Results 4,041-4,060 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 68 together. The human rights situation in Iran is profoundly disturbing, and the period since the Presidential election of 2009 has been characterised by an intensification of human rights abuses on many fronts. Although it is difficult to gain reliable statistics and information on human rights abuses in Iran, there are a number of reputable and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am hopeful that the outcome of last week’s US Presidential election will advance the prospects for the necessary reform of US immigration systems and procedures that would help improve the situation of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States. Much further debate and discussion is likely to be required within the US political system as to what such reform might comprise....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The situation in Sudan and South Sudan continues to be a matter of major concern for Ireland and our EU partners. The EU is working closely with the wider international community, including within the United Nations and with the African Union and neighbouring countries in the region, to exert pressure on the Governments in Khartoum and Juba. We are pressing them to implement fully the terms...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 to 76, inclusive, together. Election observation has been a key component of the work of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) since 1990, when the Office for Free Elections was established by the Paris Summit of the CSCE – the OSCE’s predecessor. The Office for Free Elections was renamed as the Office for Democratic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: At the invitation of the United States Government, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) for the General Elections of 6 November. The LEOM, which deployed on 3 October, was led by Ambassador Daan Everts of the Netherlands and included 13 core team experts, based in Washington D.C., and 44 long-term...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Reform (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: A decision on the future of DEAC will be made in the near future when the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Promotions (14 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Promotions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been relatively few since the introduction of the moratorium by the Government with effect from 27 March 2009, with any exceptions requiring the specific approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In the period since then the Department’s core staffing decreased by approximately 190, or about 12%....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will begin with the issues raised by Senator Healy Eames. I reiterate that there is no issue which is more urgent for Europe and ourselves than the issue of youth unemployment. The level of unemployment here at 14.8% is too high and we must get it down. That is the reason the singular focus of Government is towards growing the economy and the creation of jobs. There is a particular...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We live in a knowledge society. In regard to infrastructural projects, the stimulus package agreed by the Government during the summer is aimed at schools projects, health centre projects, and the recent decision on the national children's hospital. All of those, in addition to addressing service needs, are about the generation of employment. There are areas where the potential for growth...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In the European Union context we are talking about a seven-year budget. That is a false choice that is being presented. It is not easy to make that distinction, particularly where youth unemployment has to be addressed. We need to be careful not to sacrifice the urgency of dealing with the youth unemployment problem for some debate which has its-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We are not in disagreement with that. Deputy Durkan made a point about solidarity. The European Union is built on the concept of solidarity. I tend to take the more positive view. The decisions made in June and October are clear demonstrations of solidarity. The decision to proceed with banking union and the decision in October in regard to timelines to complete the legislative...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I apologise. We will work to ensure there is maximum Irish access to cohesion funding at regional level. It is not just a national policy. We are keenly aware in the negotiations of the need to maximise our access to those funds. We will watch the statistics relating to the relative prosperity of the regions carefully. More developed regions need to continue to be able to access cohesion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I will comment on the point made by Deputy Paschal Donohoe on Greece. Difficult discussions are under way aimed at helping Greece to return to the path of sustainability. It is fair to say one year ago there was much public and political discussion about whether Greece would leave the eurozone. That is not on the agenda and is not being raised as a serious prospect. It is important to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Senators Leyden and Reilly for their congratulations on Ireland's election to the UN Human Rights Council. It demonstrates the high regard in which Ireland is held by the international community. I pay tribute to my colleagues in government, and to members of the committee and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, who promoted our case, to become members of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Thank you, Chairman. I am pleased to have the opportunity to brief the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs ahead of this month's meeting of the General Affairs Council which will take place in Brussels on Tuesday, 20 November. The General Affairs Council will meet for a morning session, at which I will represent Ireland and be joined by the Minister of State, Deputy Lucinda Creighton....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Human rights have been a priority of successive Irish Governments and are a key aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy. The Government is concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China. In April of this year, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade met with representatives from the Falun Dafa Association of Ireland and discussed the ways in which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Agencies (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no State agencies under the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is a strong supporter of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU perspective, and closely monitors developments in the country. Ireland’s embassy in Slovenia is accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina. While an Irish diplomatic presence in Sarajevo would be desirable, the considerable financial pressures of recent years have led to further reductions in Ireland’s already small...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Redeployment (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department was given a temporary reprieve for 2012 and 2013 from the impact of the Government’s Employment Control Framework and was also allocated 50 temporary additional posts by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Communities Abroad (13 Nov 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, together. I am acutely aware of the plight of vulnerable Irish citizens around the world and in Britain in particular. Since 2004 the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), previously Díon, has provided financial support for frontline welfare services. There is an Irish Abroad Unit in my Department and an Irish Communities Section in...