Results 4,621-4,640 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish in the USA: Undocumented Irish in the USA (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 37 together. The welfare of the Irish abroad is a very important priority for the Government. There are particular concerns in the United States where addressing the position of the undocumented Irish and reforming our migration arrangements are priorities for the Government in its contacts with the US Administration and Congress. The Government's keen...

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The exchange of information between Governments, reporting by diplomatic missions and the assessment of diplomatic personnel are an important aspect of the formulation of foreign policy and the conduct of international relations. For a variety of reasons, including political and commercial, it is important that such exchanges take place in confidence. This is not inconsistent with a...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The European Youth Parliament Ireland has received funding under the Government's Communicating Europe Initiative for a number of years. A grant of €8,000 was recently approved to EYPI in respect of a range of activities proposed to be held during 2012 and in early 2013 to coincide with our EU Presidency. EYPI sought funding towards the cost of its three regional preliminary conferences...

Written Answers — Trade Agreements: Trade Agreements (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 54 from Deputy Mac Lochlainn on this issue on 13 June, which was as follows: "The Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) is a normal technical measure under the existing EU-Israel Association Agreement and Action Plan, and does not represent any upgrading or major change in EU-Israel trade relations. It is...

Written Answers — Peace and Reconciliation Programme: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department administers the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism funds which assists individuals and organisations involved in reconciliation work and to encourage and facilitate better relations within and between the traditions in the North, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. My Department has not received any application for funding from the Justice for the...

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Israel is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has never officially declared itself to possess nuclear weapons. It is one of just three states not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is acknowledged as a cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Ireland would very much...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 35 and 38 together. I refer the Deputies to my answer to Questions Nos. 51 to 55, inclusive, of 28 June, which was as follows: "I have already made clear on a number of occasions, including in this House, my own deep concern and that of the Irish Government and people regarding the general human rights situation in Bahrain. As I have advised the House...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have discussed this case with the Secretary of State on a number of occasions, most recently yesterday when we reviewed a number of issues. I have been assured that the process which has led to the prisoner's detention fully adhered to the law and that advice was sought from an independent body to verify that this action was pursued in a correct manner. The NIO has confirmed that a Royal...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is very aware of the appalling situation in which these students have found themselves and we are in regular communication with the students in Florida and their families in Ireland through our Consulate in Atlanta and our Consular Division here in Dublin. Ireland's Consul General in Atlanta, Paul Gleeson, travelled to Florida on Thursday and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 46 together. As far as I am aware, neither the European Union nor the United Nations produces a top ten or twenty list of countries in regard to the violations outlined by the Deputy. Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. With its EU partners, Ireland closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries, including...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy is aware, the case of former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, is a matter of deep concern to Ireland, the European Union and the wider international community. I continue to urge the Ukrainian authorities, as a minimum, to facilitate all such medical and human rights related visits. I refer the Deputy to my previous reply on 16 May. Since then, Ms. Tymoshenko has...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland supports the government of Colombia's efforts to bring about an end to violence and institute a sustainable peace in the country. A sustainable peace must tackle the various social and economic elements underlying the conflict. Our approach, and that of the European Union and UN, is to assist and influence the Colombian government in a manner that results in economic and social...

Written Answers — Western Balkans Issues: Western Balkans Issues (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to my reply to his question of 22nd May, which addressed the issues raised. There have been two developments of note in the interim period. In relation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first round of the high level dialogue on accession took place in Brussels in June. This dialogue is a new initiative aimed at helping Bosnia and Herzegovina to move forward in the accession...

Consular Assistance Abroad (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I have said, we do not have any locus standi in the matter because the person concerned is not an Irish citizen. Given that he is married to an Irish citizen, however, we did attempt to make contact with the Greek police to see if we could be of some assistance and make inquiries about the matter. As Deputy Ó Fearghaíl has said, the man concerned, who is an Albanian citizen, was...

Consular Assistance Abroad (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: It would not be appropriate for me to intervene politically in this case any more than it would be appropriate for the Greek Foreign Minister to raise with me a matter that is before the Irish courts. It would not be appropriate or helpful if I were to make any comment on the trial, verdict or appeal process. That would also not be helpful to the man concerned. I do not propose to do so....

Foreign Conflicts (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important to be clear that I have not made any proposal for a boycott of Israeli goods, and the Government does not support any such boycott. Successive Irish Governments have taken this view, and recognised also that such a proposal would have no chance of success. The Foreign Affairs Council in May adopted conclusions on a range of critical and urgent issues which, in our view,...

Foreign Conflicts (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have previously outlined my belief that settlements are now at the heart of the continuing conflict and represent a key obstacle in then way of peace. It is very important that the EU has now clearly highlighted the continuing expansion of settlements as posing a real threat to the viability of a negotiated peace and the two-state solution. Every expansion of settlements makes peace more...

Foreign Conflicts (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been going on for a very long time. There have been repeated efforts over the years to get a resolution. It does not help to reduce it to the kind of simplistic terms that Deputy Boyd Barrett has used. Ireland's position on the issue is very strong as is acknowledged internationally. Speaking at the United Nations last year, I made clear...

Nuclear Proliferation (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Given the major concerns over the Iranian nuclear programme as documented in a series of UN Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions since 2006, and given Iran's continuing unwillingness to engage seriously on these concerns or to address the serious findings highlighted in the IAEA's reports, the international community has had to impose several rounds of...

Nuclear Proliferation (11 Jul 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important to make the point that when sanctions were agreed, particularly when the crude oil sanction was agreed, its application was not applied immediately. It was decided to apply it from 1 July and the purpose of that was to encourage Iran to engage seriously in E3+3 talks. If there is serious engagement at the E3+3 talks and satisfactory progress is being made on them, then the...