Results 561-580 of 6,679 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (19 Dec 2013)

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

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (19 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There are no State boards, agencies or regulators operating under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Birth Certificates Provision (18 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Obtaining a birth certificate does not fall under the remit of my Department, however, given the predicament this person finds themselves in the Consular Assistance Section of my Department contacted the Embassy of India in Dublin to discuss the case.The Embassy of India in Dublin noted that they had already advised the person in question that follow up in a case like this should be made in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (18 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: At my invitation, former British Prime Minister John Major delivered a lecture at Iveagh House on 11 December last, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Downing Street Declaration on 15 December 1993. The event was hosted and organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This was the third in a series of commemorative lectures forming the Iveagh House...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Matters relating to refugees in Ireland are coordinated by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) under the auspices of the Minister for Justice and Equality. Details of the services and supports available to refugees are published on the website of the linked Reception and Integration Agency. A number of other Government Departments also have responsibilities in this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (18 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: All Parties in this house will share my frustration at the lack of progress on a Bill of Rights. During my visits to Northern Ireland I have been struck by the level of interest amongst a broad swathe of civic society in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, which is a very important outstanding provision of the Good Friday Agreement. I believe that many of the contentious issues around...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (18 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together. I am deeply concerned by the recent summary execution of Jang Song Thaek in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is adamantly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and accordingly seeks its universal abolition. We are aware of concerns expressed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (18 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Guidelines on Ministerial Appointments issued in March 2011 state that Special Advisers are to be placed on the Principal Officer (standard) scale: €75,674 - €92,550. Appointments will be on the first point of the scale, except where the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform sanctions a higher salary rate. I have four Special Advisers in my Department. Salary details...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: All passport applications are subject to the provision of 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 in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Decentralisation Programme Expenditure (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is based in various locations, including in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. The decentralisation to Limerick of the Development Cooperation Division of the Department was formally completed in late 2008 and the majority of the officers assigned to the Division, which manages the aid programme, Irish Aid, are based there. The Development Cooperation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Social Insurance Issues (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: On foot of the Deputy’s question, I have made enquiries into the operation of the arrangements for sharing of information between the British and Irish authorities in relation to social insurance contributions.I am advised that the Embassy of Ireland in London has not received representations on this subject, from individuals or from community groups with which we work. I am further...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Emergency passports permitting travel abroad are issued only in circumstances where the Passport Service is satisfied, on the basis of the application and supporting evidence, that:the proposed journey is related to the death or serious injury or illness abroad of a close relative or a medical emergency relating to the applicant him/herself; and the presence of the applicant at the foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: This is an issue to which I accord very high priority, conscious of the acute difficulties experienced by Irish undocumented in the United States, many of whom I have met on my visits there. I have maintained contact, both directly and through our Embassy in Washington, with many key players in Congress including Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, Chair of the House Budgetary Committee and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 130 together. While my Department makes use of external IT service providers for various support and maintenance requirements, it has not engaged any IT consultants since 2011. In 2010 and 2011 the Department engaged consultants for the purpose of providing infrastructure- and systems-related security advice and the amounts expended were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Costs (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: 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 Department where necessary, including for personal injuries claims and other matters. The costs of any external solicitors or counsel engaged for such matters are not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: At my request, officials of the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico City, which is also accredited to Colombia, have raised with the Colombian authorities concerns regarding the community displaced from their land in Pitalito. The promotion and protection of human rights is a core principle of Ireland's foreign policy. Ireland engages on human rights issues in our contacts with the Colombian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Remuneration (17 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I can assure the Deputy that the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are remunerated solely on the basis of salary policy and scales approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (11 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29 and 32 to 35, inclusive, together. I remain seriously concerned about the situation in Gaza, both the long term situation and the recent deterioration caused by a reduction in the power supply. My Department monitors the situation in Gaza closely, including through regular contact with UNRWA and UNOCHA, the main UN agencies active there, as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (11 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland's diplomatic and consular network is comparatively modest in size and includes 56 Embassies, 7 multilateral Missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices. In addition to their country of primary accreditation, many Ambassadors are also accredited to additional countries on a non-resident basis which enhances the cost-effectiveness of our external representation. Our missions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Websites (11 Dec 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department recently invested in upgrading our online services to the public for the first time since 2005. This essential upgrade of our ICT infrastructure allows my Department to support Irish citizens at home and abroad through a suite of bespoke services including the Passport Tracking Service and a Passport Application Guide. In addition, the Citizen Registration service allows Irish...