Results 15,301-15,320 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I share that hope. I hope that a successful conclusion is achieved sooner rather than later. As the Deputy will be aware, I was in Belfast for the conclusion of the Haass discussions at the new year. I remain very closely in contact with that. I have remained in contact with Richard Haass and although he is not directly involved, he has maintained an interest and was here last year to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Immigration Controls (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I visited Washington D.C. over the period 17-19 June for various meetings on US immigration reform, which remains a key Government priority. My programme included separate discussions with Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Congressman Paul Ryan, Senator Pat Leahy, members of the Congressional Friends of Ireland group, House judiciary committee member Congressman Mark Amodei, Congressman Mario...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Immigration Controls (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: We have two objectives in this. There are 50,000 undocumented Irish people in the United States who cannot come home for funerals and family events. We need to secure a path to legalisation for these people. Since 1965, the flow of legal emigration from Ireland to the United States has dried up and we want to find a way of doing that. The Bill passed by the US Senate would provide a path...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Immigration Controls (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The second issue is not the subject of the question. My Department and the embassy are working on it with the US Administration and I am hopeful we will have a satisfactory conclusion. With regard to the main issue of immigration reform, across the political spectrum in the US it is accepted that there must be legislation on immigration. We cannot have a situation where 11 million...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I have a formal reply to Deputy Smith's question which is identical to the replied to Question No. 1. If it is okay I will take that as read and simply answer the question. The direct answer to the question is that I am more hopeful than I was a month ago. When the Republican majority leader lost in the primary election, there was a good deal of speculation that it was directly related to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I met Nancy Pelosi when I was in Washington. I understand her views because clearly what is happening on the Mexican border is playing very negatively in the immigration debate. The possibility of the US President taking executive action is something I discussed with his domestic policy adviser, Cecilia Muñoz, who leads on the issue of immigration. The position is that there are 11...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Deputy Smith for his support and encouragement on this issue. I join him in expressing thanks to the various organisations with which we work in helping Irish immigrants in the United States. They do great work and this work is co-ordinated closely with our embassy in Washington. It is a difficult political issue. Immigration is a difficult political issue anywhere but it is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government, as guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, will continue its close and ongoing involvement in the talks in line with our support for effective devolved power-sharing government in Northern Ireland and for fair and comprehensive mechanisms to deal with parades, flags and identity issues and the legacy of the past. The modalities of this next phase of the talks are a matter for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important to state that the Irish Government has continued to be very closely involved. I have regularly met all the party leaders in Northern Ireland and maintained regular, ongoing contact with them by telephone and through officials. In many cases, it is contact which has never been brought to public attention. I have maintained a very regular dialogue with the Secretary of State...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I welcome the fact that Prime Minister David Cameron is meeting the Sinn Féin leadership today. The Taoiseach and I met the Sinn Féin leadership last week and have continued to maintain close contact with all the parties. I do not accept that this is an issue which should be driven by anyone for party political reasons. There are agreements in place, including the Good Friday...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Horizon 2020 Agreement, which was formally signed by the European Commission and by Israel last month, states clearly in article 6, paragraph one that the agreement does not apply to the territory occupied by Israel in 1967. The paragraph then goes on to state that this agreed provision is without prejudice to the position in principle of the two sides. Essentially, the same points are...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Let us be absolutely clear about this. The European research funding under Horizon 2020 does not and will not apply in the occupied territories. That has been made very clear in the agreement and that is what is happening. In addition, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has been working for some time now on the development of guidelines on the labelling of products from the occupied...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Israel is free to state its position in respect of the guidelines for the funding of research. It can state its position as often, as loudly and in as large a print as it likes but it does not change the fact that EU money will not be spent on research in the occupied territories. That is the position agreed by the EU and that is what it is implementing. Regardless of whether Israel likes...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is very simple. One does not pay Israel. It is EU money. This is not complicated. The EU will not pay its taxpayers' money for research in the occupied territories. No matter what is stated in the agreements, what codicils are entered into or what statement of national positions exists, that is the control of it. We do not pay it. It is simple. The position we are working on in...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The configuration of the State's diplomatic and consular network is kept under ongoing review by the Government. A range of factors are taken into account in considering our diplomatic representation overseas, including our political, economic and trade priorities as well as the availability of resources. The deployment of resources is also being considered in the context of the review of...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The sanctions were introduced in order to encourage Iran to participate in the talks on the nuclear issue. Participation in the talks is not just about being physically present at the talks but it is also about being fully engaged. Progress is being made. High Representative, Catherine Ashton, has briefed the Foreign Affairs Council on a number of occasions on her discussions and I want...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: After nine years of what can only be described as stonewalling by Iran, the willingness of the new government there to engage seriously has been very welcome. The interim plan of action, which was agreed in November, was an important achievement and created a context in which this long running issue can be resolved. The hard work of converting it into an agreement and settling this issue is...

Other Questions: Global Economic Forum (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Global Irish Network, comprising more than 300 of the most influential Irish and Irish-connected people in almost 40 countries, was established in 2010 following a recommendation of the first Global Irish Economic Forum held in Farmleigh in September 2009. This network was established at a time when the country was in crisis and our international reputation had been severely damaged....

Other Questions: Global Economic Forum (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy said, no date has yet been set for another forum. An advisory committee was established following the 2011 forum which meets regularly with me and discusses the way in which the forum's work should be carried forward. That group is considering what form another forum might take. It might not necessarily take the same form as the previous forums. The practice up to now has...

Other Questions: Global Economic Forum (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: We are very fortunate in this country to have a national day which has such resonance throughout the world and which offers us huge opportunities to promote Ireland. One could not possibly buy the international advertising, goodwill and promotion that St. Patrick's Day gives to us. That is now organised in a much more co-ordinated way involving members of the global Irish network. Arising...