Results 3,921-3,940 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Human rights are, and have always been, a priority of successive Irish Governments and a cornerstone of our foreign policy. The Government closely follows human rights issues in China, including reports of organ harvesting, and is concerned about the situation. The information which accompanied your question was provided by the Irish Falun Dafa Association. In April officials from the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (22 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 to 59, inclusive, together. Though tensions had risen following a number of incidents on either side in recent weeks, the latest round of violence was triggered by sustained rocket attacks launched on towns in Israel from Gaza. There was further escalation with the targeted killing of a senior Hamas leader. In statements on 15 and 18 November, I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Senator Walsh referred to the position regarding Syria. I have outlined the approach we are taking with regard to the recognition of the coalition in Syria. Our view, which is shared by other member states, is that we do not want to rush into recognition and we should monitor how the position evolves and who exactly is involved. That the opposition groups have come together is a good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will revert to the Deputy directly on that issue. Given that the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, has taken a particular interest in the matter, I will seek to obtain a separate reply for the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Presidency will be hugely challenging. Since the Lisbon arrangements, the European Council is chaired by President Van Rompuy and the Foreign Affairs Council is chaired by High Representative Catherine Ashton. I have spoken to her about how we are going to share the burden during the six months and on the agenda is the issue of EU dialogue with Cuba. I expect to be involved with that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will start with Deputy Byrne's question on the way in which OSCE election monitoring is done. There has been a long-established OSCE practice in regard to election monitoring. One of the difficulties is that there is an expectation and an clamour immediately following elections for the report on what the election monitors concluded. The election takes place and the world's press is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: First of all, as regards Gaza, the latest information I have from our embassy is that a ceasefire is expected to be announced shortly. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is there at the moment and I understand it is expected that a ceasefire will be announced shortly. Clearly, that would be really welcome. Deputy Crowe mentioned the number of people who have been killed. There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: First of all, the issue of external trade policy and controls is an EU competence rather than a national one. The issue of how we vote at the UN is a national one. Ultimately, it is a decision for us as a State. Second, at a practical level, any step that is taken needs to be effective. Clearly, the whole purpose of what we are trying to do is to give clout to the EU position, which was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I would be happy to have that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Let me answer about the DRC, or does the Chairman want to take other questions? I am in his hands.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Their questions cover a number of areas. Let me just organise my notes into a kind of thematic sequence, if the committee does not mind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Chairman and Deputy Smith asked about the bomb explosion in Tel Aviv today. What appears to have been a bomb exploded on a local bus in Tel Aviv, and the attack was very close to our embassy there. It is reported that approximately 18 people were injured, most of them lightly, and thankfully no fatalities have been reported. However, some of the injured may be more critical. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I welcome the opportunity to update the committee on discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council in recent months. The Council has a busy agenda and considered a wide range of issues at its meetings in October and November. There continues to be a sharp focus on the conflict in Syria, in light of the continuing deterioration in the situation on the ground there, and the spillover effects on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am sorry for being late.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Ross says the Taoiseach should go to the European Council meeting on Thursday and bark. The problem with Deputy Ross's approach to this issue is that it is all bark and no brain. Let us start with what the meeting on Thursday and Friday is about. This is a special meeting of the European Council. It is not about the issues that have preoccupied the European Council over the course...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table that follows this reply. The staffing figures take account of staff assigned from Ireland and locally engaged support staff as well as, in the cases of New Delhi and Abu Dhabi, visa office staff of the Department of Justice and Equality, the salary costs of whom are borne by that Department. A small number of staff who are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland’s policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. This policy has been underpinned by a set of complementary values which includes the protection of human rights; support for development; and the promotion of disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. Ireland is not a party to the Hague Convention (V) respecting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Agencies (21 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no State or semi-State agencies operating under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (20 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. The requirement for hotel accommodation for incoming delegations attending the eleven informal Ministerial meetings in Dublin during the forthcoming EU Presidency was advertised for tenders using the Government Procurement Portal www.etenders.gov.ie. The objective was to leverage the collective buying power of all Government...