Results 1,021-1,040 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is also important there is accountability in Irish Water, as in any public body, for the way in which it does its business. The chief executive of Irish Water was before two committees this week. If any issues arise, it is the job of Members who are elected to this House and who are members of the relevant committees, in this case, Deputy McCarthy's committee and the Committee of Public...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The story this morning that there is some kind of a second tier of charging for families with children has no basis. No decision has been made in regard to the levels of charges that will be applied and how they are going to be applied, other than the policy the Government has taken, which is that the charging for water will be on the basis of a metered regime and there will be a free...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: First, Deputy Martin knows very well that pay in the commercial semi-State sector is a matter for the companies themselves. There is-----

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular, for major events and State occasions. This is a service which my Department provides so that the media can easily and freely avail of photography where their own staff photographers cannot be fully accommodated. There was a significant number of such events in the period in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: For the period referred to by the Deputy my Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations and communications services. From time to time, consultants or companies with a public relations and communications background are commissioned to provide other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management. DHR Communications has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Vote 27: International Cooperation. Consultants are engaged only where specialised knowledge and skills are not available within the Department and, especially in the case of Ireland’s official overseas aid programme, known as Irish Aid, where independent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Global Economic Forum (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The current structures and policies for engagement with the Diaspora have been in place for some years, during which time my Department has been providing assistance and support to Irish people overseas through the Emigrant Support Programme, as well as establishing and coordinating the Global Irish Network and hosting successive meetings of the Global Irish Economic Forum to enhance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department engages a range of external service providers in a number of areas where the required skills are not available in-house and it is more cost-effective to source them externally. Details of payments in respect of the areas specified by the Deputy for the period in question are set out in the tables below in respect Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and of Vote 27 (International...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no state agencies or other organisations of the type referred to by the Deputy under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: This is an issue to which I accord very high priority. I am conscious of the difficulties experienced by Irish citizens who are undocumented in the United States, and I have met and spoken with many of them on my working visits there, and also with the various groups who lobby on their behalf. I have maintained contact, both directly and through our Embassy in Washington, with many key...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Vote 27: International Cooperation. The Government’s international aid programme, Irish Aid, which is managed by my Department, is recognised internationally for its effectiveness in improving the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable communities. About a quarter of Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: All passport applications are subject to the provision of the Passports Act, 2008 (the Act). The issue of a passport is, therefore, the culmination of an important and legally-binding process. The checks and balances within the passport process embrace the standard principles that are provided for in the Act and help to ensure that the identity of the applicant is known and that the person...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Language Issues (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department fully supports the measures to support Irish language proficiency in the civil service which were approved recently by Government and is committed to providing services and answering correspondence through Irish whenever required. A skills audit of all staff carried out in 2012 revealed that 55 staff members in my Department had advanced or fluent Irish language skills while a...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (15 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In the context of the talks process, in many ways this is a last-chance scenario. In the past people wished that the United States would engage in a serious way in leading discussions towards a peace settlement in the Middle East. That is now happening. Secretary of State Kerry is very committed to the process and I have spoken to him directly in respect of this matter on a number of...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (15 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is clear that a continuation of the settlements process will make a two-state solution very difficult to achieve from a purely physical point of view. The talks are premised on a two-state solution being achieved. That is something we support and I have not heard any viable alternative in the context of reaching an agreement. At this point we must support the talks and encourage...

Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (15 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 12 and 89 together. Direct negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, with United States participation, began at the end of July 2013 and have continued to date, with some interruptions. All three parties are restricting their public comments on the details of the talks, and we should do likewise. The range of issues to be resolved –...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (15 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am mindful of the human dimension of this problem. I have met people who have been in the United States for a number of years and who are undocumented. They cannot come home for family funerals or other family events. I have seen members of families having to travel out to see newly born grandchildren because they cannot bring them home. It is estimated there are approximately 50,000...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (15 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I wish to acknowledge the good work done by the members of the Oireachtas joint committee who visited Washington last year. It is most helpful to have parliamentarians from Ireland talking with their counterparts in the United States about this issue. In respect of the Irish interest in immigration reform, our representations are generally very well received and there is no difficulty in...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (15 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 22 together. This is an issue to which I accord very high priority. I am conscious of the difficulties experienced by Irish citizens who are undocumented in the United States and I have met and spoken with many of them on my working visits there and also with the various groups who lobby on their behalf. I have maintained contact, directly and...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (15 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I expect we will discuss the situation in the Cental African Republic at the Foreign Affairs Council next Monday. I welcome the adoption by the United Nations Security Council on 5 December 2013 of Resolution 2127. It authorised the deployment of an African Union-led peacekeeping force for 12 months, and the deployment of French forces to support the African Union mission. At a conference...