Results 2,621-2,640 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: I have already raised the issue of the closure of Guantanamo at Secretary of State level. It continues to be discussed at official level between the EU and the US. From an ethical and humanitarian point of view, I have deep reservations about the forced feeding of hunger strikers. Medical organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross have expressed significant concern...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: I agree with the UN statement. Ireland adheres to and supports international human rights law and respects the rights of individuals to refuse food if they so choose. For example, forced feeding would not be resorted to were a prisoner to go on hunger strike in Ireland. Forced feeding violates the fundamental rights of an individual to be treated with inherent dignity. We will continue to...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy is aware that EU policy on the Middle East is co-ordinated and led by the High Representative and the European External Action Service, EEAS, of the EU, not by the rotating national Presidency. An ever present danger in the Syrian crisis has been that it would escalate to engulf the wider region. Recent events, such as the alleged Israeli bombing of a target in Syria, the...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: I am on public record as stating that I do not support the lifting of the arms embargo and the further militarisation of the conflict in Syria. The EU's sanctions regime in respect of Syria is due for renewal and I expect it will be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in May. As is well known, some member states have been seeking a lifting of the arms embargo. Ireland is among a...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The US and Russia have already talked. There was a meeting between Secretary of State Kerry and Foreign Minister Mr. Sergey Lavrov just over a week ago. My understanding is that it has been agreed that a conference will be convened within a number of weeks, which would build on the conference that took place in Geneva last June. The difficulty is that the international community wants a...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: On the humanitarian front, some 58% of the pledges made in Kuwait have been honoured. We want the remainder of those pledges to be honoured. Ireland is in a particularly strong position to ask for them to be honoured because, on a per-capita basis, it is one of the highest contributors to the humanitarian effort relating to this crisis. There is no doubt that it is a crisis. More than 1...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that I will be arguing at the Foreign Affairs Council that there must be a full investigation into the allegations relating to the use of chemical weapons. The European Union has already written to the Secretary General of the United Nations to insist that said investigation must be comprehensive and must contemplate all serious allegations relating to the use of chemical...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: I am being kept informed of developments relating to the hunger strike which is taking place at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. I have made clear on many occasions my view that the centre should be closed and that the detainees should be either brought to trial or released as soon as possible. I discussed this issue with Hillary Clinton when she was US Secretary of State. It is also...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The rapidly worsening situation in Syria is a central item on the EU's agenda. The Foreign Affairs Council remains actively engaged in efforts to promote a peaceful resolution and assist the thousands of Syrians who are fleeing the violence. A political solution to the crisis is the only way forward. The United Nations and Arab League joint special envoy, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, has been...
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill has been published and is currently being considered in the Seanad.
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: A road traffic Bill is due this session and would be an appropriate platform to raise this matter. The Deputy announced he is to publish a Private Members' Bill and, as he knows, there is now a means by which such Bills can be considered quickly in this House. This is an area that needs to be re-examined. I am sure the Deputy will introduce his Bill in any event, but the road traffic Bill...
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: A DNA database Bill is due this session.
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The Forestry Bill 2013 was published on 24 April and is due for Second Stage debate in the House.
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The relevant health legislation will be treated in this session. The heads of the criminal records information system Bill have been approved by Government and the Bill is expected to be published late in this year.
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: That is a matter that must be considered by Government in due course. There is a greyhound industry (amendment) Bill which is intended to amend and extend the Greyhound Industry Act, and related matters, but I do not have a date for its publication.
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The heads of the sport Ireland Bill are being finalised and it is expected to be published this year. On the problems that arose this year with the administration of the student grant system, the Minister for Education and Skills has done an examination of that.
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: We had a discussion on this issue at Government this week. He is working to ensure the system works better in the coming year. One of the things that would help is the full completion of application forms for student grants-----
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: -----and the full submission of the accompanying documentation that is required with student grant applications. One of the problems last year was that many of the applications that were submitted did not contain the full information-----
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: -----or the full back-up information. Those who are applying for student grants will help the situation themselves by ensuring the applications are fully completed and the supporting documentation is submitted with it.
- Order of Business (16 May 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: In this section of the agenda, I am required to answer questions on promised legislation.