Results 5,601-5,620 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have made very clear here in the Dáil and elsewhere my views of the continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, which I now believe constitute the single biggest impediment to peace in the Middle East. Settlement expansion inherently involves seizure of Palestinian lands and dispossession of Palestinian families. It weakens – and is intended to weaken – the ability of...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have consulted with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who has advised that the possible sale of Coillte assets was not discussed between Irish and Chinese Ministers during the visit to Ireland by H.E. Xi JinPing Vice President of the People's Republic of China.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is currently a candidate for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period 2013-2015. The Government's policy on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is primarily a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. It is the intention to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as quickly as...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland is currently a candidate for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period 2013-2015. The issue of securing official recognition by the European Union of Irish sign language is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government different mechanisms for the recognition of Irish sign language are being...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The lease on the former residence of the Ambassador to Italy expired on 14 December 2011. By agreement with the landlord the Ambassador continued to reside there for a further two months on an ad- hoc basis until relocation to the Villa Spada in February 2012. The most recent lease on the premises ran from 15 December 2003 to 14 December 2011. The annual rent paid in 2011 was €210,288. ...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Embassy to the Holy See was staffed by two diplomatic officer and four locally recruited staff. Of the diplomatic officers, one retired in June 2011 and was not replaced, and the other was reassigned to a post at HQ in January 2012 when the Embassy closed. One of the locally recruited staff was employed on a part time temporary contract which expired at the end of December 2011 and one...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009 and accession negotiations were formally opened in July 2010. In its most recent annual Progress Report on Iceland, published last October, the Commission noted the high level of progress on the negotiations due to Iceland's already highly integrated structures, its membership of the European Economic Area and the Schengen Zone, and its high calibre...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together. As I have stated on previous occasions in this House, it remains the opinion of the Government that dialogue with the Government of Colombia, bilaterally and with our EU partners, offers the best way to further the objectives of supporting democracy and improving the human rights situation there. I am aware of and share the concerns...

Written Answers — Open Government Partnership: Open Government Partnership (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have not had any communications with the Open Government Partnership.

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: No such advertisements were placed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the past twelve months.

Referendum on European Stability Treaty: Statements (28 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Today the Attorney General has advised the Government that it is best for Ireland to have a referendum in order to ratify the European stability treaty. On foot of that advice, and in line with our public commitment, the Government has decided to consult the people by referendum and seek approval for the treaty. In the weeks ahead there will be ample opportunity for debating the detail of...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: At its meeting of 13 December 2011 the Government approved the drafting of the European Communities (Amendment) Bill. This Bill would provide for the amendment of the definition of "treaties governing the European Communities" contained in section 1(1) of the European Communities Act 1972 (as amended) to include a reference to the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the Treaties...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There follows in tabular format a statistical breakdown of the Freedom of Information Requests processed by my Department in 2011. My Department makes every effort to work with requesters to reduce the cost of Search & Retrieval fees, which are generally incurred where the request ranges over a large volume of records or a significant time period. Less than 10 per cent of all requests did not...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: With regard to staff of my Department, the calculation and payment of superannuation benefits is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Severance payments totalling €316,943.84 were made to former Ministerial Personal Appointees in 2011.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland signed the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in 2003 and ratified it in November 2011. Ireland deposited the instrument of ratification of the OECD Convention Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business on 22 September 2003. The Convention came into force on 21 November 2003. The implementing legislation with regard to the criminal law aspects of both...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, I had been very concerned that Mr. Adnan's hunger strike was reaching the point where his health was likely to be seriously endangered. I have answered a number of Parliamentary Questions in the last two weeks in relation to our concerns about this case, and the principle of administrative detention. An Irish diplomatic officer was present at the Israeli Supreme...

Written Answers — Public Service Staff: Public Service Staff (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The minimum retirement age under the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme is 50 years. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 came into force on 1 January 2010. Only one officer of my Department aged under 50 years, a part-time Clerical Officer who was serving in the Corporate Services Division, has retired since 1 January 2010 and no further such...

Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: There is a time limit on the period in which the Finance Bill has to be enacted. It is not an open-ended situation. What is being proposed here is an arrangement for time as between different sections of the Bill. First, those who apply themselves to Committee Stage work are well aware it very often happens that they can start on a Bill but debate bogs down in the early sections and the...

Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Next week.

Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Bill to which the Deputy referred, which I will bring forward, is required to be introduced in advance of the Minister for Finance introducing legislation in respect of the European Stability Mechanism. Issues relating to the treaty are being considered by the Attorney General, and the Government is awaiting her advice.