John Gormley

350. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he will be attending the hearings of the European Parliament’s temporary committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[36214/06]

(more…)

135. Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) who has a European health insurance card can be given kidney dialysis treatment here if they come home here for a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25191/06]
   Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney): Regulation (EC) 1408/71 provides for the coordination of social security systems, including healthcare, among EU member states.  Under the Regulation, those who are insured with or covered by the healthcare system of one member state but who are residing or staying in another member state receive healthcare in the state of residence or stay on behalf of the member state with which they are insured or covered.  The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides evidence of this entitlement. (more…)

540. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the opinion of the European Parliament Petitions Committee on petition number 517/2004 regarding obstacles for non-Irish EU citizens attempting to register to vote in the European elections here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17939/06]
   Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): I assume that the Question refers to an EU petition which my Department has received  relating to potential costs associated with completion of a statutory declaration in respect of the first time registration of EU citizens who wish to vote in European Parliament elections in Ireland.  I intend to address the matter in the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006, on which work is proceeding, by widening the categories of person who may witness the relevant statutory declaration.  The European Commission was notified of this on 21 December 2005.

Tuesday mornings are always busy with Planning and Parliamentary Party meetings. This afternoon I had a priority question for Willie O’Dea regarding the Easter commemoration. According to Willie, the event cost the taxpayer 320,000 euro and was good value for money. He made it clear it would become an annual event, as I had expected. I had to leave when oral questions came up as I had an on-site meeting regarding Ringsend park.

It’s Europe day. We agreed at the PP to join the European Movement. We have always been a pro-European party, but that point is often lost when we criticise the direction in which the EU is heading.

Good news too from Tommy Simpson, who was elected to the committee of the European Greens on the weekend in Helsinki. This is the first time we have had someone on the committee. The German Greens had promised their votes and delivered. Great credit is due to their co-leader Reinhard Bütikofer, with whom I met in Berlin in January. I told Reinhard about our disappointment with the behaviour of some European Greens at the Dublin conference last year. It took place before the referendums in France and Holland. The results shocked a lot of European Greens and there has been a noticeable change of attitude since then. They’re listening to those Greens who have concerns. The French Greens are split down the middle and there’s a terrible legacy of bitterness following the referendum defeat.

Local Dublin South East Greens meeting tonight, followed by meeting of Sandymount residents.

The Green Party has declared it is to join the European Movement to mark Europe Day. Green Party Chairman and Foreign Affairs spokesperson John Gormley TD said that by doing so, the Party hoped it could bring some influence in the important debate on the future of Europe.

“Europe Day gives us all the opportunity to reflect on the great successes of the European Union and to ask fundamental questions about the future direction of the project,” he said. (more…)

126. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the Environment Council of 24 June 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22369/05] (more…)

53. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason Ireland has not signed the three major human rights conventions (details supplied) opened for signature by the Council of Europe at its Warsaw summit in May 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21610/05]
 
   Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): The signature by Ireland of the three conventions, namely: (i) the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism [CETS 196] (ii) the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings [CETS 197] and (iii) the Council of Europe Convention on the Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism [CETS 198] is currently at an early stage of consideration in my Department.  The three conventions were only opened for signature on 16 May 2005.  A decision on whether Ireland should sign the conventions will be taken following the completion of the process of consideration.

Mr. Gormley: The conclusions of the Brussels summit were simply a recognition of the reality that the ratification process had to be stalled in light of the French and Dutch rejections of the constitutional treaty.  I welcome the thoughtful and measured contribution of Deputy Quinn.  He too recognises that we cannot go on as we are.  In a statement that was not picked up to any great extent by the media, the Taoiseach remarked before he went to Brussels that the French and Dutch would have to state their position in the same way as he stated his position in Gothenburg after the initial Irish rejection of the Nice treaty.  It was in Gothenburg that the Taoiseach announced that Ireland would hold a second referendum on that treaty. (more…)

12. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland is eligible to join the EU Constitution’s new permanent structured co-operation in view of the fact that the States involved must have military capabilities which fulfil high criteria and have made binding commitments to one another in the military area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17555/05] (more…)

73. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance his views on the European Commission’s plans to cap the British budgetary rebate in 2007 and reduce it thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18340/05] (more…)