Results 6,001-6,020 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Our law is very robust in respect of the control of our airspace and airports by military aircraft. As I am the Minister with direct responsibility for approving flights, the Deputy can be assured that the use of our airspace and airports will comply with international law. There is no question of any doubt about that. If there are specific allegations that can be investigated, they will be...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have closely followed developments relating to the Basque country, including the public declaration at the San Sebastian conference on 17 October 2011 referred to by the Deputy, and the subsequent declaration by ETA on 20 October 2011 that the organisation had "decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity". As I have said previously, the Government supports any development...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The ending of violence by ETA is very welcome. As the Deputy stated, the way forward in pursuing political objectives should be peaceful and democratic and all of those involved should reject the use of violence. I welcome the statement that was made by ETA arising from the declaration made at the San Sebastian conference which contained five different elements or objectives. It is, in the...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: It is important that we in this House recognise it is a matter for Spain and the Spanish Government as to how to respond. If one lesson was learned in the Northern Ireland peace process, to which the Deputy referred, it is very much that the initiative needs to be left to the countries concerned. In the first instance, this is now a matter for the Spanish Government. Prior to the general...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 54 together. I have made clear my strong condemnation of the ongoing violence and serious repression of human rights in Syria, most recently in a statement on 20 December and in my reply to Question No. 47 on 11 January. The UN estimates that more than 5,000 people have been killed by Syrian forces since last March. I am gravely concerned that,...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: When I attend the House to answer parliamentary questions, I do so on behalf of the Irish Government. The position as far as Ireland is concerned is that we have not issued any licences for the export of military goods.

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes but that is the question. My responsibility to this House is on behalf of the Irish Government. To make it clear, the position is that Ireland has not issued any licences for the export of military goods to Yemen or Bahrain in 2011. I acknowledge Deputy Wallace's support and his comments on the strong position Ireland has taken in respect of Syria, but we are not cutting and dicing...

Foreign Conflicts (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said earlier, there is a common EU position on the export of military equipment. Eight separate criteria must be met before a country can export either military equipment or equipment used for military purposes to any other country. Those eight criteria include strong human rights criteria. Ireland's position is that we expect all EU member states to comply with those criteria. The...

Human Rights Issues (17 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 50 together. I have made clear my ongoing concern at the human rights situation in Bahrain, including in the cases of the medical professionals originally sentenced by a military court to heavy prison terms following last year's disturbances but whose cases are now being retried in a civilian court. I therefore welcome the publication of the report of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (12 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The economies that will be achieved by the closure of the Embassies to the Holy See and Tehran and the Irish Aid office in Dili are estimated to amount to €1.175 million over a full year. This figure includes the relocation of the offices of the Embassy to Italy and the residence of the Ambassador to Italy to the state-owned Villa Spada, which will allow for a considerable saving in rent,...

Written Answers — Embassy Closures: Embassy Closures (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. The Government's decision of 3 November 2011 to close the Embassies to the Holy See and Tehran was motivated by the need to maximise the return from the diminishing resources available to my Department to operate the Diplomatic and Consular network. All administrative and logistical processes associated with the closures are under way....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have made clear my strong condemnation of the ongoing violence and serious repression of human rights in Syria, most recently in a statement on 20 December. The UN estimates that over 5,000 people have been killed by Syrian forces since last March. I am gravely concerned that, despite the presence of an Arab League observer mission since 27 December, the killings of unarmed protestors...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables: 1 December 2011 Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD Name Position held Annual Salary Mark Garrett Chief Adviser - Office of the Tánaiste €168,000 Colm O'Reardon Economic Adviser - Office of the Tánaiste €155,000 Jean O'Mahony Special Adviser - Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade annually offers a small number of 11-month graduate internships in areas such as human rights, conflict resolution, disarmament and public international law. The Department's Development Cooperation Division, known as Irish Aid, also provides a number of 18-month internships for graduates with experience in international development. These are...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department occupies one property in the State which is owned by the State, namely Iveagh House. This premises does not fall into the category specified by the Deputy. There are no Agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The decision to close Ireland's Embassy to the Holy See, along with the Embassy to Tehran and the Irish Aid Office in Dili, was made following a comprehensive review of the Mission network and against a background of the need by my Department to reduce its expenditure in the current difficult economic climate that we face. While there are no plans to reopen the resident Mission, this does...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In 2011, Ireland had 58 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions and 11 Consulates General and other offices overseas. In addition to their country of primary accreditation, many Ambassadors are also accredited to additional countries on a non-resident basis. Our Missions abroad are involved in representing and advancing government policies with other States and in international organisations, in...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The decision to close the Irish Embassy to Iran, along with the Embassy to the Holy See and the Irish Aid Office in Dili, was made following a comprehensive review of the Mission network and against a background of the need by my Department to reduce its expenditure in the current difficult economic climate that we face. While the decision was met with disappointment by the Iranian...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (11 Jan 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has transformed life on the island of Ireland. In the May 2011 elections, the people of Northern Ireland gave their overwhelming endorsement to the parties committed to making the institutions of the Agreement work. The Government remains committed to protecting all of the benefits that have emerged from the Good Friday Agreement, and to...

Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 11a, motion re Standing Order 27A; No. 12, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and Capital) (Federal Republic of Germany) Order 2011 - back from committee; No. 13, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) Order 2011 - back from...