Results 361-380 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

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

Eamon Gilmore: Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. Where and when the situation warrants, we make...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 2 today, in which I dealt with the suspension of the current talks in the Middle East Peace Process. US Secretary of State Kerry has correctly, in my view, called on the two sides to reflect on the progress achieved to date, the possibility of reaching an agreement, and the perils of failure.It is not anticipated that the United States...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Colombian Peace Process (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process. I hope that the negotiations underway in Havana, Cuba will bring an end to a long conflict in Colombia which has caused much suffering. Colombia’s peace process is also supported by the European Union and the wider international community. I welcome the announcement on 16th May last that the negotiators in Havana have now reached...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I would refer the deputy to my reply to Question No. 27 (15397/14) on 3 April concerning this issue. Further to that reply, I am aware that the possibility of including Marwan Barghouti has arisen on a number of occasions when prisoner releases were being discussed between Israel and various Palestinian interlocutors, but to date Israel has refused to consider including him in any of these...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Together with my European Union colleagues, I follow very closely the situation in the Western Balkans. Ireland continues to support the consolidation of peace and democracy in the countries of the Western Balkans, as they introduce reforms in preparation for EU membership. The EU enlargement process is founded on the Copenhagen criteria, which reflect the EU’s founding values:...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Semi-State Bodies (28 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no commercial semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Boston College Archives (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 59 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: 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 the rights of women and girls, and in particular the right of girls...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Over 93% of all passport applications within the State are made through Passport Express. This is a joint venture with An Post which enables applicants to lodge applications through some 1,000 post offices across the country and some 70 post offices in Northern Ireland. The Passport Service endeavours to return a passport to all those who submitted properly completed applications through...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Maritime Jurisdiction Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the body of water that stretches from 12 nautical miles offshore out to a distance of 200 miles. Under the 1982 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: Foreign Conflicts (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process. I hope that the negotiations underway in Havana, Cuba will bring an end to a long conflict in Colombia which has caused much suffering. I welcome the announcement on 16th May last that the negotiators in Havana have now reached provisional agreement on their agenda item dealing with illicit drugs. This means that three areas of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 60 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that I have raised my concerns at his 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 actively liaising with the Egyptian authorities in relation to the case and contacts have included numerous...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 64 together. I have regular comprehensive discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, most recently on 21 May, about the overall situation in the North and the peace process. I discuss a number of issues regularly with her, including the threats posed by so-called dissident republicans, as well as attacks by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I met with Dr Haass on 23 May when he visited Dublin after his visit to London on 22 May. We share the view that progress in the Party Leaders Talks is urgently needed. I remain convinced that the best way forward for dealing with important issues such as parades, flag and identity issues and dealing with the past, is the early, successful conclusion of these talks. Maintaining the status...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together. Since the replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary by the PSNI in 2001 as recommended by the Patten report in 1999, Northern Ireland has benefitted from a new beginning for policing and for public confidence in policing. As part of the transformation in policing accountability mechanisms are in place to hold the PSNI to account,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government, and our European Union partners, are completely opposed to the death penalty in all cases. We also attach the utmost importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief. Freedom of religion or belief is one of Ireland's priorities for our membership of the Human Rights Council, from 2013 to 2015, and we have played a central role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This passport was issued on the 15thMay 2014 and sent to our mission for onwards transmission to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Driver Licence Exchange (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am deeply conscious of the unease within the Irish community in Canada about the lack of reciprocal arrangements with the various Canadian Provinces, each of which is responsible for regulating and issuing licences to motorists resident within its own jurisdiction. The lack of such agreements with Ireland can have the effect of restricting the opportunities for employment for holders of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: While I have not personally spoken to Prime Minister Yatsenyuk following recent events in Ukraine, the European Union through President Van Rompuy and the Commission continues to maintain regular contact with the Prime Minister and the interim government in Kiev and to keep member States informed of these discussions. President Van Rompuy held talks with the Prime Minister in Kiev on 12 May...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (27 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach represented the Government at the canonisation of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II in Rome on Sunday 27 April. After the ceremony, he had the opportunity to speak with Pope Francis. During the exchange, the Taoiseach conveyed to Pope Francis that were he to accept an invitation to visit Ireland from the Catholic bishops, such a visit would have the full support of the...