Results 14,241-14,260 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I have stated previously, the Irish Embassy in Brussels has been closely following developments in relation to this case. As the Deputy will be aware, the company has engaged the services of a French-based agency to act on its behalf in relation to the claims submitted to the Belgian Customs for reimbursement of excise duties paid in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. I am pleased to note that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have consistently called for the end of all restrictions on normal movement in and out of Gaza, and will continue to do so. Ireland is very much to the fore in raising concerns with our European partners on the restrictive measures on access and movement imposed on Gaza by Israel and Egypt and pressing for strong EU action to improve the situation within the Territory. There has been some...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions Data (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, Enterprise Ireland is the Government agency responsible for the development and internationalisation of Irish enterprises. Each year, Enterprise Ireland organises a series of targeted, international, Ministerial-led trade missions. The participation by Irish companies in those missions is organised by Enterprise Ireland. I am informed that Enterprise Ireland takes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Over 3,500 people died during the Troubles. The suffering of their relatives and friends endures to this day. There is no hierarchy of loss or grief for these families. However, both Governments accepted at Weston Park that certain cases from the past remained a source of grave public concern, particularly those giving rise to serious allegations of collusion by the security forces in each...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. I issued a strong statement on behalf of the government following the attempted bomb attack in Belfast's Victoria Street on Sunday 24 November, calling on the public to share any information relevant to the investigation with the PSNI. I know that I speak for all members of the Oireachtas in our repudiation of such incidents. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: This issue is raised in high level meetings with our British counterparts on an ongoing basis. Most recently, on 13 November last, I met in London with British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Our discussions covered a range of issues including Britain's future in Europe. I outlined to him our strong view that the UK is better off within the European Union and that the Union is stronger...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The central grave finding of the Smithwick tribunal report is that there was collusion within An Garda Síochána and the IRA in the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan. I am appalled and saddened by this finding, as I know all in this House will be. The Government apologised immediately on the publication of Judge Smithwick’s...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I acknowledge and agree with what Deputy Martin said about the importance of the Weston Park Agreement. The 2001 Weston Park Agreement identified a number of cases where there was concern involving serious allegations of collusion by agents of the state - security forces in both jurisdictions. It clearly determined that those cases had to be examined. The particular case we had to examine...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important that we reflect on what is important today. The report has just been published. It is important, in the first instance, that we think of the two families who lost a father and a husband. It is important that we think of those in the then RUC, now the PSNI, who lost colleagues. We should think also of the trauma that I have no doubt the report will cause among members of An...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important that we return again to the core of this question. A report has just been published, following an inquiry that was undertaken for eight years. It is a very extensive report and goes through a significant amount of evidence. It comments on that evidence and concludes that there was collusion between some members of An Garda Síochána and the IRA that led to the...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: ----saying what he has said. Regarding the proposal from Sinn Féin for dealing with the past, a process is now under way, under Dr. Haass, and we should all participate in that.

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have discussed this directly with Deputy Adams in meetings I have had with him in his capacity as leader of Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin should engage fully with the process-----

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: -----as I know it is doing.

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, I know it is engaging fully in the Haass process. This Government will also engage with it. We need to deal with the past, comprehensively. We should see the Haass process through. A number of proposals have been put forward as to how to deal with the past and we should all engage conclusively with that. The most important point is that while we have to deal with the past, we should...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister for Finance, on behalf of the State, has concluded negotiations on the sale and redemption of preference shares in Bank of Ireland. This transaction will see the State recouping a premium on the initial €1.837 billion investment. A press release was issued this morning to mark the start of the sale process. The sale and redemption processes are currently under way and...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Donnelly used two phrases that registered with me. First, he described banks as acting rationally, and second, he said that this is the banking model. I disagree with him in this respect. I believe that was the banking model. That was the approach one would have expected from banks acting rationally. As he knows, and as we all do, when the banks were acting rationally in that way,...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: We are in a situation, therefore, in which the banks, largely because of the commitment made to them and the fact that they were bailed out by the State using taxpayers’ money, have a community responsibility, a social responsibility - call it what one will. I believe that responsibility is in large part measured - Deputy Donnelly gave some of the figures earlier - by the amounts...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 19, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Report and Final Stages (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that in the event a division is in progress at the time fixed for taking Private Members' business, which shall be No. 128, motion re electricity infrastructure (resumed), the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. and Private...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle stated, there is a procedure for raising issues when a Deputy is unhappy about what has been put on the record of the House. I urge Deputy Martin to use that procedure. I cannot have a photographic memory of everything said on 20 November and every figure given. I encourage the Deputy to go down that road.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The health service plan was submitted to the Minister for Health on 25 November. As I am working from memory, I hope the Deputy will not get back to me in a few days if it turns out to be 26 November.