Results 241-260 of 6,681 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (1 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: At the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg of 14 April, Ministers decided to expand the list of those to whom visa bans and asset freezes will apply, the so-called Phase 2 measures, and this is set out in the first paragraph of the Council Conclusions: A decision was subsequently taken to suspend implementation of the measures against these 15 additional individuals pending developments...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (1 May 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland most recently on Tuesday when we discussed the talks and in particular the need to find a way to deal better and more comprehensively with the legacy of the past. I am firmly of the view that Northern Ireland urgently requires a new way forward on dealing with the past that can command public confidence. We agreed also that the early...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Military Vessels (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Visits from foreign naval vessels are a long-standing and common practice in Ireland and worldwide. Foreign naval vessels are granted permission to visit Irish ports on condition that they meet the necessary policy stipulations, which require that the vessels are not carrying nuclear weapons and are not engaged in a naval exercise. The vessel in question, which was in Ireland as part of a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: UNAMID, the African Union-UN Hybrid operation in Darfur, was established on 31 July 2007 through the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769. The core mandate of UNAMID is the protection of civilians and is also responsible for contributing to security for humanitarian assistance, monitoring and verifying implementation of agreements, assisting an inclusive political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In keeping with Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, we engage on human rights issues on an on-going basis in our contacts with the Colombian Government and civil society. When I met with Colombia’s President last year, human rights issues featured prominently in our discussion. Ireland’s concerns are also raised regularly with Colombian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Fees (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that a refund cheque has issued to the person in question.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of this case in which an Indian national, Mr. Ezhur Gangadharan, caretaker at a school in Abu Dhabi for over 30 years, was sentenced to death last July for the rape of a 7 year-old female student at the school. Serious questions have been raised in relation to this case, including Mr. Gangadharan’s claim that his confession, the only evidence produced by the prosecution at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The precise arrangements for elections, as well as a decision to hold any referendum, are a matter for the government and parliament of Ukraine. I am aware that the acting President of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchinov, has spoken earlier this month of a possible nation-wide referendum on the same day as the presidential elections on 25 May if the Ukrainian parliament adopted the corresponding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: As highlighted in my response to Question No. 63 of 8 April 2014, Ireland is actively engaged at both European Union and United Nations level in relation to the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region. The Government, along with our partners at the EU and UN, condemns all forms of external support to destabilising forces active in the Democratic Republic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Application Fees (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I can confirm that applications for passport renewal are currently taking on average 8 working days from receipt in the Passport Service. Applications from first time applicants are currently take 10/11 working days. The attraction and popularity of the Passport Express service is reflected on the fact that to date 141,000 Irish citizens have applied through Passport Express representing an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Telecommunications Infrastructure (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of reports of US funding in the past for a social media project in Cuba known as ZunZuneo. I have asked officials of my Department to keep me informed on this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Currently the Passport Offices receive and process over 200 passport applications per day to assist those travelling at short notice (3-10 days).In addition, the Passport Service last week launched a pilot Rapid Renewal service which will allow one-day passport renewals – by appointment only – for citizens who have a last-minute passport issue. A total of twenty appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Certificate of Irish Heritage (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Since the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced in September 2011, 2,760 Certificates have been issued. This is broken down as 2,492 Certificates sold and 268 promotional Certificates presented to various individuals during this time.With the vast majority of the global diaspora not eligible for Irish citizenship, the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced to recognise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Currency Exchange (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of difficulties in transferring funds from Venezuela internationally because of a serious shortage there of foreign exchange for either private or business purposes. This is, I am advised, creating difficulties for some Venezuelans living in Ireland and elsewhere abroad as they have been unable to receive funds from Venezuela. At my request, officials of my Department have brought...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passports Data (30 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The standards body for passport issuance, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, recommend that the maximum validity for passports should be ten years. As a result, it is necessary to commence the validity of new passports from the date of renewal rather than a future expiry date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I strongly support the Colombian peace process and hope that the negotiations underway will bring an end to a long conflict which has caused much suffering. I welcome the progress that has been made to date in the peace negotiations. Two areas on the agenda are now subject to provisional agreements: political participation and agarian reform. Indications are that progress is being made in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together. The Passports Act 2008 provides the basis on which the name should appear on a passport. In general terms the name in which a passport may issue shall be in the name of the applicant as it appears in the relevant certificate of birth. The Passports Act makes further provision to have a change in surname on the passport after getting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Oireachtas members with urgent passport queries on behalf of constituents are advised to use a dedicated email address. In order to maximise resources and to allow queries to be dealt with in a prompt and timely manner Oireachtas members are requested to complete a short form when submitting these enquiries. This email address and form has been circulated to members a number of times in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Ireland’s three-year membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council, from 2013 - 2015, presents an opportunity to make an enhanced contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights. Ireland is committed to defending the universality of human rights, and one of our key priorities is the promotion and protection of space for civil society to operate, free from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Apr 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 44 and 52 together. I believe that the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements provide the essential framework for the achievement of reconciliation and mutual trust in Northern Ireland and in the totality of relations between these islands. In my ongoing contacts with the British government, and with the Northern Ireland Executive, I continue to...