GILMORE PLEDGES IRELAND’S “FULL SUPPORT” FOR PALESTINE’S UN BID

Palestine’s bid for membership of the United Nations is “entirely legitimate and understandable”, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore told the UN General Assembly in New York. 

Mr Gilmore said Palestine had “the same right to membership of the United Nations as Ireland, or any other Member of the organization”, a remark that prompted applause from sections of the chamber. He promised Ireland’s “full support” in any vote on a proposal to admit Palestine as a member, or as an interim step, to give Palestine non-member observer status.

Mr Gilmore also held separate meetings yesterday with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki. The UN Security Council has begun consultations on the application by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. But the United States has threatened to veto the bid, even if Palestinians get the support of the required nine of the 15 members.

In his address to the Assembly, Mr Gilmore said that membership of the UN would not change the situation on the ground, or remove “the compelling need for negotiations”. But he said recognition of Palestinian statehood would “give dignity and support to the Palestinian people who have suffered for far too long”.

He called on Israel to halt all settlement expansion, and to end the blockade of Gaza by opening up land crossings to normal commercial, human and humanitarian crossings.

Elsewhere in his speech, Mr Gilmore praised the Arab Spring uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East as inspiring and historic. “We must ensure that the democratic changes underway are consolidated,” he said, “And that the promise of profound improvements in human rights in the countries concerned, particularly in relation to the role of women, is fully realized.”

He pledged Ireland’s support for the National Transition Council in Libya. But he expressed concern about the situation in Syria and warned President Assad that “no leader who refuses to listen to what his people are saying…can expect to remain in power.”

Mr Gilmore outlined Ireland’s determination to fighting world hunger, and said the government remained committed to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of GNP in Official Development Assistance. He said the international community had a moral obligation to act in the face of suffering in the Horn of Africa.

The Tanaiste also defended the United Nations itself, in the face of criticism from some countries. He said no other organization had the same global impact and legitimacy. “Ireland is deeply committed to the United Nations,” he said, “The UN is the embodiment of freedom and equality. It is a bulwark defending these core human values in a changing and uncertain world.” He said Ireland was strongly supportive of the UN’s role in peacekeeping and conflict resolution, pointing out that a 440-strong battalion from the Irish Defence Forces had recently returned to Lebanon.

GILMORE PRESENTS FIRST CERTIFICATE OF IRISH HERITAGE IN NEW YORK

The first ever Certificate of Irish Heritage has been awarded posthumously to an Irish American firefighter who died on Nine Eleven at a ceremony in New York.

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore presented the certificate to Mrs Bridget Hunter, mother of Joe Hunter, at fire house in Maspeth, Queens where he worked.

“It’s definitely going to hang! Are you kidding me?!” said Mrs Hunter, when asked what she would be doing with the framed certificate. “It’s going to be right in front of everybody when they walk into my house.”

Mrs Hunter emigrated from Recess, Co Galway in 1958. Her son Joe was last seen walking into the south Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11^th, 2001 to help people escape.

The story of Joe Hunter first came to public attention, when it was featured in an RTE Radio documentary “Still Waiting for Joe” broadcast at the end of August. The Department of Foreign Affairs approached the family to see if they would like to receive the honour of getting the first certificate.

“(Joe) ended up losing his life in the Twin Towers, attempting to save the lives of others, and attempting to ease the suffering that was taking place on that occasion,” said Mr Gilmore. “I don’t think there is anybody more fitting to get the first Certificate of Irish Heritage than somebody who made such a sacrifice.”

He said Ireland was proud of the sacrifice made by all Irish-American firefighters on that day. Monday night’s presentation was attended by the Chief of the Fire Department of New York Ed Kilduff, who said it was “an extraordinary honour” to have one of its own singled out to receive the first certificate. He said photographs from the event will be distributed to the large contingent of Irish Americans in the Fire Department, to show that “the Irish government, by coming here to this location, is really expressing their appreciation to all firefighters”.

The event was also attended by FDNY chaplain Chris Keenan, Ireland’s ambassador to the US Michael Collins, Irish Consul-General in New York Noel Kilkenny and members of the Hunter family.

Joe Hunter was a quiet and reserved guy, according to his brother Sean. “He actually would have been embarrassed by all this attention, but he would be really honored too” he said. Joe’s sister Teresa said her late brother was fiercely proud of his Irish heritage. “He had an Irish shamrock on his racing helmet, he had an Irish shamrock on his car, he had an Irish shamrock everywhere. So this is a tremendous honor,” she said. “We have such a large family here. My mom is one of 14, and we have about 50 first cousins, who are scattered all over here. Not just for our family, but also our friends, this is overwhelming. It’s hard to put into words, being the first of something that’s going to be now carried on for years to come in Ireland, America and the whole world.”

The framed certificate contains a quote from the Irish constitution which says “The Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage.” The inscription is on a colour background featuring Edwin Hayes’ 1953 painting of “An Emigrant Ship, Dublin Bay, Sunset”, one of three designs applicants for the new certificates will be able to choose from. The scheme to provide Certificates to Irish diaspora around the world will be formally launched next month at Dublin Castle during the upcoming Global Irish Economic Forum. It’s expected that former US President Bill Clinton will be presented with the second Certificate of Irish Heritage at that event.

The idea for the certificates originated more than two years ago and received support at the last Forum in Farmleigh in 2009. FEXCO, a company based in Killorglin, Co Kerry has been awarded the contract to manage applications and issue certificates. A website, www.heritagecertificate.ie, will go live at the end of this month, with applications being accepted after its formal launch in October. Each cert will cost €40 and applications are open only to people who were not born on the island of Ireland. Those who wish to obtain one will be asked to provide documentary evidence connecting them to a specific Irish ancestor.

Documents including birth certs, death certs, marriage certs, land records, ship manifestos, census records or other immigration documents will be acceptable. The requirements may develop over time, if necessary, to include the option of swearing a legal affidavit proving Irish heritage, where no records exist due to the passage of time.

Mr Gilmore said the document will have no legal, political, economic or commercial benefit, but was about officially recognizing someone’s connection to Ireland. “One of the things that we have been hearing from people of Irish descent is that they want to have some formal acknowledgment of their Irish heritage, something to hang on the wall that says officially that they are Irish,” he said.

At current estimates, over 70 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry.  Mr Gilmore said there was no way of knowing what demand will be like for the certificates once they are launched, but suspects that it’s an idea that will grow over time. The certificates will be actively promoted through embassies and consulates, and through Irish-American organisations in the US.

Voting rights for Irish overseas to be examined

The issue of voting rights for Irish people living overseas will be addressed as part of the constitutional convention agreed in the Program for Government. Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore confirmed during his visit to New York last week that the matter will be looked at in detail during the review of the constitution over the next few years.

He said it would be “quite a departure” if Ireland moves away from the current link between the right to vote and residence. “One of the considerations that needs to be factored into the Irish situation is that the size of the Irish diaspora is very large,” he said. He said the spectrum of Irish passport holders ranged from those who had recently left and were possibly still on the electoral register at home, to those who left many years ago. There were also significant numbers who acquired Irish citizenship through their parentage.

“The idea is that the constitutional convention will be able to engage with it and discuss it,” he said “And I expect that immigrants and organizations will participate in that.” He said it was time for Ireland to take a fresh look at what kind of constitution is appropriate for the 21^st Century. “The constitution we have, has served us very well since 1937, but it was a product of its time, and it’s been amended many times. There are a lot of proposals outstanding for amending it. And our thinking is that we need to take a fresh look at our constitutional arrangements, and look at the kind of constitution that is appropriate now for the Ireland of the 21^st Century.

“Bearing in mind that the 1937 constitution has been with us for three quarters of a century now and we need a new constitution with that kind of enduring lifetime, and part of the remit of that constitutional convention will be to look at the issue of voting rights.” He said the constitutional convention would not be simply a political forum.

“The idea is to have something that is wider than just involves political parties. Our idea was that this would be a citizens’ exercise or forum, where people individually and people who are organized, and that includes political parties, will make their contribution to that. But it won’t be an exercise confined to political parties.” 

He said the government intends to proceed “reasonably quickly” with establishing the convention, with the aim of having a new constitution before the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Gilmore pledges to pursue E3 visa for Ireland

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore raised the prospect of a bilateral visa arrangement between Ireland and the US during a meeting with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in Washington on Friday. Mr Gilmore, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in the new Irish government, has pledged to pursue the option of an E3 visa for Ireland.

Australia is currently the only country with the specialty work visa in place, but Irish-American immigration reform lobbyists are seeking to have it extended to Ireland. They made their case to Minister Gilmore during a meeting in New York last week. The Labour Party leader acknowledged that comprehensive immigration reform in the US is “on the back-burner” for now, but said he intended to deal with other issues affecting

“First of all the people who have been here for quite some time, many of whom would qualify for a visa but are not able to access that because they have to go back home, and are not sure if they get back in. That has to be addressed,” he he told me at  meeting in the Irish consulate on Wednesday last. “Secondly, there is the issue of pursuing the idea of the E3 visa. That’s something that we intend to do and we will work with the Irish American organizations in progressing that.”

Mr Gilmore’s visit to New York included meetings with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor Andrew Cuomo and City Council speaker Christine Quinn.  Mr Gilmore reviewed the St Patrick’s Day parade, and attended an event organized by Enterprise Ireland in which Irish high-tech companies met with leading IT companies in the US. He also addressed a meeting of the Ireland-US Council, and held talks with leading Irish-American business networks and figures.

He was keen to reassure US investors that Ireland’s corporate tax rate would remain unchanged at 12.5%. “I want to be absolutely clear on this,” he said, “The Irish government is determined to retain our 12.5% corporate tax rate. Certainty about our corporate tax rate is very important to business, companies that are considering investing in Ireland and the new government is determined that we will retain that.

He said he had not been surprised that the issue had been raised by France and Germany at recent EU talks, but said President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel were simply “responding to their own domestic political environment”. He said he was confident Ireland could withstand the strong Franco-German pressure on the issue, despite its desire to achieve a better deal on the EU/IMF bailout.

“I think it’s important we don’t see the renegotiation as an exercise in conflict between ourselves and other member states. The renegotiation of the package is about ensuring that it works, that the Irish economy is enabled to recover. That’s obviously good for Ireland, but it’s also good for the rest of the European Union and Eurozone in particular.” Mr Gilmore said it was “an exercise in working together” in the Eurozone’s collective interest and not one that necessitated confrontation.

On the issue of a consolidated tax base being proposed by the European Commission, Mr Gilmore said the proposals were up for discussion but it was “very early days”. The idea of a consolidated tax base is being resisted by Ireland, amid fears that it would lead to a change to our corporation tax through the back door.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland has backed the Irish government’s opposition to the consolidated tax base proposed by Brussels. There are almost 100,000 people employed in Ireland today directly by over 600 US firms, and they are worth around €3bn to the Exchequer.