Results 14,561-14,580 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Internship Scheme Data (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department does not have an office in County Louth.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the abduction in the Douma suburb of Damascus by unknown gunmen on 9 December 2013 of several distinguished human rights activists associated with the Syrian Violations Documentation Centre, including its founder and human rights lawyer, Razan Zaitouneh. It remains unclear who was responsible for these abductions though there have been suggestions that they may have been carried...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The figures in the following table set out the position in respect of the overseas missions specified by the Deputy and include actual expenditure incurred in 2013 under both Votes for which my Department is responsible; Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27: International Cooperation. Salary and related costs of staff posted from Ireland are not included as they are a charge on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The latest information that my Department has received from the Sri Lankan authorities is that the individual in question may be released this week. We are awaiting confirmation of this development. The individual named by the Deputy has been detained in Sri Lanka since 5 September 2007. No charge was brought against him until 29 January 2013. Since his imprisonment, both I, and my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Pensions Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department does not have delegated sanction for pension purposes, unlike some of the larger Government Departments. All the relevant service records and background material for retiring staff of my Department are sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to enable them to calculate the superannuation benefits for these staff, including the awarding of added years, if applicable.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The members of the Audit Committee of my Department are fully independent and work on a voluntary basis. The Audit Committee operates under a charter approved by the Secretary General. The charter requires that at least two members of the Committee will be qualified accountants and some members will have professional experience in the area of development cooperation and the evaluation of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: On the basis of the limited information provided, it is not possible to confirm entitlement to an Irish passport. However, if either of the child’s parents was an Irish citizen at the time of the birth of the child, then the child is automatically an Irish citizen, irrespective of the place of birth of the child. The Deputy, or applicant, may wish to contact the Passport Service,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the legal proceedings to which the Deputy refers involving local communities in Ecuador and their claim against Chevron-Texaco for environmental contamination. I know also of the active engagement of the Government of Ecuador in this matter. As this is a legal matter involving Ecuadorian interests and an American company, the Government has no standing in the matter and it...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Committees (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland’s three-year membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council, from 2013 - 2015, presents an opportunity to make an enhanced contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. Ireland is committed to defending the universality of human rights, and one of our key priorities is the promotion and protection of space for civil society to operate, free from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland’s three-year membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council from 2013 - 2015 presents an opportunity to make an enhanced contribution to the international promotion and protection of human rights. In particular, we are committed to highlighting the importance of ensuring that human rights considerations underpin all areas of development, with a particular focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I meet regularly with my British counterpart, Foreign Secretary Hague, and with other members of the British Government, both bilaterally and at multilateral meetings. I discuss this issue with them on an ongoing basis and continue to outline our strong view that the UK is better off within the European Union and that the Union is stronger by having the UK within it.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council that took place in Brussels on 20 January. This was the first Council meeting of 2014 and there was a very busy agenda. Conclusions were agreed across a number of key policy areas; the full text of these Conclusions may be accessed on the official EU website. . The Council reviewed developments in relation to Syria and considered the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: No pro bono work has been provided to my Department by legal, accountancy and consulting firms in the past twenty four months.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department engages a wide range of external service providers in areas where the required skills or resources are not available in-house and it is more cost-effective to source them externally. In the absence of a particular time period specified by the Deputy details of payments of €20,000 or above made by my Department from 1 October 2013 to 31 December 2013 to such providers are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Building Regulations Compliance (29 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The implementation of the new Building Control Regulations 2013, in relation to capital building projects in buildings occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, falls within the remit of the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department is taking steps to implement the Government’s decision on the expansion of the diplomatic network. This will involve, among other things, consultation with host country authorities, identification of suitable accommodation and making staffing arrangements. Given the wide variety of circumstances involved for each new Mission, I regret that it is not possible to provide...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The recession has been very tough on working families. The last thing families need now is an increase in the cost of private health insurance. At a time of increasing competition in the market and with new players seeing the opportunity for themselves, I share the wonder expressed by many people as to why prices are going up and not down. The Deputy will be aware that the Government has...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There is a problem of rising premia costs in the private health insurance market. The Government is taking its responsibilities seriously with regard to rising health insurance costs. As a consequence, the Minister for Health established the forum under the chairmanship of Mr. McLoughlin. The initial report identifies a number of areas that need to be tackled and addressed. A further body...

Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The problems associated with rising health insurance costs and health insurance premia are not new. The Government is determined to get to the bottom of what is driving the rising cost of health insurance and to try to get it under control for families who are under pressure trying to pay for it. Part of the problem is to do with over-charging and with the competition for the young, healthy...