Results 61-80 of 6,679 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The present situation across the Middle East is one of deep concern, with serious open conflict in both Syria and now Iraq, and the possibility of violence increasing in Libya, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and elsewhere. All of these conflicts, and wider unrest across the region, have occupied a significant proportion of the agenda at both UN and EU level for a long time. The most...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (8 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As outlined in Question 99 of 1 July 2014, which contained information on landings at Shannon Airport and overflights of Irish airspace, my Department grants permission for the landing of foreign military aircraft at Shannon Airport subject to the condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I raised my concerns regarding this individual with the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on 23 June 2014 at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. I have also raised my concerns at this individual's continued detention without trial with the then Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmy, on 11 November and 23 December 2013. I followed up these phone calls with a letter to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Passports (8 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that diplomatic passports are provided to Irish officials assigned to work for the European External Action Service in overseas missions.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Committees (8 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There are currently 5 regional groupings at the UN; namely the African Group, Asia-Pacific Group, Eastern European Group (EEG), Latin America and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) and the Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG). This arrangement was initiated in 1961. The primary focus of the regional groups is to assist in allocating seats on UN bodies of limited membership. WEOG is composed of 29...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Remuneration (8 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Increments are awarded on an annual basis, to officers who have not yet reached the maximum of their scale, following an assessment in relation to performance of duties, attendance and general conduct and suitability. Details of increments from Jan 2008 - June 2014 are included in the following table. YEAR NUMBER OF INCREMENTS VALUE OF INCREMENTS 2008 761 679,396 2009 739 608,755 2010...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Rehiring (8 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Details are set out in the following table of retired officials who are currently contracted to my Department: Grade Position Held Duration Approx cost of contract Counsellor Passport Appeals Officer Three-year contract from 4 April 2014 €212 per day Assistant Secretary To assist in the preparation of files for the National Archives Contract for a maximum of 10 weeks spread over...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (3 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: No records of visas or stamps in passports (whether they be temporary or not) are made before they are destroyed.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (3 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Following previous contact by the Department with the applicant, I wrote to the Deputy on 30 June to explain that the submitted application could not be finalised and that the applicant had been requested to provide documentary proof in respect of his identity and entitlement to citizenship. I can confirm that additional documents have now been received by the Department, the application...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (3 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Details of the sick leave taken by staff of my Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 are set out in the following table. Details of long-term sick leave absences are included from 2012 (the first year such statistics were compiled). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Year Uncertified sick leave Certified sick leave Certified long-term sick leave Total number of sick...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (3 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: My Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and particularly where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagements, these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (3 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am fully committed to the central role of our longstanding policy of neutrality in Irish foreign policy. This policy, which involves non-participation in military alliances, allows us to speak with an impartial voice in our efforts to promote global peace and security. Alongside our commitment to conflict prevention and resolution, it complements our other policy priorities, which include...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the signature of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area on the margins of the European Council last Friday. I am convinced that the Agreement will give an impetus for political and economic reforms, bringing about modernisation, strengthening of the rule of law and economic growth. Against...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The principles and values of the Good Friday Agreement and the subsequent St. Andrew’s Agreement are essential to peace and reconciliation in Ireland and across these islands. Their key elements include devolution based on power-sharing; agreement on sovereignty; human rights; parity of esteem; and support for the rule of law. These principles have rightly been at the centre of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Large sporting events such as the World Cup have enormous potential to benefit widely the societies in which they take place and this has increasingly become a consideration for host countries, as the positive experience of the 2012 London Olympics has shown. The Brazilian Government’s projections are that the 2014 World Cup will increase the country’s GDP by almost 10 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Progress in implementing the Good Friday Agreement has benefited all of the people of this island. However, there is still work to be done regarding some outstanding elements of the Agreements.Since the restoration of the devolved Institutions on 8 May 2007, the question of an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and, in particular,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Permission for US military aircraft to land at Shannon Airport is subject to the condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operation. These conditions continue to apply. Furthermore, under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Egyptian Conflict (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In my address to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade last week I condemned the severe sentences imposed by a court in Cairo on 23 June on a number of Al Jazeera journalists for essentially doing no more than their job. I share the widespread international concern over this verdict, which amounts to the criminalisation of the legitimate activities of a free press. This verdict...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I visited Washington D.C. over the period 17-19 June for various meetings in relation to U.S. immigration reform, which remains a key Government priority. My programme included separate discussions with Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Congressman Paul Ryan, Senator Pat Leahy, members of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Group, House Judiciary Committee Member Congressman Mark Amodei,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Iraqi Conflict (2 Jul 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to Question no. 9 concerning Iraq, which was as follows: “The dramatically deteriorating situation in Iraq is a matter of very serious concern, both for the Iraqi people and for the international community as a whole. The Al- Qaeda linked islamist militia known as ISIS, with allied Sunni groupings, have captured large parts of northern and western...