Committee on the Referendum on the Stability Treaty

Posted on April 03, 2012

Deputy Dominic Hannigan TD, HE Dr Tomas Kafka, Ambassador of the Czech Republic; HE Niels Pultz, Ambassador of Denmark; H.E. Mrs. Diana Zagorianou-Prifti, Ambassador of Greece; and H.E. Mr. Marcin Nawrot, Ambassador of Poland

Today sees the first of a series of meetings over the coming weeks of the newly formed Committee on the Referendum on the Stability Treaty. Over the past few weeks, the Committee on European Union Affairs began the debate with leading economists, academics and ambassadors. The new Committee will continue and expand on this work.

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European Stability Treaty referendum announced

Posted on February 28, 2012

This afternoon in the Dáil the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore announced there will be a referendum to ratify the European Stablity Treaty.

"We need a thriving and prosperous European economy that has moved beyond the present crisis," the Tánaiste said.

"That is the purpose of this Treaty. It is part of a package of measures being put in place in Europe, to stabilise the situation in the Eurozone. As I have said before, that is vital to our national interests."

You can see what the Tánaiste said in the accompanying video and you can read his statement in our press centre.

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'Ireland is the place in the EU to do business' - Gilmore

Posted on February 20, 2012

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said that the visit to Ireland by China's vice-President Jinping, the only European stop in the visit, signals that 'Ireland is the place in the EU with which to do business".

During the three day visit, which finishes today, a number of trade agreements were signed such as a memorandum of understanding on co-operation between the business sectors in both countries, and the establishment of a working group to facilitate future investment opportunities. The historical visit has also allowed Ireland to showcase the very best of its agriculture, sport and dance.

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Tánaiste opens Annual Asian Gaelic Games during trade mission to Japan and Korea

Posted on October 17, 2011

An Tánaiste opening the Annual Asian Gaelic games during trade mission to Japan and Korea

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore T.D., has ended his trade mission to Asia by officially opening the Asian Gaelic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

"It was a great honour to open the 16th Annual Asian Gaelic Games in Suwon City along with the President of the GAA Christy Cooney and to have the opportunity of meeting the players from across the region", the Tánaiste said.

The games, which are being hosted by the Seoul Gaels, will see almost sixty teams from the Arabian Gulf to Japan and from China to Indonesia, taking part in this weekend's events.

Earlier today the Tánaiste delivered the keynote address to the 5th Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum (APIBF).

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Gilmore backs bid for Palestinian statehood

Posted on September 30, 2011

Earlier this week An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore addressed the UN General Assembly. You can watch his speech in the accompanying video and you can read what he said in our media centre.

"Some would seek to argue that Palestine cannot be recognised as a State because its borders remain to be agreed. But if the borders of Palestine are still a matter for negotiation, then so, by definition, are those of Israel which is rightly a full member of the UN," - An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

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Gilmore backs bid for Palestinian statehood

Posted on September 26, 2011

Today An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore TD addressed the UN General Assembly where he said 'the decision of President Abbas to seek Palestine's membership of the United Nations is entirely legitimate and understandable. Palestine has the same right to membership of the United Nations as Ireland or any other Member of this Organisation'.

An Tánaiste also said: "Everybody knows what a final and comprehensive settlement would involve: two States, based on 1967 borders with mutually agreed swaps, living side by side in peace and security. It is more pressing than ever before to get direct negotiations underway which would address all the core issues and would culminate in such an agreement within a specified time-frame.

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Eamon Gilmore meets with Hilary Clinton in Tanzania to discuss global hunger

Posted on June 15, 2011

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD, co-hosted a High Level Forum on the fight against global hunger and malnutrition with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, on his recent four-day trip to Tanzania.

Speaking at the forum the Tánaiste said: "Ireland and the US have taken a leadership role on this critical development issue which is at the heart of our aid programme. Our work with the US will help ensure that children in some of the poorest countries in the world, including Tanzania, get the nutrition they need to survive, and to lead healthy and productive lives."

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Tánaiste welcomes the Queen

Posted on May 17, 2011

Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke Of Edinburgh pictured at Casemet Aerodrome, Baldonnel where they landed on the beginning of their historic State Visit to Ireland. They were welcomed by Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore

Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke Of Edinburgh pictured at Casemet Aerodrome, Baldonnel where they landed on the beginning of their historic State Visit to Ireland. They were welcomed by An Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore and the Queen was presented with flowers by Rachel Fox

EDIT: May 18thListen!The Labour Leader and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore speaking on RTE's Radio 1 News At One about the Royal Visit.

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Tánaiste announces Ireland to assist Misurata evacuation

Posted on April 21, 2011

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has announced today that Irish Aid is to fund the International Organisation for Migration to evacuate 1000 civilians from Misurata in Libya.

"Given the increasing number of causalities in Misurata and the thousands of lives that are in danger, we felt a responsibility to act," the Tánaiste said.

The Minister of State for Overseas Development and Trade, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan said Irish Aid is contributing €300,000 for the evacuation mission as well as €200,000 to support the evacuees once they reach Benghazu.

"The humanitarian situation is Libya is continuing to deteriorate, with thousands of people urgently needing assistance in camps along its borders, as well as within the country itself," Minister O'Sullivan said.

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Stage is set for productive meeting of the European Council, says Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore

Posted on March 22, 2011

In the Dáil earlier, the Labour Leader and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore addressed the House ahead of this week's crucial EU summit.

"We must see the Council meeting as part of a process which the Government is understaking and through which we are determined to restore this country's fortunes and get us back on our feet.

"In that context there is a responsibility on everybody to be supportive of that effort. I do not mean uncritical support but support in the sense that we must be confident about this country's future."

The Tánaiste added that where Members of the House or individual political parties have suggestions as to how best this could be done that the Government is open to addressing them

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