Results 201-220 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (1 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 106 to 108, inclusive, together. Direct negotiations between the parties were suspended at the end of April, and there is no immediate prospect of the talks being resumed. The essential issues behind the breakdown were the profound lack of trust between the two sides, insufficient political commitment, particularly by the Israeli Government, to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Refusals (1 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: All passport applications are subject to the provision of Passports Act, 2008 (the Act). The issue of a passport is, therefore, the culmination of an important and legally-binding process. The checks and balances within the passport process embrace the standard principles that are provided for in the Act and help to ensure that the person in question is an Irish citizen andthat the identity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (26 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passport Service provides a comprehensive range of options for citizens to apply for passports. An appointment service has been in operation at the Molesworth Street Passport Office for over a year. The service allows customers to book via a simple web based system a guaranteed time slot between 9:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday. The service removes the necessity for any citizen to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (26 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I have not received any representations on the subject of the Deputy’s question nor had any discussions with the British authorities in regard to the presence of a harp on the royal coat of arms. I am however happy to assure the Deputy that the sensitivities around the use of flags and symbols is a matter to which I give very careful attention in my work to promote peace and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I visited Washington D.C. over the period 17-19 June for various meetings in relation to U.S. immigration reform, which remains a key Government priority. My programme included separate discussions with Cong. Luis Gutierrez, Cong. Paul Ryan, Senator Pat Leahy, members of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Group, House Judiciary Committee Member Cong. Mark Amodei, Cong. Mario Diaz-Balart,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (26 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware I attended the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Luxembourg on Monday 23 June. The agenda was a very busy one with discussions dominated in the main by the latest events in Ukraine and developments in the EU's Southern Neighbourhood, notably Iraq and Libya; a number of other items were addressed at the end of the Council meeting. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am not in a position to give an assessment of that. One point of which members should be aware is that what happened in Iraq caused a considerable degree of surprise. My understanding of what has happened in Iraq is there is a loose coalition of ISIS, former Ba'athist Party people and those who simply are opposed the government there for one reason or another. While it is not just ISIS,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not believe any conflict can be reduced to a simple "one side and the other" situation. There is no doubt but that there is a strong sectarian dimension to the conflict. Moreover, agendas undoubtedly are being pursued both by actors in the conflict itself and by those who seek to influence them. There undoubtedly are strategic issues involved, as well as economic issues that come into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I will be obliged to revert directly to Senator Daly as I do not have a note on this issue to hand. However, I will get back to him with a direct reply.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I attended a separate informal dinner meeting on the evening before the Foreign Affairs Council that was arranged by my colleague, the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg. We had the opportunity to have a discussion with the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross, who spoke to us in considerable detail about the practical difficulties in getting aid through. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: What I will do is try to answer the questions thematically. If I miss individual questions I will happily follow them up if members wish. The general theme referred to by Deputies Smith, O’Sullivan, Durkan and Byrne was the growing number of conflicts in the world at present. Deputy O’Sullivan drew an analogy between the enthusiasm of people in countries that have been long...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I visited Washington D.C. from last Tuesday evening until Thursday evening. In the course of that visit I had a meeting with the various organisations lobbying on the immigration issue on behalf of the 50,000 or so undocumented Irish in the US and who have been working with other groups for comprehensive immigration reform. Following that I had a series of meetings on Capitol Hill with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee. I welcome the opportunity to brief the joint committee on discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council for the second quarter of 2014. It has been a busy period since I attended the committee meeting at the beginning of March, not least in light of ongoing developments in Ukraine and recent developments in Iraq. I propose to address the key...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I remain deeply concerned about allegations of human rights abuses in Western Sahara and detention conditions for Saharawi prisoners in Morocco. I am aware that a number of Saharawi prisoners have been on hunger strike for various periods over the last number of years in protest at the conditions of their detention. The UN Special Rapporteur for torture and other cruel, inhumane or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The principles and values of the Good Friday Agreement and the subsequent St. Andrew’s Agreement are essential to peace and reconciliation in Ireland and across these islands. Their key elements include devolution based on power-sharing; agreement on sovereignty; human rights; parity of esteem; and support for the rule of law. The continued shared responsibility of the two governments...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Northern Ireland Party Leaders have individually acknowledged that there is broad agreement among the parties on the basic architecture for moving forward on the issues of flags, parades and dealing with the past. They are continuing to meet, including a meeting that took place on Tuesday, with a view to closing the remaining gaps between them and for developing the practical mechanisms...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In the Good Friday Agreement the parties affirmed their commitment to the mutual respect, the civil rights and the religious liberties of everyone in the community. As one of the key underlying values of the Agreement, respect for human rights remains a priority for this Government and is fundamental to informing our approach to furthering peace and reconciliation, and to supporting effective...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Across a range of issues, relations between Britain and Ireland are of central importance. Both the UK government and the Scottish government are important and valued partners for Ireland. In each case the relationship is based on close geographic, cultural and commercial ties, as well as friendly political relationships. We maintain regular contacts with the Scottish Government. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (24 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Under Dr Haass’ chairmanship of the Panel of Parties talks, the Northern Ireland parties made enormous progress in seeking an agreed approach to dealing with flags, parades and the past. Richard Haass and Meghan O’Sullivan consulted widely across society in Northern Ireland last year and brought to the table a clear message from the people that they want to see the party...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Marching Season (24 Jun 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I maintain regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP, about the current situation in Northern Ireland, including contentious marches and the overall parades issue. My officials in the British Irish Joint Secretariat in Belfast closely monitor the situation on the ground and maintain regular contacts with political and community leaders who work to...