Results 14,521-14,540 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I will address the questions thematically rather than in the order they were asked. With regard to Deputy Smith's question, of the 630,000 passports issued last year, approximately 40,000 were issued through missions abroad. Approximately 40,000 were issued in London and a further 40,000 were issued in Northern Ireland. Some 90% of applications are now coming through the passport express...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: We are considering the matter and the committee might give some thought to it. It would be helpful to have the committee's view, first, whether we should have a system whereby an emergency passport can be secured for a fee and, second, its views as to the level at which it should be pitched. The reason for funding the GAA is that the GAA and the clubs run by the GAA in Britain and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is not exclusively for any sport. The size of the commitment to the GAA is largely because of the networking arrangement, services and facilities it provides for emigrants. We integrate the emigrant support work with the good work and collaboration with it.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Programme C deals with matters relating to Northern Ireland and delivers funding for projects to bolster peace and reconciliation on this island. The maintenance of peace and stability in Northern Ireland remains an absolute priority for the Government. We intend to continue with a similar level of engagement in 2014 as last year when some 16 official visits were held. On the east-west...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The increase in the non-pay subhead is in anticipation of the forthcoming State visit to the UK and the new consulates, such as the one in Austin, Texas. We want to ensure the reconciliation fund is targeted in support of an agreement. We will also support the International Fund for Ireland work, which has a role to play. In last year’s European multi-annual financial framework, we...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Deputy Durkan for that compliment. I will now address programme D - international peace, security and human rights. My Department's commitment to international peace, security and human rights is channelled through programme D, which has a total allocation of over €74 million. This represents an increase of €4 million over last year. It is anticipated that in 2014,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: A number of speakers referred to the contributions we make to international organisations. Ireland's payments to the United Nations comprise mandatory contributions to the regular budget, the capital master plan, the International Criminal Court, the peacekeeping budget and tribunals. Countries' payments to the UN are based on a formula for the scale of assessment for member states which is...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The primary source of income for the Department comes from passport applications, which amounted to €38 million in 2013. Total income under appropriations-in-aid was €47 million last year, including receipts in respect of visas and other consular services. We anticipate a similar level of receipts in 2014.

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Regardless of whether one is talking about Rehab, the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, or any other charity, the first thing one must do is make it absolutely clear that the work these organisations do is very important. The people who depend on their services value the work they do and in whatever approach one might take or in anything one might say, one should be careful not to undermine...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My understanding is that it was raised at an Oireachtas committee by Rehab itself. The issue is that when one is talking about the disbursement of public moneys, there obviously must be accountability for that. Under the charitable lotteries scheme established in 1997, the promoters of certain private charitable lotteries that have products similar to those sold by the national lottery have...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: First, this is not particularly new. As for the arrangement whereby State funding was provided to certain organisations that were running lotteries, the decision to wind down that funding over a three-year period was communicated to the organisations back in 2012. It is being done over a three-year period and as I stated, at the peak in 2009 and 2010, it involved a sum of €8.6...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: ----- which in many cases are delivered on the basis of payments provided by the State. Second, it must ensure the controversies do not undermine public confidence in them. This is the reason the Government brought in legislation to provide for a charities regulator. This is the reason the Government is proceeding with the putting in place of that regulatory regime and it is the Minister's...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This Government is actually implementing the Charities Act and establishing a charities regulatory authority, precisely so public confidence in charitable organisations can be assured. In December, the Minister for Justice and Equality got sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to proceed with the filling of the post of CEO of the new charities regulatory authority and...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This Government is getting to grips for the first time with what is happening in organisations which are funded by the State and where issues have arisen regarding salaries that are paid or governance. It was this Government that commenced the audit, through the HSE, of the various organisations funded by the State, and that audit shone light on the salary levels and various other...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy is aware, prior to the changes taking place between Loughlinstown hospital and St. Vincent's University Hospital, I convened a number of meetings with the HSE and the managements of the two hospitals. I invited the Deputy and other Deputies who had expressed an interest in this issue-----

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Because the Deputy had not expressed any interest in the issue to me. He is only interested in standing outside the hospital with a picket; he has no interest whatsoever in solving the problem.

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As Deputy Stephen Donnelly knows, we convened meetings with the managements of the HSE and the hospitals to discuss their plans. Arising from what the Deputy has just read, I will arrange another meeting-----

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: -----and ask the managements of St. Vincent's University Hospital, Loughlinstown hospital and the HSE to address the issues he has raised. I would share his concern if the service was not being adequately delivered. I am a little surprised at the increase of 50% in the number of ambulances-----

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: -----because prior to the changes at Loughlinstown hospital for a period of two years or more trauma cases had been going directly to St. Vincent's University Hospital. However, I take these issues seriously and will ask the HSE and the hospital managements to meet me again to discuss the issues involved.

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The first thing we must do is probe the facts to establish the position. It might be a good idea to ask the registrar concerned to come and tell us directly and probe the issue and statements he is making with the managements of the hospitals. We must establish the factual position. We can then set about resolving the issue. The outcome we want is to have is the highest level of service...