Results 3,261-3,280 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: That was Deputy O'Dea's Government's settled policy in 2010, which it included in the national recovery plan.

Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The approach the Minister for Social Protection is taking is a manifest improvement on that. We have a report of an expert group that addresses the entire issue of child support in its widest sense. We will have a full discussion on it. There will be plenty of time for people to discuss it in a committee. It will be discussed in the Chamber if that is required.

Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am sure the Minister, Deputy Burton, will be happy to consider suggestions and proposals from Deputy O'Dea or from other Members of the House.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Numbers (21 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In 2011 599,468 passports were issued by the Passport Service. This increased by over 5% in 2012 to 631,939. So far in 2013 over 90,000 applications have been received. Demand for passport services is highly seasonal, with almost 50% of applications being received in the four months April – July each year. Therefore the Department employs temporary clerical staff (TCOs) to help...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Statistics (21 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Passport Service does not request any information on other nationalities as part of the application process, information on the number of Irish passport holders that hold one or more passports of other states is not available.

Other Questions: International Agreements (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In some countries, once they sign the agreement, it automatically comes into force in domestic law. Our Constitution is different. It states that the signing of an international agreement can only have effect once a decision is made in the Oireachtas to ratify it and give it effect. Often legislation is required for the ratification process. Sometimes a Minister will await the next...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 29, 30, 33, 63, 66 and 67 together. I am very aware of the cases to which the Deputy refers 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 about several aspects...

Other Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have already brought to the attention of the Secretary of State the previous visit that was undertaken by a group of Oireachtas Members whom I subsequently met and whose report and assessment I was given. On a continuing basis, we have raised with the Minister for Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive the conditions in which Ms Price is being held. The immediate focus is on the...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: We must understand that immigration has been a big political issue in the United States for a long time. It is perfectly understandable that the issue of immigration will be linked to issues of border security and to security generally, given what the United States experienced just over a decade ago. We must be mindful of that. That is the approach that will be taken to this issue. While...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: We are continuing our efforts to secure the E3 visas. This was at the top of the agenda until the possibility of comprehensive immigration reform came up again. We are continuing our efforts on the E3 visa issue.

Other Questions: International Agreements (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As requested, I am providing the Deputy with a list of international agreements which Ireland has signed but not ratified. The list has been prepared according to the information available to my Department and aims to be as comprehensive as possible. The two-step process whereby a state will first sign an international agreement, and then ratify it later, is the usual manner in which...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said in my earlier response, the position of the undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States is an important priority for the Government. President Obama has indicated his strong support for progress on comprehensive immigration reform. Work is currently underway in Congress on agreeing the terms of the reform and the indications of emerging bipartisan support for reform are...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: We have to recognise when circumstances change. Anybody addressing this question a year or more ago would certainly have said that comprehensive immigration reform was largely off the agenda in the United States. It is back on the agenda now and we must recognise that. It has been put back on the agenda because it was an issue in the United States presidential election and President Obama...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am not sure that it helps our cause to engage in commentary on the politics of the United States. The politics of the United States is a matter for the people of that country, the Congress and Senate and I am not going to engage in a discussion on which Administration, Congress or majority holds a particular view. As far as we are concerned, as a Government we will work with both sides of...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am inviting Deputy Deasy to give me his list of contacts in the Republican Party.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In one case, as I said, there will be a Supreme Court hearing and my information is that it is due to be held shortly. A date was set for it earlier in the month but the hearing was not held on that date. I understand a new date will be set for it shortly. My understanding is that the parole commissioners will hear the Marian Price case in early March. Three dates have been indicated to...

Other Questions: Nuclear Proliferation (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I issued a statement on 12 February condemning in the strongest possible terms the decision by the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, the DPRK, to test a nuclear explosive device on 12 February 2013. This action directly threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and was a clear violation of North Korea’s international obligations under United Nations...

Other Questions: Nuclear Proliferation (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy has asked a number of questions. In regard to the comments which were made in Geneva yesterday by the DPRK that South Korea would face final destruction if it continued to press for tougher sanctions against North Korea at the United Nations, the comments which were made by the DPRK representative at the conference on disarmament in Geneva yesterday are totally unacceptable and...

Other Questions: Nuclear Proliferation (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On Deputy Crowe's point on the issue of isolation, Ireland has diplomatic relations with North Korea. We do not have a resident embassy there but through our diplomatic relations we make our point of view very clearly known and independently known. Over many decades Ireland has taken a leading role in regard to nuclear non-proliferation. We are very clear in our view. We are one of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (20 Feb 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: This is very much a priority for the Government. I do not wish to create false expectations as there have been false dawns on immigration reform and visa related issues in the United States. However, it is clear that positive signals have been made. Speeches by President Obama have been absolutely explicit. He has said he wants to see legislation on the issue. On foot of that, the...