Results 14,801-14,820 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It was never intended that it would be introduced overnight. It is something that requires careful consideration, which is why there will be a White Paper. The White Paper will be published when it is ready. I do not expect that this will be very far into the future. Deputy Kelleher will then have an opportunity to condemn and criticise it, as inevitably he will do.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree with Deputy O'Brien that it is a devastating experience for families and households affected by the flooding. It is devastating for residential buildings and businesses and is something that will take a very long time to recover from. I also want to put on record my appreciation and that of the Government for all those who worked so hard to help people out in the immediate aftermath...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The discussions with the European Investment Bank relate to capital works so the funding would be mainly for flood defences. As the Deputy knows, the European Investment Bank is already assisting us with some of the capital programme, for example, some of the education and transport projects that are under way. We are in discussions with the European Investment Bank to determine if we can...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As I understand it, the special liquidator has reached agreement with the phase 2 bidders for the IBRC mortgage book. The agreement provides that, if successful in acquiring the portfolio, the phase 2 bidders will ensure that the relevant acquired mortgage loans are serviced in accordance with the Central Bank's CCMA. The special liquidator appeared before the finance committee yesterday...

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Donnelly is very knowledgeable and he knows how the liquidation process works. He also knows the risks to the taxpayer of an interference by the State in the liquidation process. It is easy to say "let us pause the sale". There are consequences to that which might arise from actions taken by other creditors, and other people involved in the IBRC liquidation process. One would have...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 16, County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No.13, Health Identifiers Bill 2013 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 17, Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) Bill 2013 - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit at 2.30 p.m. on...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Every day on leaders' questions and on the Order of Business, questions are put by the Opposition on the Government's priorities in respect of legislation and in respect of this, that and the other. As part of the reform of the Dáil that we proposed earlier this year, we said that we would provide an opportunity where the Taoiseach and I and other Ministers would come in and set out our...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: That is what we are doing. It will give the Opposition an opportunity to criticise the 61,000 jobs that were created last year, the fact that unemployment fell by 14% last year, that long-term unemployment is now down to 7.2% and that we have priorities to continue.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: On the Order of Business, the complaint is that we are not allowing for questions to the Taoiseach, oral questions or topical issues next Tuesday. We are doing that so that each of the Opposition leaders will have the opportunity of contributing to the debate on Tuesday.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Otherwise, in all probability the Taoiseach and I would get the opportunity to speak on this but the Opposition leaders would not get the opportunity on Tuesday and they would be shoved into Wednesday. I would like to make an offer to Deputy Kelleher. I will agree to oral questions, questions to the Taoiseach and topical issues on Tuesday if he wishes, but he should remember the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 51 together. As the Deputy is aware this Irish citizen has been detained for over six months. I have raised my concerns at his continued detention without trial with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmy, on 11 November and 23 December 2013. The Embassy of Ireland in Cairo has been actively liaising with the Egyptian authorities in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The developments in the United Kingdom in relation to engagement with the European Union are followed in detail in my Department and in the Department of the Taoiseach as well as other Government Departments concerned. The debate in the UK has moved quickly, but its outcome remains uncertain. There are a large number of variables which could affect whether a referendum on EU membership will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reports (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The people of Scotland will vote in a referendum on 18 September 2014 on the question: ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ Ireland is entirely neutral in the debate, on the basis that the question is one for the people of Scotland to decide. That being said, the issues arising in the Scottish debate are of major importance, and have potentially significant direct and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland remains strongly supportive of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of its efforts to become a member of the European Union. Through the enlargement process, the EU has set out the reforms that are needed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have underlined that these measures are not just necessary for the country to advance towards EU membership, but that they are also in the interests of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naturalisation Applications (27 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passports Act, 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant and that the person is an Irish citizen. The issue of a passport is the culmination of an important and legally binding process. The checks and balances within the passport process embrace the standard principles that...

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (4 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This Government was formed in the face of the worst economic crisis in the history of the State, at a time when the financial survival of the State was in question, unemployment was rocketing and when the banking system was broken.

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (4 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: At that time, in the middle of the crisis, the immediate tasks facing the Government could be expressed in a small number of statistics. The bond yield encapsulated the view from abroad of Ireland's financial position. The live register showed the rate at which jobs were being lost and lives destroyed. The number of mortgages in arrears signalled the scale of the social destruction being...

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (4 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: What we do now after the bailout has to be guided by four principles. First, we need a sustainable prosperity. Too many of our people still do not have work, or do not have enough work. We have to create more and better jobs. Second, we need a shared prosperity, which means that we have to invest in our people and ensure that recovery is spread across society, and across the regions....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Foreign and Security Policy (4 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) is responsible for advising the Political and Security Committee (PSC) on the civilian aspects of crisis management. CIVCOM plans and monitors the progress of EU civilian crisis management missions established in the framework of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The Committee meets twice a week....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am concerned about the situation in Venezuela, in particular at the reports of deaths, casualties and detentions arising from the unrest there. I urge the full, impartial investigation of incidents in accordance with due legal process. I join with the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton in calling for calm and in condemning intolerance and any recourse to violence by the parties...