Results 6,881-6,900 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (14 Sep 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Irish Ambassadors are appointed by the President based on nominations by the Government. I will be submitting proposals to the Government in the very near future about filling existing Ambassadorial vacancies and others that will arise over the next few months.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (14 Sep 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 to 43, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government states that the Government "will enforce the prohibition on the use of Irish airspace, airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law". I have already made clear, speaking in the Dáil on 22 March, 2011, that "Shannon will not be used as a means of...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (14 Sep 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The matter raised by the Deputy appears to concern a tax refund issue related to a property transaction in Portugal. The Deputy will be aware that the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade concerning private property transactions by Irish nationals abroad is limited and that redress in such cases, including on taxation issues, should be sought through the relevant legal system....

Written Answers — Professional Fees: Professional Fees (14 Sep 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: External professional services are procured by the Department only where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of Irish Aid (Ireland's official development assistance programme), where an independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. Given the overall scale of the Irish Aid Programme, this level of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Irish Diplomatic Network is made up of 76 overseas Missions, in addition to offices in Armagh and Belfast. The network consists of 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. The annual costs as set out...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together. The rent contracts in relation to all properties in the State occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are negotiated by the Office of Public Works (OPW). In addition, 110 properties are rented by my Department outside the State for use primarily as offices and official residences. Rental agreements vary from country to...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy is referring to five Cubans know as the "Miami five", who were convicted in the United States in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. The convictions of these individuals were upheld on appeal in 2008. While I am aware of the ongoing campaign for the release of these individuals, the Government has no standing in this matter, which is a bilateral consular...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. As I said in my response to Question No. 99 of 5 July 2011 tabled by Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, I understand that the prisoner in question has initiated legal proceedings with a view to obtaining early release. As the matter is currently before the courts, it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further at this stage other than to...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department has received no funding from the National Lottery during the period in question.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's participation in EUTM Somalia is part of a larger effort to support, together with our EU partners, the creation of functioning, stable institutions in Somalia, without which there is little prospect of political progress in that country. The EU is also supporting the Transitional Federal Institutions in an effort to encourage dialogue within Somalia as a whole, and to enable an...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I have already expressed on a number of occasions my deep concern at reports of the use of force against Camp Ashraf residents in Iraq resulting in loss of life and serious injuries. The primary responsibility for the protection and human rights of all persons resident on its territory, including Camp Ashraf residents, rests with the government of Iraq. Ireland fully recognises Iraqi...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together. Decisions relating to the size and scale of the Irish diplomatic network area matter for consideration by the Government. The Vatican is not a significant economic entity and the promotion of foreign trade has never been a reason for maintaining our Embassy to the Holy See. By comparison, our Embassy to the Italian Republic, also located...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department is currently in contact with nineteen families in relation to travel documents for children born through surrogacy. Of this number, eight requests relate to general information in respect of obtaining travel documents, at a future date, for children not yet born. Of the remaining families, seven have obtained an Irish travel document and,in four instances, families have...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Funding of €50,000 was provided in 2009/10 to Equal Ireland through the Development Education Funding Scheme administered by Irish Aid. Equal Ireland is a non-profit charitable trust founded in 2001 by IBEC, FÁS and SIPTU. It provides training for disadvantaged adults who have not completed second level education. The funding promoted the integration of development education into Equal...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no State boards under the aegis of my Department. There are four bodies operating under my Department to which I make appointments. These are: the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; and the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Ireland - United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission). Information on...

Written Answers — Departmental Equipment: Departmental Equipment (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department has 279 computer servers across its offices in Ireland and Missions abroad. Each of these servers is owned by the Department. Server capacity falls into the following ranges: Up to 200 gigabytes – 98 servers. Between 200 gigabytes and 1 terabyte – 160 servers. Greater than 1 terabytes – 21 servers. There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government is concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Freedom of religious belief and expression is an issue which is discussed regularly with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral meetings and at European Union level. At these meetings, the Government re-iterates the great importance Ireland attaches to human rights, fundamental freedoms and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I have not procured a new logo for my Department. Extra costs arising from changes to stationary necessitated by the change in the Department's name have been kept to a minimum through use of computer-based templates rather than an external print order. The change in name will be reflected when the next normal renewal of stock takes place. With regard to replacement signage necessitated by...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: No State Agencies currently operate under the aegis of my Department. The only semi-state body that operated under my Department during the period in question was the Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO), which was established in 1973 and was integrated into my Department on 1 January 2004. The following bodies which operate, or operated, under the aegis of my Department, were...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). It is not possible to provide all the information requested in the timeframe provided. However, I would refer the Deputy to questions 22473/05 and 27606/08 which also address this issue. The following table sets out, for both Votes, the details of...