Results 6,241-6,260 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: That is our objective.

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: It is an individual objective.

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: It is not about meeting this target or meeting that target. It is about getting people into employment and getting business moving again. It is a huge problem. We inherited an economy that was broken. We are working to fix it. We are having success. We will continue to do what we are doing.

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I appreciate that advance notice of the issue to be raised is not given on Leaders' Questions. If I had received advance notice of this issue, I would have prepared a response on it. My sympathies are with the families and individuals who have been burned in this escapade. If Deputy Higgins gives me details of the cases he has raised, I will arrange to have the issue examined by my...

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I will not be tempted into responding to the second matter that was referred to by the Deputy, which is unrelated to the main issue he raised.

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I will not talk about next week's budget.

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (30 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department currently operates six main websites for which details, numbers of unique visitors per month and projected costs are set out below for the year 2011. Earlier this year following completion of a procurement exercise, my Department embarked on a programme of work to rationalise and consolidate its websites with a focus on cost efficiencies, consistency with eGovernment objectives...

Written Answers — Special Economic Zones: Special Economic Zones (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I have been advised that the President of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce submitted proposals last week to the Joint Secretariat of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh which included a proposal for a Newry/Dundalk Economic Zone. While decisions about establishing economic zones would not be a matter for my Department, I continue to advocate, as indeed my Ministerial colleagues and I...

Written Answers — North-South Ministerial Council: North-South Ministerial Council (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The most recent meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format was on Friday, 18 November 2011. Since then, the only meeting in sectoral format that has taken place was that in respect of the Special European Union Programmes Body on 21 November 2011.

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendments: Constitutional Amendments (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together. At their meetings in October, the Heads of State or Government of the Euro Area agreed to reflect on further strengthening of economic convergence within the Euro Area, on improving fiscal discipline and on deepening economic union. They asked President Van Rompuy, in close co-operation with the President of the Commission and the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a passport has now issued to the person in question and transmitted to her via the Embassy in Pretoria. The approval process was delayed by the necessity under the Passports Act 2008 to establish the applicant's entitlement to Irish citizenship but also, I understand, by an administrative error, which I very much regret. I have asked the Embassy to...

Written Answers — Good Friday Agreement: Good Friday Agreement (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. I understand the prisoner in question has initiated legal proceedings with a view to obtaining early release. As the matter is before the courts, it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further at this stage other than to confirm that officials from my Department continue to monitor developments closely.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy will be aware from my replies to him on 2 and 15 November that this case is receiving the highest priority in my Department. I assure the Deputy that this remains the case. Certain discussions on the legal advice which has been obtained in this area have taken place between my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality, which is responsible for matters of citizenship...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table that follows this reply. There has been a substantial reduction in staff numbers in my Department, arising mainly from retirements, with some posts left unfilled because of restrictions on recruitment necessitated by the current budgetary pressures. Year Number serving (based on full-time equivalents) 2008 1,581.6 2009...

Written Answers — Conflict Resolution: Conflict Resolution (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Conflict Resolution Unit was established in the Department in 2007 to enhance Ireland's engagement in conflict resolution internationally. The work of the Unit builds on Ireland's tradition of UN peacekeeping, our commitment to overseas development aid, our experience of the peace process in Northern Ireland and our commitment to human rights and the international rule of law. The unit...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I understand the draft legislation referred to by the Deputy has passed its first stage in the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly. While this draft legislation purports to protect young people, it could, in my view, result in further stigmatisation, and even criminalisation, of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) young people. A senior official in my Department has been in...

Written Answers — Egyptian Elections: Egyptian Elections (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Like many in the international community, Ireland has viewed with serious concern the widespread violence and deaths which has followed the resumption of pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt in recent days. These events have highlighted the degree to which real reform and change has taken place in the country, following last February's historic downfall of the Mubarak regime. The situation...

Written Answers — Departmental Legal Costs: Departmental Legal Costs (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department's financial management system does not specifically track out of court settlements separately to other compensatory payments made on foot of legal proceedings, including judgment awards. This includes payments made in relation to claims of personal injury and property damage against this Department, which are managed by the State Claims Agency. The following table indicates...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department is responsible for two Votes: Vote 28, Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 29, International Cooperation. In the absence of a precise definition of "private contractors and the use of consultants and agencies", I include tables setting out the Department's expenditure by each Vote under the administrative budget subheads A2 to A7 in 2010, showing account code categories which...

Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: He probably was. It was certainly commented on in the European institutions. The Government decided that, instead of appointing a former politician, somebody associated with politics or one of the political parties in government or another alternative that naturally would have brought criticism on us, it would appoint a senior civil servant who fitted the requirements of the post. We...