Results 2,201-2,220 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am obviously following current developments in Egypt closely and have already made clear my great concern at last night's events which saw the removal, following military intervention, of President Morsi's democratically elected government and the suspension of the Egyptian constitution. I also regret the violence which has occurred following large-scale and otherwise peaceful...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Issues (4 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The reports of alleged US surveillance of EU premises are naturally of concern to all EU Member States, Ireland included. The EU’s External Action Service has sought urgent clarification of the situation in both Washington and Brussels. I understand that High Representative Ashton has also spoken directly to Secretary of State Kerry in a meeting in Brunei. The Government has already...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies Membership (4 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is committed to upholding a multilateral approach to international relations, based upon the equality of States and the rule of law. This commitment has been expressed through our membership of, and active participation in, international organisations such as the European Union and the United Nations. Membership of these organisations has enabled us to promote the interests, value and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There were quite a few questions in that round. Deputy Smith raised Geneva II. On 7 May, the US Secretary of State, John Kerry and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, announced their agreement to convene an international peace conference on Syria, the purpose of which is to revive the Geneva communiqué of 30 June 2012 with a probable focus on the establishment of a mutually agreed...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Programme C deals with matters related to Northern Ireland and funding for projects which bolster peace and reconciliation on the island. To this end, I approved funding of €1.5 million last month for 77 organisations through the reconciliation fund. This will be used to work at grassroots level with local communities to advance the work of overcoming division and disharmony. There...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The work to support the development of the peace process in Northern Ireland operates at several levels. We have Department officials in Belfast who work there and keep in contact with the political parties and community organisations, especially in the lead-in to and during the marching season. They monitor what is taking place and the difficult parades that take place during that period...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department's commitment to international peace, security and human rights is channelled through programme D, which has a total budget of more than €70 million. Of this, almost €42 million is in the form of contributions to international organisations such as the United Nations, including funding in support of peacekeeping operations. Following our successful chairmanship of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Let me first deal with the passports issue. In 2012, a total of 631,947 passports were issued, which was an increase of 5.4% over the 2011 figures. The highest increase was 8% in the number of passports for children over three and under 18 years of age. People who apply under the passport express service are given a commitment by the service that a passport will be issued within ten days...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Very briefly, programme B covers consular matters and the passport service, which connects my Department directly to individual citizens of the State both at home and abroad. Through programme B, we provide vital passport and consular services as well as outreach services to Irish communities abroad. A number of good initiatives are up and running in 2013, including the provision of more...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I will first deal with the question Deputy Crowe raised, which relates to the earlier question Deputy Smith raised about the trade and economic function of the Department. It is fair to say that in the world we live in now, diplomacy is largely economic. There is a concept of economic diplomacy and if one looks at the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the past two and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: With the Chairman's permission, I will ask the Minister of State to answer the Deputy's specific question on trade as it affects developing countries when we deal with that Vote.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Chairman for giving me the opportunity of presenting the revised Estimates for my Department for 2013. I do not propose to make an opening statement but will introduce each programme as it is being considered. However, given that the EU Presidency passed from Ireland just three days ago, it has been the single biggest international project in the past six to 12 months and longer...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The trade function in my Department is essentially a co-ordinating function. As the Deputy knows, a number of Departments have a trade function. All of that has been pulled together under the Export Trade Council, which I chair. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is on the Export Trade Council, as are the Ministers for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Transport, Tourism...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Arms Trade (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 11 June 2013 to which the Deputy refers, the Government wish to see the rapid entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty, ATT, which will take place ninety days following ratification by the fiftieth State. Some of the provisions of the Treaty concern matters that fall within the exclusive competence of the European Union, as they...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government closely follows human rights issues in China, including reports of organ harvesting, and is concerned about the situation. Freedom of expression is an issue which is discussed regularly with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings. In March 2012, Ireland and China took a major step forward in strengthening our bilateral ties with agreement on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (3 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 68 together. I very much welcome the vote last week by the US Senate to approve a bill that provides for comprehensive reform of the American immigration system. This is a very positive development that takes us another step closer towards addressing the problems faced by undocumented Irish emigrants in the US and will allow them to emerge from the...

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, of course.

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree with Deputy Dooley that self-praise is no praise. Happily, on this occasion, the country has received very good complimentary remarks from other member states and from the leadership of the EU institutions about the conduct of the Presidency. I am pleased that we successfully concluded most of the files we set out to conclude. There is a satisfaction in that and I join in what has...

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy would know more about spying than I would.

European Council in Brussels: Statements (2 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Wallace should not be paranoid.