Results 14,981-15,000 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I understand from the Deputy that the committee's report was published today.

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In fairness, the Minister for Justice and Equality will need to read and consider it.

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Hold on one minute - we would like to read it first. Give us-----

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, but out of respect for the committee, we ought to at least be given time to read and consider its report before making a response.

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill is due in this session. I am sure the Deputy will agree that the Minister for Social Protection has implemented more reforms in our social welfare system in the last three years than were made in the previous 13 years. The issues raised by the Deputy will obviously form part of the debate.

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: That is a very good suggestion. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, and his Department have done a great deal of work on this. There is also a committee working on it. The suggestion that the House have a discussion on commemoration of 1916 and, indeed, the period of commemorations to put it in context is very worthwhile. I will ask the Government Chief...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process and hope that the negotiations underway will bring an end to a long conflict which has caused much suffering. I welcome the progress that has been made to date in the peace negotiations. Two areas on the agenda are now subject to provisional agreements: political participation and agarian reform. Indications are that progress is being made in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together. The Passports Act 2008 provides the basis on which the name should appear on a passport. In general terms the name in which a passport may issue shall be in the name of the applicant as it appears in the relevant certificate of birth. The Passports Act makes further provision to have a change in surname on the passport after getting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Oireachtas members with urgent passport queries on behalf of constituents are advised to use a dedicated email address. In order to maximise resources and to allow queries to be dealt with in a prompt and timely manner Oireachtas members are requested to complete a short form when submitting these enquiries. This email address and form has been circulated to members a number of times in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Apr 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: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 44 and 52 together. I believe that the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements provide the essential framework for the achievement of reconciliation and mutual trust in Northern Ireland and in the totality of relations between these islands. In my ongoing contacts with the British government, and with the Northern Ireland Executive, I continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy is aware, I attended the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Luxembourg on 14 April.It will come as no surprise, that – given the crisis in Ukraine – discussions at the Council meeting were largely dominated by recent developments in that region. Before addressing this in detail however, I would like to briefly outline the discussions that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together. The 17th May this year will mark the fortieth anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. With 33 killed, that terrible day saw the highest number of casualties on any single day during the Troubles. It left a further 300 people injured. The Taoiseach and I have reiterated our support for the all-party Dáil motions of July 2008 and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. It is disappointing that the Party Leaders have not made more progress in their discussions, following the substantial work done under the chairmanship of Dr. Richard Haass and Dr. Meghan O'Sullivan prior to the new year. It is regrettable also that the UUP is not participating currently in these discussions which are focussed on issues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This is an issue to which I accord very high priority and I have maintained contact, both directly and through our Embassy in Washington, with many key players in Congress who are influential in steering the process of US immigration reform. The Taoiseach discussed immigration reform and the plight of our undocumented in many of the meetings and public engagements during the recent St...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together. While I have not had recent discussions with the Ukrainian or the Russian Ambassador, my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been in regular communication with them. As regards the action being taken by the EU, I believe that throughout this crisis the Union’s messages have been strong and they have been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Military Vessels (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Visits from foreign naval vessels are a long-standing and common practice in Ireland and worldwide. Foreign naval vessels are granted permission to visit Irish ports on condition that they meet the necessary policy stipulations, which require that the vessels are not carrying nuclear weapons and are not engaged in a naval exercise. The vessel in question, which was in Ireland as part of a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: UNAMID, the African Union-UN Hybrid operation in Darfur, was established on 31 July 2007 through the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769. The core mandate of UNAMID is the protection of civilians and is also responsible for contributing to security for humanitarian assistance, monitoring and verifying implementation of agreements, assisting an inclusive political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In keeping with Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, we engage on human rights issues on an on-going basis in our contacts with the Colombian Government and civil society. When I met with Colombia’s President last year, human rights issues featured prominently in our discussion. Ireland’s concerns are also raised regularly with Colombian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Fees (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that a refund cheque has issued to the person in question.