Results 2,121-2,140 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government has followed ongoing issues in Tibet with concern and I am saddened and concerned by the increasing number of Tibetans, many of them young people, who have resorted to self-immolation.On behalf of the EU, the High Representative Catherine Ashton issued a declaration on 14 December 2012 on Tibetan self-immolations. This declaration was issued with the support of Member States,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I expect my Department's review of Ireland's Honorary Consul Service to be completed in the coming months. I will take a decision on the distribution of the report when I have had the opportunity to read it.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As outlined in my replies of 29 May 2013 and 11 June 2013, my Department is currently reviewing the practice prevailing in other European countries covering CD vehicle identification procedures and it is hoped that this review will be completed by the Autumn. There is at present no system for the issue of CD vehicle plates to members of the diplomatic corps. The privileges and immunities of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to the reply to PQ33029 of 9 July outlining recent decisions taken by the EU in relation to Myanmar/ Burma. Myanmar/Burma is continuing to undergo a process of long-awaited transformation. Ireland and our EU partners recognise that significant progress has been made, but that complex challenges remain. We continue to urge the Government of Myanmar/Burma to address these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am following closely the situation in north-eastern Colombia. I understand that this is an area of social and economic under-development, where the presence of illegal armed groups and a high level of militarisation also contribute to tensions. Recent protests in this area have, most regrettably, resulted in clashes between protestors and Colombia’s security forces and these have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government follows closely reports of human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including reported cases of organ harvesting, and is concerned about the situation. Human rights issues, including the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, are issues discussed regularly with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings. Through the formal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (16 Jul 2013)

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

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Expenditure (11 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 65 and 67 together. In the European Year of Citizens, we felt it important to keep Irish citizens informed on the developments of the Irish Presidency through a modest cost-efficient information campaign. An information feature was published in the Metro Herald on 9 January. Coinciding with the visit of the College of the European Commission to Dublin,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising Campaigns (11 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department has not placed any articles on a commercial basis with any national or local newspapers in the past six months.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (11 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The 2013 grant round for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Emigrant Support Programme closed on 20 February 2013. Since then applications received for 360 projects from 16 countries have been considered. The focus in 2013 will be on key frontline welfare and advisory services and on projects aimed at supporting new arrivals. I expect to be in a position to make...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (11 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department maintains a network of 73 overseas missions consisting of 56 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions, and 10 Consulates General and other offices overseas.Secondary accreditations are an important and cost-effective way of promoting Ireland in countries where we do not have a resident office and of maximising the reach of the Missions network. Thirty-five of our bilateral Embassies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I continue to follow developments in Egypt with great concern, not least the resulting loss of lives and hundreds of casualties which I deeply regret. In particular, it is important that the events of 7 July which resulted in considerable loss of life at the Republican Guard HQ in Cairo should now be thoroughly and impartially investigated. The situation in Egypt will be discussed at the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (10 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is vitally important for the future of Northern Ireland that a stable and lasting peace be firmly established. As stated in the Good Friday Agreement, the tragedies of the past have left a deep and profoundly regrettable legacy of suffering. We must never forget those who have died or been injured, and their families. In the context of the “Together: Building a United...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (10 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 65 and 66 together. I also propose to make a statement on the matter. The Government follows closely reports of human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including reported cases of organ harvesting, and is concerned about the situation. Human rights issues, including the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, are issues discussed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (10 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) has a statutory role in ensuring that appointments in the organisations that are subject to its remit and to which it has awarded public service recruitment licences, which includes the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, are made on merit and as a result of fair, transparent, impartial and ethical appointment processes that embrace...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (10 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am pleased to confirm that the Passport Service does operate a system to provide a second passport to Irish citizens who are regularly required to travel into countries where possession of an entry/exit stamp or visa from another state would likely prevent a person’s entry into that country. Applicants are required to complete the standard passport application form and additionally...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflict Issues (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Of the Arab population of Israel, about 170,000 are Bedouin living in the Negev desert in the south of the country. While none of these are any longer truly nomadic, they suffer from the difficulties common to non-settled communities in many developed countries, including in Europe, and other Bedouin living in many Arab countries in the region. These include lack of title to traditionally...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On 25 June 2013, my Department received requests from the Embassy of the United States seeking permission for two Hercules C-130 aircraft with tail numbers 644852 and 650986 to land at Shannon Airport on 30 June for the purposes of crew rest and refuelling. Both flights were en route from Trapani-Birgi, Italy, to Newfoundland, Canada. The requests confirmed that the aircraft carried no...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for Irish citizenship through Foreign Births Registration to the Consulate General of Ireland in Chicago on 2 July 2013. The application will be processed in the normal manner.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Trade with Israel (9 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important to re-emphasise that the Government’s main focus is on the Israeli settlements themselves, their relentless expansion and the restrictions enforced to bolster them, rather than on the less significant sub-issue of settlement products. The comparatively small amount of settlement products available on the EU market are insignificant in terms of EU trade with Israel, and...