Results 15,101-15,120 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There is as yet no date for the publication of that Bill but work is proceeding on the plans for the building of the national children's hospital.

Order of Business (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The geothermal energy development Bill has 151 heads. It is expected early next year.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague the Minister of State for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe T.D. attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels on 12 May. The Council agenda covered many key policy issues and important Conclusions were reached on a number of areas. While the situation in the Ukraine and relations with Russia continue to dominate the European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government was represented at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) of 12 May 2014 by the Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe T.D. The FAC conclusions reaffirm the European Union’s support for Ukraine’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and call upon the Russian Federation to do likewise. The Council expressed alarm at the continued efforts by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This is an issue to which I accord very high priority. I am conscious of the difficulties experienced by Irish citizens who are undocumented in the United States, and I have met and spoken with many of them on my working visits there, and also with the various groups who lobby on their behalf.Immigration reform and the challenges faced by our undocumented remain central to our bilateral...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy is aware, this weekend, on 17 May, sees 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 May 2011 urging the British...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy will be aware of the Government Decision of 6 May 2014 regarding the nomination of ambassadors to Embassies abroad, including the Ambassador to Thailand. It should be noted that nominations of ambassadors are subject to the approval (agrément) of the authorities of the receiving States and appointments are not formally confirmed until this approval is forthcoming. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. I remain firmly of the view that Northern Ireland urgently requires a new way forward on dealing with the past that can command public confidence. The early successful conclusion of the political talks represents the best opportunity to make progress across all three important areas of parades, flag and identity issues and dealing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (15 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There are ten defibrillators in my Department. One defibrillator is accessible in each of the ten buildings where officials of my Department are located, including in the Passport Offices. The cost of each defibrillator was €1,295.85. As there is no public access to departmental offices outside of office hours, the defibrillators are not available during such periods.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Boston College Archives (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 59 together. In March 2011 the British Government, acting on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, initiated proceedings with the US Department of Justice under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two countries for the release of selected archived interviews held in Boston College. The archives are part of the Belfast Project, an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I have strongly condemned the abduction by the terrorist organisation, Boko Haram, of more than 200 schoolgirls from the northern Nigerian town of Chibok on 14 April. I am also appalled by the reported abduction of a further 11 girls on 4 May. Through our development policies and programmes, Ireland is a strong supporter of the rights of women and girls, and in particular the right of girls...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Over 93% of all passport applications within the State are made through Passport Express. This is a joint venture with An Post which enables applicants to lodge applications through some 1,000 post offices across the country and some 70 post offices in Northern Ireland. The Passport Service endeavours to return a passport to all those who submitted properly completed applications through...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Maritime Jurisdiction Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the body of water that stretches from 12 nautical miles offshore out to a distance of 200 miles. Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea a coastal state has exclusive rights within its EEZ over fishing (although all EU member states have transferred their competence for conservation and management of sea fisheries to the EU), the...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process. I hope that the negotiations underway in Havana, Cuba will bring an end to a long conflict in Colombia which has caused much suffering. I welcome the announcement on 16th May last that the negotiators in Havana have now reached provisional agreement on their agenda item dealing with illicit drugs. This means that three areas of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 60 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that 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 to the case and contacts have included numerous...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 64 together. I have regular comprehensive discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, most recently on 21 May, about the overall situation in the North and the peace process. I discuss a number of issues regularly with her, including the threats posed by so-called dissident republicans, as well as attacks by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I met with Dr Haass on 23 May when he visited Dublin after his visit to London on 22 May. We share the view that progress in the Party Leaders Talks is urgently needed. I remain convinced that the best way forward for dealing with important issues such as parades, flag and identity issues and dealing with the past, is the early, successful conclusion of these talks. Maintaining the status...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. Since the replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary by the PSNI in 2001 as recommended by the Patten report in 1999, Northern Ireland has benefitted from a new beginning for policing and for public confidence in policing. As part of the transformation in policing accountability mechanisms are in place to hold the PSNI to account,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government, and our European Union partners, are completely opposed to the death penalty in all cases. We also attach the utmost importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief. Freedom of religion or belief is one of Ireland's priorities for our membership of the Human Rights Council, from 2013 to 2015, and we have played a central role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This passport was issued on the 15thMay 2014 and sent to our mission for onwards transmission to the applicant.