Results 14,301-14,320 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomacy Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: No claim has been made to me of this nature nor am I in possession of any information pertaining to the issues raised in the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Civil Registration Documentation (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Unfortunately, it is not possible for my Department to issue a letter as requested as we do not have access to the State's marriage records. Mr. Healy may wish to contact the General Register Office to seek a letter from them confirming there is no marriage record on file for him. The General Register Office can be contacted as follows: Email Address: Telephone: Direct Dial: +353(0)90...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In November 2011, the Government announced its decision to close Ireland's Embassy to the Holy See. This decision was driven by economic factors deriving from the need, at the time, to focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery. Following this decision, the Secretary General of my Department, Mr. David Cooney, was appointed non-resident Ambassador to the Holy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Ambassador to the Holy See and the Secretary to the Embassy have met with a number of Curia officials on their visits to the Vatican, several of whom are Irish nationals. However, they have focused on meeting officials of direct relevance to the work of the Embassy and have not sought to meet with each and every Irish national working in the Curia.

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

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and understand that the person has been charged with attempted murder of a student police officer; possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage; and making use of a firearm with intent to prevent lawful arrest. He was committed for trial on 23 August 2011. An application for Judicial Review of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have been following the situation in Ukraine very closely since protests began following the announcement on 21 November by Ukraine’s President, Viktor Yanukovych, of his decision to postpone preparations for the signature of the Association Agreement at last month’s Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. An estimated 350,000 took part in an anti-government rally in Kyiv on 1...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have been concerned by the reports of violence in Bangkok following recent protests there, and I note that all sides now appear to be exercising restraint. I also note that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called elections for next February. Ireland’s Ambassador to Thailand, who is accredited from Kuala Lumpur, has been reporting to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department does not operate a public capital programme. The Department’s administrative capital budget is mainly in respect of ICT, passport production and accommodation, both in Ireland and at the Department’s missions overseas. The following table presents the capital expenditure for the two Votes for which my Department is responsible: Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department’s combined capital budget for 2013 is €6.350 m (including carryover). This is expended mainly to support the Department’s ongoing investment in passport and ICT equipment and technology, as well as the maintenance of official premises at home and abroad. The Passport Service is in the process of upgrading its infrastructure as part of an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My reply to the Deputy’s Question on 3 December included the phrase: "There has been some easing of the blockade in recent years". T his is simply a matter of fact. The terms of the ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza have been eased in a number of respects in recent years, including the removal of most items from the forbidden list, some degree of movement of building materials, a very...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government’s international aid programme, Irish Aid, which is managed by my Department, is recognised internationally for its effectiveness in producing results for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. About a quarter of Ireland’s overseas development assistance is channelled through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This reflects the strong contribution which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (11 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29 and 32 to 35, inclusive, together. I remain seriously concerned about the situation in Gaza, both the long term situation and the recent deterioration caused by a reduction in the power supply. My Department monitors the situation in Gaza closely, including through regular contact with UNRWA and UNOCHA, the main UN agencies active there, as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (11 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's diplomatic and consular network is comparatively modest in size and includes 56 Embassies, 7 multilateral Missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices. In addition to their country of primary accreditation, many Ambassadors are also accredited to additional countries on a non-resident basis which enhances the cost-effectiveness of our external representation. Our missions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Websites (11 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department recently invested in upgrading our online services to the public for the first time since 2005. This essential upgrade of our ICT infrastructure allows my Department to support Irish citizens at home and abroad through a suite of bespoke services including the Passport Tracking Service and a Passport Application Guide. In addition, the Citizen Registration service allows Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (11 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: No EU directive relating to the policy remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is awaiting transposition into Irish law.

Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree with Deputy McGrath that it is important public confidence is retained and renewed in charitable organisations and that people who contribute to charities can have confidence their contributions are used for the purposes for which they are intended, in other words, that they go to front-line services. That is why the measures being taken to deal with the issues of top-up payments and...

Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The first thing I wish to deal with is the issue of public confidence in charities. It needs to be made clear to people who contribute to charities or people who are contemplating contributing to charities that the act is being cleaned up and that the problems identified in respect of top-ups or excessive payments - whatever we call it - to senior management staff and senior executives in...

Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: First,the Government already has taken in charge of it. In May 2012, the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, published a report on the governance of Tallaght hospital. It emerged from that report that an employee in that hospital was receiving additional payments since 2005. On foot of that report, the Minister for Health asked the HSE to carry out an audit of all the section...

Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: While the Deputy now states she is aware of that, as that was not clear from her question, let me explain it to her. As a result of that audit, each agency was asked to revert to the HSE. Some came back very quickly showing that they were complying, others came back showing they were not and in the case of some others, it was necessary to follow through with them. However, this was an...

Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I note Deputy McDonald herself was hard enough to find last week to be vox popped on matters in which there might have been some public interest. This exchange this morning is quite interesting, in that there used to be a time when the Opposition would come into the Chamber and would raise issues with the Government regarding things the Government was not doing. It must be extraordinary...