Results 7,161-7,180 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland, together with our EU partners, is committed to enhancing stability in the Western Balkans region. The EU perspective for the countries in the region, agreed at the June 2003 Thessaloniki European Council, is essential in helping to build and maintain this stability. The EU will remain engaged in assisting the countries in the region to undertake the reforms necessary to move...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's position on the United States trade embargo of Cuba is long standing and well known. Ireland and other EU member states support an annual draft resolution at the UN General Assembly introduced by Cuba rejecting the extra-territoriall effects of the US embargo. We and our EU partners are not persuaded that the continued US embargo on Cuba is contributing in a positive way to the...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I join Deputy Pringle in expressing my sympathy to Deputy Finian McGrath. I had not known of his bereavement. I am sorry to hear of it. Deputy Pringle asked about the European Union position on Cuba. The common position was adopted in 1996 in the context of the EU's commitment to a democratic transition in Cuba. It provided a framework for co-operation with Cuba on a range of social,...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's long-standing concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza is well known. The slight relaxation in the blockade in the past year has been completely insufficient. We recognise that Israel is entitled to prevent the transport of weapons and genuinely military materials into Gaza, and to check cargoes in this context, but other goods should not be impeded. Along with our EU...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: What we and our colleagues in the European Union are insisting on is that the blockade on Gaza be lifted. It is both the Irish Government's and the European Union's view that the blockade of Gaza is unacceptable and counter productive and we have repeatedly called for the unconditional opening of the crossing points to normal movement. Indeed, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I will repeat the travel advice the Department has issued in respect of Gaza. The advice states clearly that we advise against all travel to the Gaza Strip, including the waters off Gaza and goes on to explain the reasons for that. I wish to be very clear that I do not want anything I say to convey in any way the view or impression that the State lends its support to this flotilla. We...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I can, perhaps, arrange for officials of my Department to meet them. With regard what the European Union is doing about Israel, it is clear the blockade on Gaza should be lifted. We must get moving on the talks between Israel and Palestine, which have been stalled for a long period. I was encouraged by what President Obama said in his speech a few days before his arrival in Ireland. When...

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 15 and 42 together. The Government welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 1973 which demanded the immediate establishment of a ceasefire in Libya as well as a complete end to violence and attacks against civilians. Resolution 1973 authorised the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya as well as "all necessary"...

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Having seen what has happened since the early part of the year in Libya and in particular at how citizens in Misrata have been attacked by the Gadaffi forces and taking into consideration the difficulties that were encountered with evacuating people from Misrata - to which operation Ireland made a significant financial contribution - nobody can be in any doubt about the way in which the...

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Along with the Deputy, I welcome the sanctions being imposed on Syria, which has been done at United Nations level and at European Union level. At the most recent Foreign Affairs Council, attended by the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, agreement was reached on those sanctions. In Libya there had been an earlier resolution, Resolution 1970, which essentially imposed sanctions. The...

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The international community must respond to an issue such as this one in Libya and it must be through the United Nations. This is why this was done by way of a United Nations Security Council resolution, which we support. It needs to be backed up by political and diplomatic work, which is why Ireland supports the work of the special envoy to explore what progress can be made in getting a...

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: Saharawi refugees arrived in Algeria in 1975 and 1976 following the escalation of the conflict over Western Sahara. The majority of these are sheltered in camps in the south-western desert province of Tindouf, where the Algerian authorities estimate the current number of refugees at some 165,000. A significant part of the Saharawi population also continues to live in Western Sahara, and...

Diplomatic Representation (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 38 together. Decisions relating to the size and scale of the Irish diplomatic network are matters for consideration by the Government. The scale and presence of the Irish diplomatic network is being considered, along with all aspects of my Department's operations, as part of the Government's comprehensive review of expenditure. Given the current...

Diplomatic Representation (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: In normal circumstances and if we had the resources, I believe we would be establishing a resident embassy in Indonesia but we are working in the current circumstances within very severe financial constraints and we have to make the most of what we have. We are in any event examining our total diplomatic and embassy network in the context of the comprehensive spending review. We may make...

Global Irish Economic Forum (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government will host the second Global Irish Economic Forum at Dublin Castle on 7 and 8 October, 2011. The forum will provide an opportunity for the Government to meet directly many of the most influential members of our diaspora and discuss our priorities for economic renewal, job creation and the restoration of Ireland's reputation abroad. Formal invitations will issue shortly to...

Global Irish Economic Forum (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I have previously acknowledged that convening the Farmleigh event and setting up the Global Irish Network was very positive and constructive. It was done by my predecessor as part of the previous Government. The Deputy knows I criticised the previous Government on many issues but this is not one of them. This was a very good initiative which was very successful. As a result of the...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: On Sunday, 15 May there were apparently co-ordinated demonstrations to mark Naqba Day by Palestinians and others in the Occupied Territories and neighbouring countries. On the Lebanese and Syrian borders with Israel and the occupied Golan, groups of some hundreds broke away from larger demonstrations and tried to break through the Israeli border fences. Israeli forces opened fire and 14...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: It is not okay for 14 people to be killed in a demonstration. It is not okay in any circumstances. I do not condone that in any way. I made it clear in my reply to this question that demonstrations should not end with people dying. I do not care what force was involved. People involved in a demonstration should not be killed. UN troops were on the scene in Lebanon. UNIFIL and UNDOF...

Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I have no difficulty conveying our disquiet to the ambassador but I would like to have a much clearer picture of what took place in the incident, which is why I consider that getting the report from the UN troops is important.

Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Eamon Gilmore: I have already answered this question twice this morning. The Minister has set out publicly certain issues that are being considered by him and his Department. As the Taoiseach and I have indicated, these proposals have not yet been considered by the Government and the issue of legislation does not arise until the Government has made a decision on them.