Results 6,921-6,940 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The review of the universal social charge will be considered as part of the preparations for the budget.

Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not believe legislation is promised in this regard and I am not sure legislation is necessary. The issue of early flood warnings can be pursued with the Minister responsible for the Office of Public Works.

Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: What I said is that the Government is treating the preparation of that legislation as a matter of priority. As Deputy O'Dea is aware, it is quite complex, particularly given the nature of the judgment given by the courts. It is a priority for the Minister and we hope to have that legislation early in the new session.

Estimates for Public Services 2011 (21 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I move the following revised Estimates: Vote 24 — Charitable Donations and Bequests (Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €115,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2011, for the salaries and expenses of the Charitable Donations and Bequests Office. Vote 27 — Community, Equality and Gaeltacht...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As you are aware from the reply to your Question No. 68 of 28 June 2011, the Department wrote to the applicant's parents on 30 April, 2011 and again on 16 June 2011 to explain its decision in this case. I can confirm that there is no record in the Passport Service of a reply from the parents. Accordingly, there has been no progress with this application since 28 June, 2011. If the Deputy...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: There are currently 41,223 passport applications in the system, which are being processed by the Passport Offices in Molesworth Street, Balbriggan, Cork and London. This is down by 10,019 (24%) on the figure of 51,242 which was given in reply to Question no. 76 of 12 July, 2011. This reflects an improved situation in passport services with the turnaround period for Passport Express...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: There is no record of an application for the person in question in the passport system. If the person concerned was born in County Antrim, he is an Irish citizen by virtue of that fact and, as such, he has entitlement to an Irish passport. There would, therefore, be no need to apply for this person to become a naturalised Irish citizen. If the person concerned wishes to apply for a passport...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that the fee for applications submitted through ordinary post is an extra €15, which is €6.50 more than those applications submitted through Passport Express, allowing for the Post Office charge of €8.50. The new fee was brought into effect by the Statutory Instrument 47 of 2011, which was advertised in the national press before its implementation on 11 April 2011. The...

Written Answers — Passport Service: Passport Service (19 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: 1The Passports Act 2008 provides, inter alia, that the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied that a person is an Irish citizen before a passport is issued to him/her. The Minister has no discretion in awarding a passport to an individual who is not an Irish citizen. Any person who was born abroad and whose citizenship basis is directly linked to an Irish adoptive parent must...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (19 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Questions Nos. 9 and 10, answered on 13 July 2011, which follows. The continuing Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian Territories is at the heart of the unresolved Arab-Israeli conflict. The issues which have been critical for Israel for most of its history – the existence of the State of Israel and its right to live in peace and security...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (19 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Emigrant Support Programme, administered by my Department, provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish emigrant communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. Since 2004 over 80 million Euro has been provided to organisations which provide culturally sensitive, front-line welfare,...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The position in this case was outlined previously to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 83 of 17 May, 2011. This stated that the Passports Act 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant and that the person is an Irish citizen. Documentary evidence such as birth certificates are among...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 60 and 62 together. My Department does not currently employ the services of any of the four companies referred to in the questions. In the timeframe available it is not possible to provide information earlier than 2004. From 2004 to date, my Department has contracted the services of KPMG on two occasions and PwC on one occasion. In 2007 and 2008...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Since taking up office as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have appointed the following staff to my Department. 85 Temporary Clerical Officers (for the Passport Service) 4 Personal Assistants 4 Civilian Drivers 4 Interns 3 Special Advisers 3 Personal Secretaries 1 Temporary Cleaner In addition to the above, in April 2011, I appointed the members of the Emigrant Services Advisory...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: All property owned by the State in Ireland is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. One such property, Iveagh House, is occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The State owns 36 properties abroad. These premises are situated in locations where the Government considers it necessary that Ireland should be represented and where there is a clear economic advantage...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In the timeframe available it is not possible to provide information earlier than 2006. Since that time, my Department has engaged the services of external public relations companies for a limited number of specific projects, including assistance with events relating to the Irish Aid programme and promoting awareness of the EU. The total amount paid to these companies was €880,544.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: A number of trade unions and related bodies have received funding from my Department through the Irish Aid programme and the reconciliation and anti-sectarianism funds. My Department operates reconciliation and anti-sectarianism funds, the objective of which is to assist individuals and organisations involved in reconciliation work and to encourage and facilitate better relations within and...

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The proposals before the Ceann Comhairle are for a period of 65 minutes to deal with a number of amendments to this Bill by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. She will propose them in due course. The proposal is that the debate will conclude at 2.30 p.m. If we agree the timetabling for the debate, Deputy Ó Caoláin will find that the Minister will be addressing the issue raised...

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy is aware, the House is sitting a lot longer this year than it has ever done to deal with several items of legislation. The placing of the guillotine is to ensure we get through all the legislation we need to have enacted. As Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, as it has turned out in practice the guillotine, while it has been provided for on the Order of Business, has not been used,...

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Higgins is so preoccupied with his litany of the ullogón that unfortunately he cannot see change when it happens. The first change is that this year, for the first time, we are sitting past the first week in July and will continue to sit until the end of next week. Second, we are having a sitting tomorrow, Friday - we do not normally have sittings on a Friday - and we are dealing...