Results 481-500 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (1 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: At the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg of 14 April, Ministers decided to expand the list of those to whom visa bans and asset freezes will apply, the so-called Phase 2 measures, and this is set out in the first paragraph of the Council Conclusions: A decision was subsequently taken to suspend implementation of the measures against these 15 additional individuals pending developments...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (1 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland most recently on Tuesday when we discussed the talks and in particular the need to find a way to deal better and more comprehensively with the legacy of the past. I am firmly of the view that Northern Ireland urgently requires a new way forward on dealing with the past that can command public confidence. We agreed also that the early...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Military Vessels (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Visits from foreign naval vessels are a long-standing and common practice in Ireland and worldwide. Foreign naval vessels are granted permission to visit Irish ports on condition that they meet the necessary policy stipulations, which require that the vessels are not carrying nuclear weapons and are not engaged in a naval exercise. The vessel in question, which was in Ireland as part of a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: UNAMID, the African Union-UN Hybrid operation in Darfur, was established on 31 July 2007 through the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769. The core mandate of UNAMID is the protection of civilians and is also responsible for contributing to security for humanitarian assistance, monitoring and verifying implementation of agreements, assisting an inclusive political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In keeping with Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, we engage on human rights issues on an on-going basis in our contacts with the Colombian Government and civil society. When I met with Colombia’s President last year, human rights issues featured prominently in our discussion. Ireland’s concerns are also raised regularly with Colombian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Fees (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that a refund cheque has issued to the person in question.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of this case in which an Indian national, Mr. Ezhur Gangadharan, caretaker at a school in Abu Dhabi for over 30 years, was sentenced to death last July for the rape of a 7 year-old female student at the school. Serious questions have been raised in relation to this case, including Mr. Gangadharan’s claim that his confession, the only evidence produced by the prosecution at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The precise arrangements for elections, as well as a decision to hold any referendum, are a matter for the government and parliament of Ukraine. I am aware that the acting President of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchinov, has spoken earlier this month of a possible nation-wide referendum on the same day as the presidential elections on 25 May if the Ukrainian parliament adopted the corresponding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As highlighted in my response to Question No. 63 of 8 April 2014, Ireland is actively engaged at both European Union and United Nations level in relation to the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region. The Government, along with our partners at the EU and UN, condemns all forms of external support to destabilising forces active in the Democratic Republic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Fees (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that applications for passport renewal are currently taking on average 8 working days from receipt in the Passport Service. Applications from first time applicants are currently take 10/11 working days. The attraction and popularity of the Passport Express service is reflected on the fact that to date 141,000 Irish citizens have applied through Passport Express representing an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Telecommunications Infrastructure (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of reports of US funding in the past for a social media project in Cuba known as ZunZuneo. I have asked officials of my Department to keep me informed on this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Currently the Passport Offices receive and process over 200 passport applications per day to assist those travelling at short notice (3-10 days).In addition, the Passport Service last week launched a pilot Rapid Renewal service which will allow one-day passport renewals – by appointment only – for citizens who have a last-minute passport issue. A total of twenty appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Certificate of Irish Heritage (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Since the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced in September 2011, 2,760 Certificates have been issued. This is broken down as 2,492 Certificates sold and 268 promotional Certificates presented to various individuals during this time.With the vast majority of the global diaspora not eligible for Irish citizenship, the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced to recognise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Currency Exchange (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of difficulties in transferring funds from Venezuela internationally because of a serious shortage there of foreign exchange for either private or business purposes. This is, I am advised, creating difficulties for some Venezuelans living in Ireland and elsewhere abroad as they have been unable to receive funds from Venezuela. At my request, officials of my Department have brought...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passports Data (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The standards body for passport issuance, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, recommend that the maximum validity for passports should be ten years. As a result, it is necessary to commence the validity of new passports from the date of renewal rather than a future expiry date.

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill is due in this session. I am sure the Deputy will agree that the Minister for Social Protection has implemented more reforms in our social welfare system in the last three years than were made in the previous 13 years. The issues raised by the Deputy will obviously form part of the debate.

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: That is a very good suggestion. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, and his Department have done a great deal of work on this. There is also a committee working on it. The suggestion that the House have a discussion on commemoration of 1916 and, indeed, the period of commemorations to put it in context is very worthwhile. I will ask the Government Chief...

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy stated, the House will return on 30 April, the week after Easter. There is no justification for the House adjourning for a week longer. The public would find it difficult to understand why the House-----

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: -----would not return until May.

Order of Business (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The water charges legislation has been enacted. Regarding the possibility of by-elections, in fairness, the cause giving rise to those was recent. As a matter of decency, it would not be appropriate to discuss the holding of by-elections at this early stage.