 with independent and quasi-judicial status. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In ongoing contacts with the British government, I continue to stress the importance of implementation of all aspects of the Agreements. I am firmly of the view that an Irish Language Act should be introduced in Northern Ireland. All parties to the Good Friday Agreement recognised the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity in Northern Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together. I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 62, 65 and 66, taken together, of 10 July 2013 and Question No. 175 of 16 July 2013 on this 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....