Results 4,881-4,900 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Graduate entry to the diplomatic service is at Third Secretary level. This is handled centrally by the Public Appointments Service. Unfortunately, due to the current moratorium on recruitment into the public sector, no Third Secretary competition is currently planned. In recent years, my Department has offered a limited number of short-term internships for graduates in the areas of human...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I visited Paris on Sunday 6 May upon the election of President Hollande in my capacity as leader of the Labour Party. I have also had a number of informal exchanges with members of his transition team. The Taoiseach spoke by telephone to President Hollande on 9 May and congratulated him on his victory in the presidential elections in France. Their discussions focussed on the referendum on...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Officials from my own Department and from the Department of the Taoiseach are in ongoing contact with officials of the French Government.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), established as part of the Good Friday Agreement, plays a key role in developing deeper economic and social ties through bringing together relevant Ministers from the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. The NSMC also reviews the work of the North-South bodies, such as InterTrade Ireland and Tourism Ireland. The Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Fiscal Compact Treaty: Fiscal Compact Treaty (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, 176 and 177 together. I can confirm that I have met representatives and leaders of many of the social partners in the context of the Stability Treaty and the current referendum campaign. These have included representatives of the farming community as well as trade unions, business groups, women's groups and others. Both before and after...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Work is under way on the administrative planning for the EU Presidency which is being taken forward by my Department. This work involves close coordination with the Department of the Taoiseach, with other Government Departments and with the OPW. An Inter-Departmental group meets on a regular basis to update on policy and developments in this area. In tandem with this, a meetings...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 179 together. Human rights are, and have always been, a priority of successive Irish Governments and a key plank of our foreign policy. Through the formal framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which was established in 1995, the EU continues to share with China its experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion, and to urge...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am deeply concerned at the current situation which has seen escalating violence in recent days, notably the appalling indiscriminate bombing that struck the city of Damascus on 10 May as well as continued shelling of urban centres, such as the town of Rastan, by Syrian armed forces. While there had been some initial diminution of violence following the ceasefire which originally came into...

Written Answers — Irish Communities Abroad: Irish Communities Abroad (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Worldirish.com is a private sector online initiative led by John McColgan aimed at building closer links between the Irish at home and abroad. The idea emerged as a consequence of the first Global Irish Economic Forum in 2009 and was launched during the second Forum at Dublin Castle last October. I received a presentation on the new website during a meeting with Mr McColgan and members of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the cases to which the deputy refers. As I have made clear in previous replies, the government of Ireland has no standing in this matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Details are set out in the following table of a total of 8 retired officials of my Department who were temporarily re-engaged or who were already contracted to the Department during the period in question: GRADE POSITION HELD DURATION 1 Assistant Secretary Head of Task Force in connection with Ireland's Chairmanship of the OSCE, 2012 Contract from 7 January 2011 to 31 December 2012 1...

Written Answers — Child Abduction: Child Abduction (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The person referred to by the Deputy first came to the attention of my Department in 2007. Since then, my Department, through the Consular Assistance Section and Embassy of Ireland in Cairo, has afforded all possible consular assistance to the family of the person mentioned. I wish to inform the Deputy that this case has been raised with the Egyptian authorities at the highest levels on a...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The new scheme introduced for the provision of drivers does not apply to me in my capacity as Tánaiste.

Written Answers — Judicial Reviews: Judicial Reviews (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware that Leonard Peltier is a US citizen who was convicted in 1977 of the murders of two FBI Agents and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment. I also understand that a campaign has been mounted over the years seeking to overturn this conviction. I do not propose to make representations on this case.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: On 19 April 2012, our Ambassador to South Africa presented his letter of appointment to the President of Zimbabwe. The formal presentation ceremony follows a strict protocol with the Head of State leading the conversation. The issue of human rights did therefore not arise in the course of President Mugabe's conversation with our Ambassador. However, Ireland's concerns on human rights have...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on all consultant expenditure and commissioning of such work is in full compliance with national and EU procurement regulations. The Department, through Irish Aid (Ireland's official...

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I take it that the Deputy is referring to a meeting on adoption legislation which was jointly organised by the Kazakh Ministry of Education and Science and UNICEF on Friday 11 May in Astana. We understand that the purpose of the event was to inform Embassy representatives of updates in relation to Kazakhstan's adoption legislation. Ireland did not receive such an invitation; it was not in...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. The Government, along with our EU partners, attach high importance to the development of relations with the countries of Africa, to supporting economic and social development and to responding to the effects of conflict and natural disasters on that continent. Our national approach is guided by the Africa Strategy of the Department of...

Written Answers — Trade Strategy: Trade Strategy (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. Export-led growth is crucial for a small open economy like Ireland. The Government's Trade Strategy, formulated with the involvement of all the relevant Departments and State Agencies, seeks to build on our strengths in existing markets and to develop new opportunities in emerging economies. The Deputy will be aware that I established the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland and its European Union partners monitor closely the human rights situation in many countries throughout the world, including in the Middle East. We do this on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources, including both official channels and non-governmental/civil society organisations. We make known our concerns about particular violations of human rights to the...