Results 961-980 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department makes payments to the company concerned for the management of two essential IT systems – Passport Service Systems and Human Resources Management System. The company is responsible for the support, maintenance and upkeep of all Passport Service IT systems. Passport Service IT systems comprise a complex range of technologies to enable receipt and processing of passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Illegal Israeli Settlements (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Other than where a common EU action is agreed, it is a matter for each Member State to decide for itself what means or diplomatic signals it wishes to employ to make a particular point. This might take into account, inter alia, their previous actions on the same subject or previous engagement with the same country. It does not therefore follow that if another EU partner decides to summon an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (23 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 to 39, inclusive, together. Throughout the period of the Talks, I spoke to and met with all of the Parties, with Drs Haass and O’Sullivan and with the British Government on numerous occasions. I made clear and demonstrated my support for the process and my willingness to meet with participants throughout. I believe that my engagement, and that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: A number of speakers referred to the contributions we make to international organisations. Ireland's payments to the United Nations comprise mandatory contributions to the regular budget, the capital master plan, the International Criminal Court, the peacekeeping budget and tribunals. Countries' payments to the UN are based on a formula for the scale of assessment for member states which is...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The primary source of income for the Department comes from passport applications, which amounted to €38 million in 2013. Total income under appropriations-in-aid was €47 million last year, including receipts in respect of visas and other consular services. We anticipate a similar level of receipts in 2014.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Deputy Durkan for that compliment. I will now address programme D - international peace, security and human rights. My Department's commitment to international peace, security and human rights is channelled through programme D, which has a total allocation of over €74 million. This represents an increase of €4 million over last year. It is anticipated that in 2014,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The increase in the non-pay subhead is in anticipation of the forthcoming State visit to the UK and the new consulates, such as the one in Austin, Texas. We want to ensure the reconciliation fund is targeted in support of an agreement. We will also support the International Fund for Ireland work, which has a role to play. In last year’s European multi-annual financial framework, we...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: We are considering the matter and the committee might give some thought to it. It would be helpful to have the committee's view, first, whether we should have a system whereby an emergency passport can be secured for a fee and, second, its views as to the level at which it should be pitched. The reason for funding the GAA is that the GAA and the clubs run by the GAA in Britain and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is not exclusively for any sport. The size of the commitment to the GAA is largely because of the networking arrangement, services and facilities it provides for emigrants. We integrate the emigrant support work with the good work and collaboration with it.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Programme C deals with matters relating to Northern Ireland and delivers funding for projects to bolster peace and reconciliation on this island. The maintenance of peace and stability in Northern Ireland remains an absolute priority for the Government. We intend to continue with a similar level of engagement in 2014 as last year when some 16 official visits were held. On the east-west...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I will address the questions thematically rather than in the order they were asked. With regard to Deputy Smith's question, of the 630,000 passports issued last year, approximately 40,000 were issued through missions abroad. Approximately 40,000 were issued in London and a further 40,000 were issued in Northern Ireland. Some 90% of applications are now coming through the passport express...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes. If the Deputy recalls, last year the Government decided to recommence recruitment in the civil and public service, including the recruitment of additional third secretaries to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. That recruitment process is under way and being conducted by the Public Appointments Service. For some time we have been looking at embassies and consulates on what...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: One, perhaps two.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Under programme B, the Department provides vital passport and consular services, as well as outreach services, for Irish communities abroad. The passport service issued more than 631,000 passports in 2013, generating revenue of €38.1 million. It strives to provide a quick, secure and affordable passport service. With up to 90% of applicants in the State now using the Passport...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: First, I thank members for their welcome for the Government's decision yesterday. That decision and my recommendations to the Government were greatly informed by the exchanges I had had with this committee in recent years. We have discussed a number of times the extent to which Ireland, when compared with other countries of similar size, maintains a small presence abroad. Ireland has a...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am pleased to present to the Chairman and the members of the select committee the Revised Estimates for my Department for 2014. I hope the committee will welcome and endorse the priorities and output targets we have set ourselves for 2014. In my remarks I will focus on Vote 28 and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, will address Vote 27. I appreciate that a formal...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department’s commitment to advancing Ireland’s trade and economic interests in Europe and internationally is set out under programme A. The amount allocated for the programme in 2014 is €48.1 million, a reduction of €6 million or 17% on the 2013 provision. As previously noted, this reduction reflects the discontinuance of additional funds that were allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As was indicated on 15th January in my reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 33 and 78, my Department is providing consular assistance to this person and will continue to provide all possible consular assistance. My Department does not have an automatic entitlement to provide consular assistance to the person referred to by the Deputy given that he is an American citizen being tried in a US...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (22 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I would direct the Deputy to Question No. 187 on the same topic, which was raised by Deputy Thomas P. Broughan and answered by me on 21 January 2014.