Results 621-640 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The issue of effective tax rates has been the subject of a number of public discussions in the past 12 months. It has been acknowledged by the OECD, the European Union and the G20 that international tax planning is an international issue, and the Government is working with these organisations to reach a solution. The recent coverage of multinational profits by Apple was based on historical...

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The position on corporation tax is very clear. We have a 12.5% rate of corporation tax. It is statute-based and applies to profits that are earned in Ireland. It is applied consistently. We did have a problem with the issue of the stateless company. The Government recognised that loophole in our tax system and, last October, when we brought in the budget for 2014, we addressed and...

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As Deputy Adams said, the Taoiseach is meeting the British Prime Minister today. This is now part of a regular, annual summit meeting between the Taoiseach of this country and the Prime Minister of Britain to discuss issues around our bilateral relationship. The issues of trade, tourism, investment, our bilateral relations and the issue of Northern Ireland will form part of those...

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree that when agreements are made they have to be kept. I also think it is important that the two Governments continue to work hand in hand and jointly with regard to the Northern Ireland peace process. I have a good working relationship with the Secretary of State. We talk regularly in the institutional format that I have described. There is a very good working relationship at...

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I was asked that question here on Thursday last when I stated clearly that I believe Mr. Flannery should attend before the Committee of Public Accounts. I have seen the letter the clerk to the committee wrote to the chief executive of the Rehab group. The letter was issued yesterday and names a number of people, including Mr. Flannery, whom the committee wishes to interview. I believe that...

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not know what arrangements were made for payment between Rehab and Mr. Flannery, other than the reports I have read in newspapers, which Deputy Martin has also seen. It would seem to me that the appropriate place for that issue to be pursued is at the Committee of Public Accounts. I encourage Mr. Flannery to attend that committee. The issue of lobbying is not a new phenomenon and is...

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Over the years, we have seen many issues arising from lobbying and the questions of who is paid and who has access, and so on.

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There is nothing wrong with lobbying per se. People lobby all the time.

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: First, we need to have absolute transparency about, and a record of, what is happening in the area of lobbying. The forthcoming legislation will provide that when somebody walks in the door to see a Minister or a departmental official, there will be a record of what was asked for, who asked for it and on whose behalf. Second, where people are lobbying on a professional basis, whether paid...

Leaders' Questions (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Martin had a long time to reflect on this. It was a period when we had tribunal after tribunal examining lobbying issues where senior figures in Fianna Fáil were involved. As far as this Government is concerned, legislation is being prepared to provide for absolute transparency in the area of lobbying.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government has always taken very seriously the need to deal sensitively with the legacy of the past. This informs our support for the ongoing political talks among the Northern Ireland party leaders. The need to deal with prisoner issues was recognised in the negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement which committed both governments to provide for the accelerated release of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department, including its diplomatic missions overseas, is subject to the same general rules on public procurement as other Irish central government bodies. In summary, these require contracts for supplies of goods (including food and beverage products) over €130,000 in value to be advertised in the Official Journal of the EU and to be awarded in accordance with legally binding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government closely follows the situation of the Rohingya people in Myanmar/Burma. The decision taken by the Government of Myanmar/Burma ordering Médecins Sans Frontières to cease its activities is deeply worrying. I reiterate calls made by the international community that urge the Government of Myanmar/Burma to grant safe, timely, full and unhindered humanitarian access across...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Working Holiday Programmes (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 51 together. The Working Holiday Programme with Canada gives young people from Ireland and Canada the opportunity to live and work in the other country. The agreement reflects the excellent relationship we enjoy with Canada and contributes further to that relationship by fostering increasing personal, cultural and professional ties between our people....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. Since the inception of the ESP in 2004, some €104 million has been distributed to Irish community organizations in Britain, the US, Australia, Canada and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department is responsible for two Votes, Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). There are no state or regulatory bodies under the aegis of my Department. With regard to legal services, my Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: On the adoption (tracing and information) Bill, further clarification of legal and constitutional issues is being sought and it is expected that Bill will be published later this year. It is not possible to indicate a date for the retention of certain records Bill at this stage.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: On the noise nuisance Bill, to extend and improve the powers available to enforcement authorities to prevent, reduce or abate noise nuisances by allowing for on-the-spot fines and providing for mediation between neighbours, it is not possible to give a date for the publication of that Bill at this stage.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The sale of loan books Bill is due for publication next year. The Minister for Finance has made clear his disposition to legislating for Irish Nationwide Building Society mortgages, if that is considered necessary. The admission to schools Bill is due this session. On the third matter, the Government has for the first time introduced legislation that places an obligation on political...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government takes the issue of violence against women seriously. That is why we made our commitment in the programme for Government. We have studied carefully the report that was issued this week. Even though it indicates that the level of violent incidents against women is lower in Ireland than the European average, the figures are still shockingly high. I will ask the Minister for...