Results 3,981-4,000 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I stated in reply to this and previous questions, all aid from Ireland distributed through the Ugandan Government has now been suspended, and will remain so. We are at a crossroads in our relationship with the Ugandan Government. I am pleased the auditor general identified the misappropriation of funds and that we have a commitment from the Ugandan authorities to repay in full the money...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The millennium development goals were agreed by world leaders at the United Nations in 2000 as the framework for international development policy up to 2015. They provide a clearly measurable way to track progress in the fight against global poverty. The goals are central to Ireland’s overseas development programme, and to the Government’s development policy. As we approach...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Global Economic Forum (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The population of the State is approximately 4.6 million, according to the last census. Approximately 70 million people throughout the world claim Irish heritage and there are 40 million people in the United States. It is a huge network. The traditional events such as St. Patrick's Day events are very important and they gather a big catchment of people. We have involved people who are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 24, 39, 44, and 50, together. I am deeply concerned about the recent misappropriation of Irish development funding in Uganda. Ireland has no tolerance for fraud or any other form of financial irregularity with regard to our development programme. I have suspended approximately €16 million of Irish development assistance which was due to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Presidency (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: That is a matter of which we have been very conscious. We have taken on eight interns as part of the recruitment drive relating to the Presidency. We have also reassigned some experienced staff to various missions and consulates in order that they might carry out specific duties in the lead up to and during Ireland's Presidency. We have replaced them with temporary staff in some instances....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Global Economic Forum (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 26 and 28 together. Since coming to office in March 2011 I have repeatedly stated my belief that the Diaspora can make a meaningful contribution to Ireland’s economic recovery. The Global Irish Network is a central element of the Government’s engagement with the Diaspora in support of our economic goals. On 26 October 2012 last I published...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The European Union has for many years asserted that the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be a two-state solution, involving a sovereign state of Palestine which coexists peacefully with Israel. Ireland has contributed strongly to the development of this policy, which now commands near-consensus internationally. Regrettably, progress towards this goal has been much less...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Middle East peace process is discussed at almost all Foreign Affairs Council meetings. We had a discussion on it in October and another discussion took place at the informal meeting in September which focused largely on Gaza and the difficulties in that area arising from contamination, particularly of water. What I am seeking is that at some point in the coming months the Council will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The attacks that have been taking place in recent days are extremely worrying. I reiterate that rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel must also stop. Israel is entitled to security for its people. Attacks of a terrorist nature from Gaza must stop, as must the attacks by Israel on Gaza. Just before I came into the Chamber to take questions, I received a preliminary report of a rocket attack...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Presidency (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade received a temporary reprieve from the impact of the Government’s employment control framework and was also allocated 50 temporary extra posts for 2012 and 2013 in order to enable it to plan and fulfil its EU Presidency responsibilities and activities in the first half of next year. Most of the temporary additional staff required by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I remain very concerned about the overall situation in Bahrain and the increasing divisions in Bahraini society. I condemn all acts of violence, including the recent bomb attack in Manama city which resulted in the deaths of two foreign workers. I urge the opposition to refrain from violent provocation of any kind. I have made clear in this House my view that all charges against the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I acknowledge the work done by Senator Averil Power and one of my predecessors, the former Minister, Mr. David Andrews. I met both of them in connection with their visit to Bahrain which this country has been pressing in multilateral fora to undertake human rights reforms. At the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva we raised our concerns about the grave allegations...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There is no bias in the way in which we approach human rights issues. We regard human rights as universal and want them to be applied in an even-handed way. I am greatly concerned by the decision of the Bahraini Government to revoke the citizenship of 31 activists, including former Members of Parliament. This renders some of those concerned stateless and deprives them of their most basic...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes. As I said , the funds of three other countries - Denmark, Sweden and Norway - were misappropriated in this whole business in the Prime Minister's office. Our ambassador in Kampala co-ordinated meetings of the embassies of the three other countries concerned and worked to co-ordinate a joint approach on the issue with the Ugandan authorities. I was very pleased with the level of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Irish Embassy in Ankara, with other EU delegations, continues to monitor closely the human rights situation in Turkey, including the treatment of Kurds and other minorities. Respect for human rights, minorities and fundamental freedoms are core values upon which the European Union is built. Turkey, as an EU candidate, is expected to uphold these values. The European Commission’s...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We have some experience on this island of hunger strikes and where that can lead. The latest report I have is that there are 707 Kurdish prisoners on hunger strike and that there is a core group of 64 who went on hunger strike on 12 September and who are now on their 64th day. I understand three issues form the basis for the hunger strikers' demands. The first issue is an end to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, it did.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Deputy for her compliments in relation to Ireland's election to the UN Human Rights Council. When I attended yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on EU Affairs, I acknowledged the work of that committee, under the chairmanship of Deputy Hannigan, and the work of Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, under the chairmanship of Deputy Breen. The members of both...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will arrange to get a report on it. Obviously, we will not be represented at ministerial level at that conference because it is taking place on budget day. I will make it my business to get the papers from the conference.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Development Aid (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The audit policy and approach in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is regularly reviewed and updated in the light of risk assessments, particularly with regard to the overseas aid programme which accounts for the largest proportion of the Department’s expenditure. The audit approach in my Department is in line with international auditing standards. The Department has taken a...