Results 6,181-6,200 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value Added Tax (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Can I reply?

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value Added Tax (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In fairness, I agreed to extra time on what I thought was a discussion on the VAT issue but it turned out to be a discussion of many other issues. The proposal to increase VAT was contained in Fianna Fáil's four-year recovery plan.

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value Added Tax (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Does Deputy O'Dea want me to read out the document to him?

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value Added Tax (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not want to take up time and the matter is on record. Fianna Fáil proposed that and it is the height of hypocrisy.

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value Added Tax (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In the prebudget submission, Fianna Fáil said it would not go ahead with the proposal but did not say where the money would come from. The opposition of Sinn Féin and others to the measure carries no credibility. Those Deputies have come in here and opposed every revenue raising proposal. They even opposed -----

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value Added Tax (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: They even opposed 25 cent on the packet of cigarettes. Those Deputies have no credibility.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government attaches great importance to widening and deepening bilateral relations with China. China is a key high-growth and high-potential market for Ireland under the Strategy and Action Plan for Irish Trade, Tourism and Investment to 2015. The local market team, set up under the Strategy, includes all of the State Agencies present in China in addition to the Embassy in Beijing and...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: It was with the greatest regret and reluctance that the Government decided to close Ireland's Embassy to the Holy See. This decision is in line with the tough choices that the Government must make to address the current economic challenges that face the country. Our targets under the EU/IMF programme and our need to reduce public expenditure mean that cuts to public expenditure must be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department has funded four groups based in Galway in 2011. Irish Aid operates a Development Education Funding Scheme to promote development education programmes in formal and non-formal education in Ireland, including the community and voluntary sectors In 2011, funding was provided for a range of public cultural activities which supported Irish Aid's objectives for Africa Day of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Year Number of Increments Awarded Estimated Cost for the Year in Question 2010 704 €601,880 2011 608 €569,102 2012* 497 €421,754 * Projected figure only: the award of increments is not automatic and is subject to satisfactory assessment. It should be noted that the annual cost figures are estimates based on...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department's financial management system does not currently track VAT separately and payments are recorded on a VAT-inclusive basis. Therefore, it is not possible to give a definite answer to the Deputy's question based on the current level of VAT payments. In addition, much of the Department's expenditure on goods and services takes place overseas which involves VAT and excise...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy's question on 2 November, 2011, this case has been the subject of detailed legal considerations. The core issue of the case centres on her entitlement to Irish citizenship. This entitlement is directly dependent on the amount of her mother's residence in the State that is reckonable for the purposes of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: (Minister of State Ms. Jan O'Sullivan, T.D.) The devastating earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 was the greatest disaster to hit the country in more than 200 years, killing more than 230,000 people and destroying swathes of the capital, Port au Prince. Among the survivors, more than 1.5 million people were made homeless and forced to take refuge in makeshift camps. Almost two...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Presidential and parliamentary elections were held on 28 November in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The results of the presidential election are expected to be announced on 6 December, and the parliamentary results on 13 January 2012. Ireland is following the ongoing electoral process closely with our European Union partners and through the United Nations presence in the DRC. ...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, the allocation of the Department's scarce human and financial resources to priority areas is kept under constant review. As I outlined in my reply of 29 November, the Conflict Resolution Unit (CRU) within my Department is engaged in a wide range of activities designed to ensure that the lessons of Ireland's unique experience of conflict can be shared...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government is closely monitoring the transition period in Egypt, and welcomes the well-organized and peaceful first phase of the parliamentary elections in Egypt on 28 November as well as the significant voter turnout which demonstrates the engagement of the Egyptian people in the political transition. Together with our EU partners, Ireland will continue to emphasise the need for the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland fully supports the sanctions, including an asset freeze and an embargo on investments, imposed by the Arab League on Syria on 27 November. The purpose of these measures, and other international political and diplomatic actions against Syria, is to increase the pressure on President Assad and his supporters so that they immediately end the violence against the Syrian people, begin...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I have made clear in answer to previous questions my deep concern about the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq, in light of the serious violence which took place in the camp last April and the Iraqi Government's clear insistence that it wishes the camp to be closed by the end of 2011. Ireland and its EU partners are determined to seek a long-term and peaceful solution to the predicament of the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Passports Act, 2008 provides, inter alia, that the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant for before a passport is issued to him/her. Proofs of identity are required in respect of all passport applications. These requirements, which are outlined both in the passport application form notes that accompany each application form and on the...

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: If I were to comply with the request made by Deputy Higgins, would he come in here next week to support the budget? On the matter that was initially raised, I assure the House that the Government will deal sympathetically with families that find themselves in financial difficulties. That is the policy and the approach of this Government. To be honest, Deputy Higgins could have raised this...