Results 1,181-1,200 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Treaties (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: No proposal to amend the EU treaties in the manner suggested in the Deputy's question has been put forward. Any such proposal would raise complex issues of considerable sensitivity and so the Government must be careful to avoid expressing views prematurely. In all such cases, the Deputy can be assured that we are following the debate and the issues raised very closely. It would be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Foreign and Security Policy (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland attaches great importance to the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of the European Union. CSDP is an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which encompasses the EU's international obligations towards the maintenance of international peace and security. There are currently 12 civilian CSDP missions deployed in the Western Balkans, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Corporate Social Responsibility (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On 16 June 2011, the UN Human Rights Council endorsed "Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' Framework”, which were prepared by the Special Representative, Mr. John Ruggie. The document stresses that the Principles should be understood as a coherent whole which aim to enhance standards and practices with regard...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomacy Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: No claim has been made to me of this nature nor am I in possession of any information pertaining to the issues raised in the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Civil Registration Documentation (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Unfortunately, it is not possible for my Department to issue a letter as requested as we do not have access to the State's marriage records. Mr. Healy may wish to contact the General Register Office to seek a letter from them confirming there is no marriage record on file for him. The General Register Office can be contacted as follows: Email Address: Telephone: Direct Dial: +353(0)90...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In November 2011, the Government announced its decision to close Ireland's Embassy to the Holy See. This decision was driven by economic factors deriving from the need, at the time, to focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery. Following this decision, the Secretary General of my Department, Mr. David Cooney, was appointed non-resident Ambassador to the Holy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Ambassador to the Holy See and the Secretary to the Embassy have met with a number of Curia officials on their visits to the Vatican, several of whom are Irish nationals. However, they have focused on meeting officials of direct relevance to the work of the Embassy and have not sought to meet with each and every Irish national working in the Curia.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and understand that the person has been charged with attempted murder of a student police officer; possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious damage; and making use of a firearm with intent to prevent lawful arrest. He was committed for trial on 23 August 2011. An application for Judicial Review of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have been following the situation in Ukraine very closely since protests began following the announcement on 21 November by Ukraine’s President, Viktor Yanukovych, of his decision to postpone preparations for the signature of the Association Agreement at last month’s Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. An estimated 350,000 took part in an anti-government rally in Kyiv on 1...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have been concerned by the reports of violence in Bangkok following recent protests there, and I note that all sides now appear to be exercising restraint. I also note that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called elections for next February. Ireland’s Ambassador to Thailand, who is accredited from Kuala Lumpur, has been reporting to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department does not operate a public capital programme. The Department’s administrative capital budget is mainly in respect of ICT, passport production and accommodation, both in Ireland and at the Department’s missions overseas. The following table presents the capital expenditure for the two Votes for which my Department is responsible: Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department’s combined capital budget for 2013 is €6.350 m (including carryover). This is expended mainly to support the Department’s ongoing investment in passport and ICT equipment and technology, as well as the maintenance of official premises at home and abroad. The Passport Service is in the process of upgrading its infrastructure as part of an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My reply to the Deputy’s Question on 3 December included the phrase: "There has been some easing of the blockade in recent years". T his is simply a matter of fact. The terms of the ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza have been eased in a number of respects in recent years, including the removal of most items from the forbidden list, some degree of movement of building materials, a very...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (10 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government’s international aid programme, Irish Aid, which is managed by my Department, is recognised internationally for its effectiveness in producing results for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. About a quarter of Ireland’s overseas development assistance is channelled through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This reflects the strong contribution which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (5 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I warmly welcome the announcement by UN Secretary-General Ban that the Geneva conference will be held on 22 January 2014. While there have been delays in convening the conference, it is beyond dispute that it offers the only realistic path at present to devising a workable political solution and to ending the conflict and the horrendous suffering of the Syrian people. Building on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reports (5 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Preparation of my Department’s Annual Report for 2012 was deferred until the conclusion of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union. The report has now been prepared and will be published shortly on the Department’s website.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (5 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Syrian crisis is due to be discussed at the December Foreign Affairs Council. This will provide an opportunity for the Council to review recent developments, including the welcome announcement that the long-planned Geneva II peace conference is now scheduled to begin on 22 January. The Council discussion is also likely to focus on EU support for the ongoing destruction of Syrian chemical...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (5 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. The Government shares the concern about the deteriorating situation in the Central African Republic, in particular the reports of an alarming increase in inter-communal violence and gross violations of human rights. As highlighted by the UN Secretary General in his report to the Security Council on 15 November, this conflict has the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Review of Foreign Affairs Policy and External Relations: Discussion (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: First, the purpose of today's exercise is to set out for the committee the nature of the review of foreign policy and our external engagement that we are conducting and to locate it also in the context of the review of trade, the White Paper on development, the review of the EAS and a number of other developments that are taking place. I join members of the committee in paying tribute to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Review of Foreign Affairs Policy and External Relations: Discussion (4 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I would welcome the committee's input to the review, which is the entire purpose of my making a presentation to it. I invite the committee and individual members to make their views known on the matter. A number of reviews are taking place and the one to which my presentation relates is an overall review of our foreign policy and external relations. It is part of a wider review that is...