Results 341-360 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Last Friday, I met with Dr. Richard Haass in Dublin ahead of the planned resumption of the Northern Ireland party leaders’ talks. Dr. Haass also met with British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, last week. Under Dr. Haass’s chairmanship of the Panel of Parties talks, the Northern Ireland parties made...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Both the Irish and the British Governments are clear that progress needs to be made. Deputy Smith is correct that we had hoped agreement would be reached in the new year following the Haass talks. Unfortunately, that did not happen, although much progress was made. There was a period of talks after that involving the party leaders. For a variety of reasons, those talks were interrupted...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is my view and that of the Irish Government and the British Government that both Governments must and do have a hands-on approach to these issues. Both the Secretary of State and I were in Belfast for the concluding stages of the discussions prior to the new year. We have remained in contact. We have talked and liaised about our respective contacts with political leaderships in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Human rights have been a priority of successive Irish governments, and are a key dimension of our foreign policy. Ireland works bilaterally and through the EU and UN to ensure that human rights are respected in Myanmar/Burma. Earlier this month, EU Foreign Ministers approved the establishment of a formal EU-Myanmar Human Rights Dialogue. The first such Dialogue took place in Myanmar on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 20 together. As noted in a previous reply, this is an issue to which I accord a very high priority. I am conscious of the difficulties experienced by Irish citizens who are undocumented in the United States, and have met and spoken with many of them on my working visits there, and also with the various groups who lobby on their behalf. Immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 26 together. I refer the Deputies to my earlier reply to Priority Question No 3. I also refer the Deputies to the written answers I gave yesterday to Questions Nos. 55 and 64 in relation to these matters. If the Deputies wish I can repeat my answer to that question: Policing, prisons and overall criminal justice policy have been the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In June 2013 the Passport Office in Molesworth Street moved to a service whereby customers book, via a simple web based system, guaranteed time slots before travelling into the office. The public have responded very well to this new arrangement and in particular are very welcoming of the fact that the many hours previously spent queuing in the office has been eliminated. Customers are now...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government remains deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and has emphasised the importance of seeking a negotiated political settlement. Let me begin by welcoming the holding of Presidential elections in Ukraine on Sunday and the election in the first round of Petro Poroshenko. While there were difficulties in holding the elections in Eastern Ukraine owing to the security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 27, 33, 34 and 36 together. I have strongly condemned the abduction by the terrorist organisation, Boko Haram, of more than 200 schoolgirls from the northern Nigerian town of Chibok on 14 April. I am also appalled by the reported abduction of a further 11 girls on 4 May. Through our development policies and programmes, Ireland is a strong supporter of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I would like to assure the Deputy that Quality Customer Service is a priority for my Department and for all our offices, at home and abroad. My Department does receive a small number of complaints from members of the public concerning the services provided by our 70-plus embassies and consulates abroad. All complaints are investigated and a response is issued as soon as possible. Where...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the report in question, which details a number of disturbing practices in relation to detention of Palestinian children. The report indicates a 2% rise in cases of minors held in solitary confinement, which is clearly unwelcome. Children in custody should be allowed to be accompanied by adult family members. I have paid particular attention to the incidence and conditions of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have raised my concerns at this continued detention without trial with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmy, on 11 November and 23 December 2013. The Embassy of Ireland in Cairo has been in sustained and direct contact with the Egyptian authorities in relation to the case. Our Ambassador Isolde Moylan and her colleagues in Egypt have met with senior...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Boston College Archives (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In March 2011 the British Government, acting on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, initiated proceedings with the US Department of Justice under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two countries for the release of selected archived interviews held in Boston College. The archives are part of the Belfast Project,an oral history of Republican and Loyalist former...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 30 together. Let me begin by welcoming the holding of Presidential elections in Ukraine on Sunday and the election in the first round of Petro Poroshenko. While there were difficulties in holding the elections in Eastern Ukraine owing to the security situation, elsewhere millions of ordinary citizens exercised their democratic right in choosing the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Considerable ongoing efforts are being made by the international community, in which Ireland is actively engaged, to resolve, and where possible prevent, conflicts, human rights abuses, genocide, ethnic cleansing and imprisonment. The international community, including the EU and UN are using all the available instruments to foster constructive dialogue and to encourage peaceful, negotiated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The conflict in Syria is now well into its fourth year, with no end in sight and increasing signs of a protracted stalemate. In its wake, we are witnessing an unprecedented catastrophe for the Syrian people. Latest estimates from the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggest that over 160,000 people have now been killed. More than 2.7 million Syrians have sought refuge in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The process of re-establishing a resident Embassy to the Holy See involves a variety of logistical issues. Given the range of issues involved in the establishment process, I hope the Deputy will understand that it is not possible at this point to provide a definite timescale. I can confirm, however, that it is the Government’s intention that all necessary arrangements will be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I believe that the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements provide the essential framework for the achievement of reconciliation and mutual trust in Northern Ireland and in the totality of relations between these islands. In my ongoing contacts with the British government and with the Northern Ireland Executive, I continue to stress the importance of progressing implementation of all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Prisoners held in any circumstances should be afforded the rights and protections enshrined in international standards. In Israel, which is an established state and party to most of the relevant international instruments, these standards should apply to all persons imprisoned by Israel, be they in Israel or in occupied territory, be they citizens or not. The same standards should be applied...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This is an issue to which I accord very high priority. I am conscious of the difficulties experienced by Irish citizens who are undocumented in the United States, and I have met and spoken with many of them on my working visits there, and also with the various groups who lobby on their behalf. Immigration reform and the challenges faced by our undocumented remain central to our bilateral...