Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 3 September 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade

Business of Joint Committee

2:30 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Minutes of the meetings of 9 and 16 July have been circulated to the members. Are the minutes of 9 July agreed? Agreed. Are the minutes of 16 July agreed?

Photo of Eric ByrneEric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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There are many items in the correspondence that I would like to refer to, but as we have an important meeting ahead, could we do it afterwards?

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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All the correspondence will be dealt with after both sessions. Is what Senator Walsh wants to raise related to correspondence?

Photo of Jim WalshJim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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No. It is related to the motion we passed unanimously at the last meeting about getting the United Nations to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with regard to freedom of religion and the death penalty, and getting other countries to adopt it. Could we move on that in some way? We have passed the motion so it is now the view or policy of the committee. Could we follow up with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in order to find out specifically whether this accords with its thinking, which I am sure it does, and to find out what it is doing at UN and EU levels to advance both of these fundamental issues?

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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We will follow that up with the Department. That is no problem. Are the minutes agreed?

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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We were to get a reply from the Department on the issue I raised about the mobile phones and contact for Oireachtas Members. Did we get that response?

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I have not seen one but will follow up on that for the Senator. Are the minutes for 16 July agreed? Agreed.