Results 2,681-2,700 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government, along with our EU partners, shares the widespread concern about the security situation in Nigeria, including the ongoing campaign of violence by the group, Boko Haram. We monitor developments in Nigeria closely through our Ambassador and his staff in Abuja, in close consultation with EU and other international partners. We have consistently condemned the violence in Nigeria,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Palestinian community in East Jerusalem experience many of the personal and economic difficulties which are suffered by their compatriots elsewhere in the West Bank. In addition, however, they experience complications and problems due to Israel's insistence that their home has been annexed to Israel while they have become not citizens of Israel but residents, whose residency status can...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The report to which the Deputy refers is a detailed document of more than 600 pages, produced by an organisation that aims to influence policy in the United States. The Deputy will be aware that in 2006 the US military, in its Field Manual, prohibited the use of a number of interrogation techniques, including waterboarding and sexual humiliation. In early 2009, by an Executive Order,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Mali has been the subject of ongoing discussion by EU Foreign Ministers since March 2012 when there was an army coup and armed groups seized control of the north of the country. The situation was discussed most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council which I attended in Brussels on 11 March. In February the Council adopted comprehensive Conclusions which reaffirmed the EU’s support...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The continuing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is discussed regularly at all levels within the EU, including at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. In particular, I have strongly welcomed the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework Agreement for the DRC and the Region, which was concluded in Addis Ababa on 24 February. The adoption of the Agreement was welcomed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 58, and 65 together. First, I wish to take this opportunity to express my horror at the explosion of two bombs in Reyhanli, a town in Turkey close to the Syrian border, on Saturday 11 May, in which at least 46 people have died. On behalf of the Irish Government I have sent a message to the Turkish government via our embassy in Ankara expressing our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passport Service does not require that an applicant for an Irish passport, as part of the regular application process, provide details of any foreign passports held. Therefore, information on the number of Irish passport holders that hold passports of other states is not available. There is no prohibition under Irish law on Irish citizens holding the passport of another State. There...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have been following events in Venezuela since the closely contested presidential elections of 14 April last. I regret heightened tensions as manifested by trenchant comments from across the political spectrum as well as incidents of violence which have resulted in loss of life and injuries. I share the concern of EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton at the growing polarisation of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 45 together. More than two years after it first erupted, the conflict in Syria continues to be one of the greatest challenges confronting the international community. The dimensions of the crisis are truly daunting. An estimated 80,000 people have lost their lives; one-third of Syrians have either fled the country, are internally displaced or are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government remains committed to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and associated agreements and this is a regular subject for discussion in my meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the First and Deputy First Minister. During these meetings we also discussed the urgent need to make progress on building a shared and reconciled society in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 April, High Representative Ashton reported briefly to Ministers on the conduct of the latest round of talks between the E3+3 group and Iran, which took place in Almaty on 5-6 April. Further information was conveyed separately at official level by the EAS and by E3 representatives. Regrettably, the reports from Almaty all indicate that once again the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Trade (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister of State with responsibility for trade and development Joe Costello, TD, visited Mongolia from 28 to29 April, becoming the first Irish Minister to visit the country. He also had a series of bilateral engagements, including meeting the Foreign Minister of Mongolia, Luvsanvandan Bold, Irish business people resident in Ulaanbaatar, representatives of a number of Mongolian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Service (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland’s diplomatic network includes 56 embassies, seven multilateral missions and ten consulates general and other offices overseas. In addition to their country of primary accreditation, many ambassadors are also accredited to additional countries on a non-resident basis which enhances the cost-effectiveness of our external representation. These include representing and advancing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 62 together. Trade missions are an important element of the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, which recognises the valuable role they play in developing and creating new trade, tourism and investment opportunities for Ireland. Ultimately, the contracts won and contacts made during trade missions lead to job creation and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Treatment of Prisoners (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) conducts periodic visits to places of detention in each Member State. The detailed response of the Spanish Government to the CPT report was also published at the same time. The visit was the sixth such one to Spain. It involved, at central level, meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government remains firmly committed to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrew’s Agreements. I will also continue to urge all the parties in the Assembly to engage in constructive discussion with a view to reaching agreement on the substance of a Bill of Rights. A Bill of Rights drawn up by agreement between the main parties of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Development (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Europe has faced an unprecedented economic challenge in recent years, with serious economic and social consequences. The Government has been engaged intensively with colleagues to meet these challenges and to get to grips with the consequences. At the core of this were the steps taken to underpin the security of and confidence in the euro. Mechanisms to provide support to Member States were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm to the Deputy that the issue he has referred to was not discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council nor, indeed, could such an issue be expected to be discussed in a forum focussed on EU external relations questions.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Marching Season (16 May 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The overall situation in Northern Ireland forms a key element in all of my regular discussions with the British government and with the Northern Ireland Executive. I can confirm that both issues formed part of my bilateral discussions with the Secretary State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP on 29 April in Belfast. They also featured in the joint meeting which the Secretary of State...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 59 together. The human rights environment in Bahrain continues to be of serious concern, particularly with regard to the ongoing reports and allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and detention of human rights activists. I fully understand the disappointment expressed by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan Méndez, in...