Results 6,341-6,360 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: -----and diplomatic relations are being maintained with the Holy See. I also agree with the Deputy that it is important to respect the position of the Catholic Church in this State and that is the reason when the Government made the decision to close the embassy in the Holy See, I communicated that decision personally and immediately to both Cardinal Brady and Archbishop Martin. I agree that...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy McDonald asked whether the Government had considered the impact of the reforms to frontline services which the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, will announce today. Yes, we have. Her second question asked how we could square that circle. I will tell her how. This Government believes in public services. We need good, efficient and well-run public...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: That is why we are undertaking to reform our public services. Those reforms will be announced later today by the Minister. They will involve a reduction in the number of-----

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: -----public servants which will be done through the mechanisms provided for in the Croke Park agreement, in other words, by voluntary arrangements that have already been negotiated and provided for.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In addition to believing in public services we also respect public servants.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: That is why it is so wrong for the Deputy to come to this House and name individual public servants who do not have the opportunity or the privilege she has of responding to those allegations.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: That shows disrespect for our civil servants and I ask the Deputy to desist from doing this.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In the first place, there will be an adequate staffing level. I reiterate, the quality of the service to be delivered to the public has been at the centre of decisions on re-organisation and reform of our public services made by the Government and which will be announced later. I do not believe that even Deputy McDonald would argue there is no need to reform our public services, in part for...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Our public servants do a good job. They have been the subject of ballyragging for far too long-----

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: -----sometimes in the media. The Deputy cannot point to a single occasion during the time I sat on those benches when I attacked public servants, individually or generally. I respect public servants and the work they do. Members of this House should also show that respect.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: What we need is a better, more efficient and focused public service and that is the nature of the reforms the Minister will announce today.

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The answer to the Deputy's question is that I am working with adoptive parents and families that are seeking to adopt children through the intercountry adoption method. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and I have been working on this matter for some time. In the course of my work as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I regularly raise this subject with the authorities from...

Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy is aware, the adoption arrangements have to comply with the Hague Convention. The arrangements that apply in individual countries have to be consistent with the Hague conditions and arrangements. I am very much aware of the difficulties being experienced by adoptive parents. I want to assure the Deputy that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and I, as well as our...

Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 15a, Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011 [Seanad] - Committee and Remaining Stages; No. 16, statements on the 2010 annual report of the national review panel on serious incidents including deaths of children in care, to adjourn at 2.30 p.m. if not previously concluded; and No. 17, Health (Provision of General Practitioner...

Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that the budget will be announced in the House. I can also confirm that the Government is announcing details of budgetary and expenditure matters and matters relating to public service reform in a way that was not previously done.

Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: That was not done by the previous Government because it did not address those issues in time.

Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: That is why we are in the fix we are in now.

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (16 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no state agencies, bodies or boards operating under the responsibility of my Department. However, there are three advisory committees and one commission that operate under my Department's remit: the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; and the Ireland - United States Commission for Educational...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (16 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no state boards and no state agencies operating under the aegis of my Department. There are three advisory committees and one commission operating under the auspices of my Department to which I or my colleagues make appointments. These are: the Ireland - United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission); the Development Education Advisory Committee, the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Nov 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: While I understand the term "gendercide" is beginning to gain currency, it is not a term which has been fully defined at international level, and is not currently in use in international law, human rights or development discourse. For his reason, the term "female infanticide" was used in the amendment proposed to Senator Ronan Mullen's motion. Infanticide is a long-standing recognised...