Results 1,281-1,300 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The number of people with medical cards and access to free GP care is the highest ever in the history of the State. Almost 2 million people have a medical card or access to free GP care. Since the beginning of this year, the HSE has awarded 100,000 medical cards, of which over 20,000 are on a discretionary basis. The Minister for Health wants people to be clear on their entitlements and to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In 2013, 23 officials of my Department received the cost of membership of professional bodies related to their professional and technical qualifications necessary for the conduct of their duties. The total cost of this to my Department was €7,870.22 for 2013 (to date), which would be an indicative annual figure. The cost of membership of certain local organisations/bodies may also be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As part of their professional development, staff of my Department who undertake qualifying third level courses in their own time may receive financial assistance under the terms of the Refund of Fees Scheme, which is sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly encourages and supports its staff in this regard, particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy Review (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I initiated a review of Ireland’s foreign policy and external relations on 8 October 2013. The purpose of the review is to provide an updated statement of Ireland’s foreign policy and to identify a series of recommendations for its conduct, with a view to ensuring that the Government is equipped with the right mix of policies and instruments to promote Ireland’s values...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions Data (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In some circumstances there are commercial sensitivities surrounding the publication of the information requested by the Deputy. Many of the companies met during St. Patrick’s Day visits are either potential investors in Ireland or prospective commercial partners of Irish companies in a particular market. Releasing the names of such companies could potentially compromise their position...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Support for the development of Ireland’s artistic talent, including in the field of music, is primarily a matter for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, to whom I understand the Deputy has tabled an identical question. My Department does not administer any funding or bursary schemes to support music students studying overseas. I would add that the Ireland-United States...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I have stated previously, the Irish Embassy in Brussels has been closely following developments in relation to this case. As the Deputy will be aware, the company has engaged the services of a French-based agency to act on its behalf in relation to the claims submitted to the Belgian Customs for reimbursement of excise duties paid in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. I am pleased to note that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I have consistently called for the end of all restrictions on normal movement in and out of Gaza, and will continue to do so. Ireland is very much to the fore in raising concerns with our European partners on the restrictive measures on access and movement imposed on Gaza by Israel and Egypt and pressing for strong EU action to improve the situation within the Territory. There has been some...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions Data (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy will be aware, Enterprise Ireland is the Government agency responsible for the development and internationalisation of Irish enterprises. Each year, Enterprise Ireland organises a series of targeted, international, Ministerial-led trade missions. The participation by Irish companies in those missions is organised by Enterprise Ireland. I am informed that Enterprise Ireland takes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Over 3,500 people died during the Troubles. The suffering of their relatives and friends endures to this day. There is no hierarchy of loss or grief for these families. However, both Governments accepted at Weston Park that certain cases from the past remained a source of grave public concern, particularly those giving rise to serious allegations of collusion by the security forces in each...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. I issued a strong statement on behalf of the government following the attempted bomb attack in Belfast's Victoria Street on Sunday 24 November, calling on the public to share any information relevant to the investigation with the PSNI. I know that I speak for all members of the Oireachtas in our repudiation of such incidents. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (3 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: This issue is raised in high level meetings with our British counterparts on an ongoing basis. Most recently, on 13 November last, I met in London with British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Our discussions covered a range of issues including Britain's future in Europe. I outlined to him our strong view that the UK is better off within the European Union and that the Union is stronger...

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: First, in regard to the promissory notes, which were the subject of the case taken by the Deputy to the High Court and on which High Court on Tuesday gave a judgment in favour of the State and ruled in favour of the State on all substantive grounds, the Government's approach has delivered results for Ireland. The reality is that the promissory notes have been part of Government debt since...

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The agreement which was reached in February 2013 in regard to the promissory note debt represents the best possible outcome available for Ireland and has been acknowledged as such by numerous independent commentators. The agreement was the culmination of many months of political and technical negotiations with our partners and provides a significant benefit to Ireland by eliminating the...

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: -----would make it very difficult to borrow the funds required to finance vital public services such as social welfare, health and the education systems, would further increase the cost of credit in the Irish economy and have significant implications for our exit from the bailout programme. On the other hand, we are now in a situation where we are exiting that programme, we have resolved the...

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not know where the Deputy is getting the idea of a blank cheque. The fact of the matter is that this Government-----

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There is nothing blank about it. It was very clear. It was predated cheques that were signed by the previous Government. They were predated cheques for €3.1 billion every year, to be paid in March, for a period of ten years. There was nothing blank-----

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There was nothing blank about them. What we had to do-----

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: What we had to do was to renegotiate that-----

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: -----which we succeeded in doing in the early part of this year, saving the taxpayers of this country €20 billion in the process. I will not take, from Deputy Kelleher or anybody else, on the issue of the bailout-----