Results 741-760 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am concerned by allegations made in a recent report by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s International Crimes Evidence Project of human rights abuses committed by the Sri Lankan security forces in the final stages of the Sri Lanka civil war. Allegations that evidence of war crimes was destroyed is particularly concerning. The report also makes allegations of human rights abuses...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 29 and 32 together. I met with the Secretary of State most recently on 6 February 2014 to discuss the current political talks and how to take forward the compromise proposals on contentious issues facing Northern Ireland. We agreed that we wish to see the Northern Ireland Parties reach agreement as soon as possible and without further delay. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The commitment of Ireland to the promotion and protection of human rights is an underlying principle of Ireland’s foreign policy and is a priority for the Government. I believe that, in addressing human rights concerns, we must pursue them in the most effective way, taking advantage of the most appropriate opportunities to make our case, privately or publicly, bilaterally or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As I outlined in this house yesterday, this Government remains fully committed to Irish neutrality, which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances, and which forms a central element of our foreign policy. It is set alongside our pro-active engagement in the efforts of the international community to maintain global peace and security, through the UN, the EU and through our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Controls (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The worldwide good reputation and integrity of the Irish passport helps ensure the safe travel and wellbeing of Irish citizens, as they travel abroad. In line with the best practice recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, passport books are redesigned on a periodic basis to protect against forgery. I launched a new Irish Passport Book in October last year. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Our diplomatic and consular missions abroad work closely with the state agencies in the promotion of inward investment, exports, and tourism and it has been policy for many years that, where feasible, missions and state agencies be brought together in a single location, designated as "Ireland Houses". There are many variations to the model which reflect local conditions and other factors....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scottish Independence (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The people of Scotland will vote in a referendum on 18 September 2014 on the question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?". The referendum campaign is ongoing and many questions and issues are arising in the debate. Assessments of the implications of a yes or no vote are being put forward, by the ‘Yes Scotland’ campaign and the current Scottish Government on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The 17 May this year will mark the fortieth anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. With 33 killed, that terrible day saw the highest number of casualties on any single day during the Troubles. It left a further 300 people injured. Many families across this island suffered terrible losses during the Troubles, including the Dublin/Monaghan families. I think of them today and of their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Working Holiday Programmes (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The arrangements for a Working Holiday Programme which enables Irish citizens to work in Canada are outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding which was agreed between Ireland and Canada in 2003 and amended in 2012. Negotiations on a second amendment to the Working Holiday Programme are at an advanced stage and the main elements have been agreed in principle with Canada. The exact language...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Permission to overfly or land in the State is subject to certain policy stipulations; namely that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy acknowledges, Ireland’s foreign policy and external relations involve a broad range of cross-cutting themes and issues. This reflects the importance of coherent external action for the pursuit of a number of Government objectives. When I initiated the Review of our Foreign Policy and External Relations in October, I indicated that the whole of Government aspects of our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware that on 30 September 2013, the Hungarian Parliament adopted a law enabling local authorities to make it a criminal offense to live or sleep in specific public areas. This follows changes to Hungary’s Constitution which were approved by the Parliament on 11 March 2013 and which are collectively known as the Fourth Amendment to the Fundamental Law. The latter developments...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The new Consulate General in Austin will be headed by a Consul General who will be an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The decision on this appointment will be made by Government in the coming weeks as part of its regular consideration of appointments of Heads of Mission at our embassies and consulates abroad. Ahead of the opening of the new missions I announced in January,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: 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 the subject-matter, litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency which engage lawyers to act for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This year, 27 Ministers will undertake programmes focussed on trade tourism and investment in more than 35 cities in 23 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East supported by the Embassy network (full list included). It is expected that Ministers will participate in more than 80 high-level political meetings, including bilateral meetings with President Obama and Prime...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy Review (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Review of Foreign Policy and External Relations on which my Department is currently working provided for a broad-based process of consultation, including a call for submissions from members of the public on any aspect of our foreign policy. A period of two months, from 4 December 2013 to 4 February 2014, was provided for the submission of inputs to the review. In response to this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Security Checks (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is not policy to comment on or provide details concerning security matters of this nature. My Department’s security arrangements are kept under regular review, including security arrangements for premises and telecommunications.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the legislation to which the Deputy refers in his question. The provisions relating to civil society organisations were part of a wider package of highly restrictive legislative measures passed by the Ukrainian parliament with little or no debate on 16 January. The laws were hastily passed in the context of the crisis in Ukraine and were rightly seen as an attempt to stifle the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The East African regional grouping, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has led mediation efforts between the two parties to the conflict in South Sudan. IGAD brokered a ceasefire last month and is currently mediating a second round of peace talks focused on resolving political differences between the parties. The EU strongly supports the role being played by IGAD in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Feb 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There is no general agreement on which of the world’s many conflicts would constitute the top ten and accordingly it is not possible to produce the figures requested by the Deputy in regard to the estimated death toll in respect of the civilian populations over the past five years. Considerable ongoing efforts are being made by the international community, in which Ireland is...