Results 3,021-3,040 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 42 together. Led by High Representative Ashton, the E3+3 (UK, France, Germany, USA, Russia and China), have been engaged in a patient dual-track diplomatic effort with Iran, consisting of engaging in talks while at the same time applying sanctions, in order to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the widespread international concerns about aspects of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Commission on the Status of Women (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global policy-making body on issues relating to gender equality and advancement of women. The 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place from 4 to 15 March 2013. The priority theme for the session was the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. The outcome...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Projects (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department provides funding to cross border projects through its Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds. The purpose of these Funds is to assist organisations involved in reconciliation work, to support efforts to create better understanding between people on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain, and to assist local initiatives aimed at tackling sectarianism. Funding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There is no prohibition under Irish law on Irish citizens holding the passport of another State. 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 are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 25 together. I am very aware of the cases to which the Deputies refer and my officials monitor these and other cases very closely. The first individual referred to has been detained since 13 May 2011, following the revocation of her life licence by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Genuine concerns have repeatedly been raised about...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 48 and 54 together. As part of the Government’s St. Patrick's Day "Promote Ireland" programme 2013, I visited Atlanta, New Orleans and Washington DC from 14-20 March. In Atlanta, I undertook a range of business networking and investment promotion events. In particular, I hosted an "Invest in Ireland" business forum for IDA client and target...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 35 and 44 together. I share the widespread concerns about the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The country has been ravaged by a long series of violent conflicts. Millions of innocent civilians have been killed, injured or displaced from their homes. There have been systematic abuses of human rights, extremely high...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: While much attention has focussed on the difficulties produced at an individual level by the network of controls and movement restrictions which Israel imposes on Palestinians, these measures have cumulatively also had a disastrous effect on the Palestinian economy. The economy of the West Bank effectively collapsed under the impact of these controls over ten years ago; and the degree of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 33 together. The Government remains firmly committed to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrew’s Agreements. In contacts with the British government, we continue to stress the importance of implementation of all aspects of the Agreement, including of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland which takes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Treaties (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 73 and 74 together. An unprecedented economic crisis has faced the European Union, and more specifically the euro zone, over recent years. While our response has being sometimes criticised, great strides have, in fact, been made in dealing with these exceptional and complex circumstances. EU institutional architecture per se has not fundamentally...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Foreign Affairs Council on 18 February which I attended devoted considerable attention to reviewing the current EU sanctions which apply against Syria. The issue was further discussed at the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which took place in Dublin last weekend and which I co-hosted with High Representative Ashton. This discussion will continue at the next Foreign Affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Conventions (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Hungarian counterpart János Martonyi has recently written to all EU Foreign Ministers informing them about changes to the Hungarian Constitution which were subsequently approved by the Hungarian Parliament. The changes have prompted the European Commission and a number of Member States to express concern that the amendments are not compatible with the fundamental values and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Criminal Court (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My understanding is that, following the admission of Palestine to sit in the UN General Assembly as an Observer State, Palestine is now eligible to become a party to the Rome Statute. Ireland is, of course, a very strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and has always supported and encouraged universal adherence to the Rome Statute. The main consideration for any state in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 46 together. Since the outbreak of street violence in early December, I have had frequent contact, both with the British Government and with party leaders. My most recent meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers MP was in Washington last week. We have agreed to continue working together to support the parties in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: At the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which I co-hosted with High Representative Ashton in Dublin on 22-23 March, a range of issues were discussed in relation to the current Review of the European External Action Service. Some member States have suggested that the Service might take on a greater role in relation to consular assistance. Ireland believes that the EEAS has the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the next Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council which will take place in Dublin in July 2013. The agenda for this meeting has still to be agreed with the Northern Ireland administration but I expect that the meeting will include discussions on a number of relevant issues such as the current economic situation on the island and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware my Department through our Embassies and Consulates abroad provides consular assistance to Irish citizens who encounter difficulties, including victims of crime. These services are coordinated by the Department’s Consular Division based in Dublin. The assistance offered is appropriate to the individual circumstances of each case. The range of assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I very much welcome the fact that there has been some progress recently in relation to political dialogue in Bahrain, with the main opposition parties agreeing to meet with the Bahraini Government within a process of national dialogue which recommenced last month. It is important that all sides engage constructively in this dialogue with a view to furthering reconciliation and reform within...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Syria has been the major issue discussed at the last two EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings in February and March, each of which I attended, as well as at the informal Ministerial meeting which I co-hosted with High Representative Ashton in Dublin on 22-23 March. The focus at these meetings was on the most appropriate steps which the EU can take in support of the ongoing efforts to achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Food Labelling (28 Mar 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Netherlands Government recently issued a clarification notice on product labelling. This was to the effect that, for products where place of origin is indicated, it would be misleading consumers to label products made in settlements as being ’Made in Israel’, as the settlements are not in Israel. Likewise, it would be misleading to label them as ‘Product of the West...