Results 5,181-5,200 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In November 2011 the European Commission published proposals for a revision of the EU Transparency and Accounting Directives. One of the aims of the new proposals is to improve transparency among EU multinational companies involved in extractive and logging industries in developing countries. The proposals are also aimed at reducing the administrative burden on small and medium-sized...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passport Service is considering the feasibility of developing an online system for the renewal of passport applications. However, on the basis of the preliminary examination to date, I understand that any comprehensive solution proposed would require a major overhaul of the existing technology system and would involve significant capital expenditure. Given the pressures on the public...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently divided between Dublin and Limerick. The majority of the officers assigned to the Development Cooperation Division which manages the aid programme, Irish Aid, are based in Limerick. As a result of an overall restructuring and rationalisation within my Department, the Development Cooperation Division has now assumed...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In my reply to Question 117 on 27 March, 2012, I stated that applications, made on behalf of the person in question, were refused under the Passports Act, 2008 on the grounds that he is not an Irish citizen. This remains the position. I also stated that the Passports Act, 2008 requires, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before the Minister for Foreign Affairs can...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have answered a total of 355 Parliamentary Questions during the period in question. A large majority of questions are of a non-personal nature and relate to the main policy areas that my Department deals with as well as administrative and budgetary matters. It is my policy to answer questions in full. In a small number of cases, additional information that could not be compiled in the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together. The names and salaries of the Special Advisers appointed to my Department are set out in the table below. The figure for Ms Jean O'Mahony includes a scale increment awarded on 10 March 2012 in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines relating to Special Advisers. No salary increase has been sought in respect of or...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department avails of the Mobile Telephony Services Framework operated by the Department of Finance. Under this Framework, as the most economically advantageous response received, O2 was awarded the contract from May 2010 and previously from October 2008. However, for contingency purposes, my Department also draws down a limited range of services from Vodafone. The contract was...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together. I would expect the Colombian government, no less than any responsible government, to fully investigate the abduction and apparent murder two of its citizens, in this case Manuel Ruiz and his 15 year old son, Samir de Jesus Ruiz. I would also expect the Colombian authorities to seek to protect the remaining members of Mr. Ruiz's family...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is an ad hoc international initiative which was launched in 2011 and which is overseen by a multi-stakeholder International Steering Committee involving Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Committee also includes civil society representatives: the Africa Center for Open Governance...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 76 together. Preparations for Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2013 are continuing and are on track. Ireland's Presidency programme will be published in December 2012, and work on identifying key issues and priorities will continue until then to ensure that the programme reflects current developments and...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I confirmed to the Deputy on previous occasions, my officials remain in close and direct contact with the wife and family of the person mentioned by him and they liaise directly with her on any request for assistance or on any development on his case. The Ambassador and officers in the Embassy in New Delhi, which is accredited to Sri Lanka, have also been very active in pursuit of...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department is responsible for two Votes: Vote 27, International Cooperation and Vote 28, Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Department is very conscious of the need the achieve value for money and is in full compliance with national and EU procurement regulations. A table outlining the contracts to consultancy firms for 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 is provided below. The vast...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland continues to support the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and the continuing engagement of the United Nations in the search for a political solution in the territory based on the principle of self-determination. UN Secretary General Ban's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, has convened several rounds of informal talks, most recently last...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: A passport reminder service is available on the Passport Service website www.passport.ie The reminder service sends an e-mail, to those who have registered, three months before a passport is due to expire. Registration is simple and merely requires those interested to record their name, e-mail address and the expiry date of the passport. It is possible to register a number of different...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I wholeheartedly welcome and support the UN-Arab League Special Envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan. It offers the only realistic basis for resolving the current crisis in Syria and bringing the unacceptable violence to an end. Ireland's strong support for the Annan peace plan was clearly articulated at the meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People which took place in Istanbul on 1 April. I...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The key distinguishing feature of Ireland's bilateral relationship with the Philippines is the extent and contribution of the Filipino Diaspora in Ireland, many of whom are employed in health care roles in HSE hospitals and nursing homes. For many decades Irish Catholic missionary orders, in particular the Columban Fathers, have worked in educational development and social justice in the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In November 2011, the Government announced its decision to close Ireland's resident Embassy to the Holy See, along with our Embassy in Tehran and our Mission in Timor Lester. This decision, taken with the greatest regret and reluctance, was driven by economic factors deriving from our need to cut public expenditure and focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery....

An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (An Conradh ar Chobhsaíocht, ar Chomhordú agus ar Rialachas san Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil)Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy's party voted for that.

An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (An Conradh ar Chobhsaíocht, ar Chomhordú agus ar Rialachas san Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil)Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Has the Deputy heard of the euro?

An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (An Conradh ar Chobhsaíocht, ar Chomhordú agus ar Rialachas san Aontas Eacnamaíoch agus Airgeadaíochta) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil)Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Sinn Féin said that about every treaty.