Results 4,901-4,920 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Western Balkans Issues: Western Balkans Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: All the countries of the Western Balkans were given a European perspective and their path to EU integration was confirmed as far back as the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki in 2003. The Summit Declaration also committed the EU to supporting the endeavours of the countries of the region to consolidate democracy, stability and to promote economic development. As the countries of the...

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

Eamon Gilmore: Neither Ireland nor, as far as I am aware, the European Union or the United Nations maintains a "top ten" list of countries in regard to the violations highlighted by the Deputy. In our foreign policy, which is expressed in direct contact with other countries or multilaterally through the EU, the UN, and other international bodies such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in...

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

Eamon Gilmore: I have on a number of occasions stated clearly my grave concerns at the appalling situation in Syria. I have repeatedly condemned the unacceptable human rights violations and repression which are now estimated to have claimed well over 10,000 lives since the conflict first erupted in March 2011. While there was some brief improvement in the situation following the coming into effect of the...

UN Security Council Resolutions (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is very much in a leadership position in regard to UNSCR 1325. We have adopted a national action plan which has been published. My Department has committed considerable resources towards the preparation of the national action plan. In 2009, a total of €485,000 came from the Department's stability fund; in 2010 the figure was €412,500. As I stated in my reply, officials from my...

Northern Ireland Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: This is a legally difficult and complex issue. The concerns referred to in this question have been raised with me by the Pat Finucane Centre and other human rights non-governmental organisations. Following receipt of these concerns, I discussed the issue with the Secretary of State on 27 April last. He told me that the process which led to the detention of the woman in question fully...

Northern Ireland Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said earlier, there were a number of sentences in this case. There was a 20-year sentence which, I am informed, was the subject of the royal prerogative. I am further informed that the royal prerogative did not apply to life sentences which she had been given and that those life sentences are subject to the life licence which was withdrawn by the Secretary of State. As I said, we have...

Northern Ireland Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said, there has been a request for a medical assessment to be carried out on behalf of UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health and I have asked to be informed on the outcome of that visit. In respect of whether the royal prerogative applies to the life sentences or whether it applies only to the 20-year sentence, again, the parole commissioners looked at that and they concluded...

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I anticipate there will be political representation at Ireland's Euro 2012 group stage matches, all of which take place in Poland. As regards Ukraine, the European Union had made its concerns known to the authorities there about politically motivated trials and the conditions of detention of Ms. Tymoshenko. High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine...

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The detention and trial of Ms Tymoshenko has given rise to considerable concern about the conditions of her detention. She was sentenced on 11 October 2011 to seven years in prison and was the subject of a three-year ban on holding high public office. She was also subject to an order to repay €130 million to the state-owned gas company, having been convicted of exceeding her authority as...

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There has already been an international visit to Ms Tymoshenko and we have relayed the deep concerns of the Irish Government in Kiev and in Dublin. We will continue to do that. The issue of concern with regard to the Ukraine at the EU Foreign Affairs Council was not solely Ms Tymoshenko but also the conduct of the elections to be held in October and this must be taken into account.

Middle East Peace Process (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 101 and 103 together. Ireland and its EU partners have on many occasions expressed firm support for a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians and the wider Arab world, on the basis of the two-state solution. Although the talks process is at present stalled, we continue to do what we can to encourage the parties to engage and to work...

Middle East Peace Process (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn for welcoming the statement from the EU Foreign Affairs Council. This strong and significant statement addresses the conditions on the ground. We all want to see meaningful talks resuming between Israel and Palestine, with a view to putting in place the two-state solution. It is not realistic to have that, however, in circumstances where settlement activity is...

Middle East Peace Process (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: We have invested a lot of effort in getting an agreed EU position and statement. That was not easy. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, there have been differing views within the EU and the Foreign Affairs Council concerning the Middle East peace process. It was a significant step forward to arrive at a conclusion last Monday upon which all 27 EU foreign Ministers were able to agree. I...

Middle East Peace Process (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: President Abbas is entitled to see an end to and a freeze on the settlements. They are illegal and should not be allowed to continue. The coming together of the new government in Israel provides an opportunity for Prime Minister Netanyahu to move into meaningful talks with the Palestinian side. However, there has to be a willingness both on the part of the Israeli side and the Palestinian...

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The issue of prisons within Northern Ireland is a devolved matter related to the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Arising from the Hillsborough Agreement of February 2010, Dame Ann Owers and the prison review team undertook a review of the prison system. In October 2011 their report made 40 recommendations on prison reform in Northern...

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I stated, responsibility for prisons in Northern Ireland has been devolved to the Department of Justice under the remit of the Minister, Mr. Ford, MLA. Among the issues which arise is reform of the prison service in Northern Ireland. The Minister categorically stated to us he is implementing the recommendation of the Owers report and the process is unstoppable. We have raised the issues...

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Responsibility for prisons has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Administration under the aegis of the Department of Justice. With regard to the royal prerogative, three sentences were handed down to Marian Price; she was sentenced to two life sentences and one sentence of 20 years. My information is that the royal prerogative applied to the 20 year sentence and the life sentences were...

International Agreements (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I congratulate the newly appointed members of the French Government, including the new French Finance Minister, Pierre Moscovici, on taking up their new appointments. Throughout the presidential election campaign and since, President Hollande has made clear his intention to seek to complement the stability treaty with a growth-oriented approach. The comments by Mr. Moscovici are entirely...

International Agreements (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am not alone. All the parties, to which the Deputy refers, support the budgetary discipline measures that are contained in the treaty. President Hollande and the French Government are seeking what the Government here has been discussing since last year. The Government was among the first to argue that we needed growth and jobs measures in order to complement the stability treaty. In...

International Agreements (22 May 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I wish to be clear about this, because Sinn Féin has a habit of constantly misquoting, selectively quoting and twisting words and terms. The treaty on which we will vote on 31 May is not being renegotiated. The text of that treaty is clear and it will not change. What we are doing, and what we have been doing since last year, is pursuing a growth agenda. We have always said that the...