Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Business of Joint Committee
2:30 pm
Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
We will now commence the meeting.
Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I have to leave early as I have to attend a meeting of the committee on the Good Friday Agreement.
Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I will allow the Deputy to speak first if he wants to leave early. I have received apologies from two Members of the Seanad, Senators Jim Walsh and David Norris. The draft minutes of the meeting of 18 February have been circulated to members. Are the minutes of that meeting agreed? Agreed. Unless there are matters arising from these minutes, we will proceed with the main business of the meeting. I invite our witnesses to come before the meeting.
Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I will try to get this meeting over in less than two hours as I have an important group to meet at 4.30 p.m., so I ask members to confine themselves to questions rather than statements.
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
A one hour meeting would be fine.
Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Two hours is fine.
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Never mind two hours. There is a meeting of the committee dealing with the Good Friday Agreement at 3.15 p.m.
Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
We will try to get it done as quickly as possible.
Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I apologise for missing the beginning of the meeting. I was called out to try to start another meeting. I believe the minutes have been agreed in my absence. Is that correct?
Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Could I ask for an amendment to the minutes? I submitted a detailed document about the role of the Islamic community in organising in Irish villages, among other things, as part of its exercise in addressing the Syrian humanitarian crisis and other work it does as a charitable organisation. The minutes state that it is noted. This was an important project. It was comparable to the work that other religious groups like Trócaire, GOAL, and Christian Aid were doing, and this group should at least be afforded a meeting to explain its humanitarian work in these areas of crisis. Rather than having noted the document, can we follow it up with a request to hear from it about the work the Muslim community in Ireland is doing on behalf of those in distressed regions?
Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
We note that and will follow up on it.