Results 2,941-2,960 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Councils: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (17 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Crowe asked about the MFF negotiations. We are having discussions with the European Parliament and Commission. I was in Brussels last week and there was an informal meeting with representatives of the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council, under the Irish Presidency, on the MFF. We intend to have further discussion at the meeting of the General Affairs Council next...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Councils: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (17 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There is enough material in those questions for another long speech, but I will try to be brief. I thank Deputies Smith and Crowe for their compliments regarding the hunger-nutrition-climate justice conference and they both asked what we will do to carry forward on that. This was a very different conference because we designed it so there would be participation by people from grassroots...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Councils: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (17 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: At the February and March meetings, the Foreign Affairs Council also reviewed recent developments in Iraq, which occupies a pivotal position in the region. The political and security situation in Iraq is a cause for serious concern, with growing signs of sectarian tension and high levels of violence. The April Council will adopt conclusions urging greater efforts at dialogue and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Councils: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (17 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee. I welcome the opportunity to meet members and update them on discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council in recent months. As ever, the Council has a busy agenda and we dealt with a wide range of issues at our meetings in January, February and March. We will be considering some of these again when we meet in Luxembourg next Monday. During...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (17 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government decision in November 2011 to close our resident embassy to the Holy See was taken with considerable reluctance as part of a necessary budget process to reduce costs. The closure of the resident embassy to the Holy See has yielded substantial savings, not least as it enabled the significantly larger embassy to Italy and the residence of the ambassador to Italy to be relocated to...

Return to Writ: Meath East - Introduction of New Member (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I join with the Taoiseach in welcoming Deputy Helen McEntee as a Member of Dáil Éireann. I wish her a long and productive Membership.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Refusals (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: A passport name change results in the establishment of a new identity for the passport holder. Accordingly the Passport Service must insist on certain minimum evidentiary requirements to protect against fraud and identity theft. The Passport Service has written to the applicant in relation to this specific change of name request. The applicant should contact Mr. Ray Devine, Passport...

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

Eamon Gilmore: St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas, with levels of publicity and media attention unmatched by the national day of any other country. Programmes were put together with a view to maximising the promotion of Ireland’s trade, tourism and investment interests overseas and to spread a positive message...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the body of water which stretches from 12 nautical miles offshore out to a distance of 200 miles. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea a coastal state has exclusive rights within its EEZ over fishing (although all EU member states have transferred their competence for conservation and management of sea fisheries to the EU), the...

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

Eamon Gilmore: The Government decision in November 2011 to close our resident embassy to the Holy See was taken with considerable reluctance as part of a necessary budget process to reduce costs. The closure of the resident embassy to the Holy See has yielded substantial savings, not least as it enabled the significantly larger embassy to Italy and the residence of the ambassador to Italy to be relocated to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Controls (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Diplomatic passports are issued in accordance with the provisions of the Passport Act, 2008. Section 16 of the Act makes particular provision for the issue of diplomatic passport to persons who hold a diplomatic rank or to persons whom the Minister for Foreign Affairs considers it appropriate to issue such a passport in order to carry out their duties. The broad provisions of this are as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Numbers (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passport Service technology system does not record “address” information in the structured format necessary to facilitate the production of management information in relation to place of residency, place of birth etc. The availability of this information would require a fundamental redesign of the system, which could not be cost justified for this facility alone. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Numbers (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 190, inclusive, together. The availability of this information would require a fundamental redesign of the system, which could not be cost justified for this facility alone. This matter will be addressed in the context of any major system changes which may emerge in the future.

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

Eamon Gilmore: A passport was issued to the person in question on 5 April 2013.

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

Eamon Gilmore: Contacts with British counterparts continue across a broad range of themes in advance of the G8 summit in Fermanagh, particularly in areas where the priorities for the Irish Presidency of the European Union overlap with the British Presidency of the G8, such as trade liberalisation and development co-operation. These contacts will continue and intensify in the months ahead. I am not in a...

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

Eamon Gilmore: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. 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 identity of the applicant is known and that the person in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am very aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. My officials continue to monitor the case closely. Genuine concerns have repeatedly been raised about several aspects of this case by Deputies. I have raised and will continue to raise these concerns very frankly with the British Government. The Parole Commissioners are currently still reviewing her case. I understand that hearings...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (16 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The EU and Australia are currently negotiating a Framework Agreement as the basis for their political and economic dialogue. Negotiations on an EU-Australia Framework Agreement were launched in 2011. The fourth round of negotiations took place in Canberra on 26 and 27 July 2012. This round enabled a number of issues to be solved and agreement to be reached on several articles. The draft...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process. I hope the negotiations that are under way will bring an end to the long conflict there, which has caused much suffering, and give the people of that country the peace and stability they deserve. As my schedule for that day does not allow me to meet this delegation, I have asked senior officials from my Department to meet them and report back...

Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On the issue raised by Deputy O'Sullivan and the horrendous reports of rape in a number of countries, Ireland takes a very active interest. Where necessary, our ambassadors and embassies undertake work in this regard. I discussed the issue recently with Michelle Bachelet, executive director of UN Women. We also have a very strong position on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325,...