Results 28,701-28,720 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have answered that question already. I strongly believe the way in which we regulate these matters is consistent with our neutrality.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, I do. I do not believe “understanding” is a pejorative word to use in this regard and I understand exactly where the Senator is coming from. This is an important matter that should be examined openly. This committee has a role to play in this regard. I will do my best to be answerable to the Senators and others concerned regarding areas within my responsibility. I will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes. I am very much aware of the view that has been expressed and the investigation that has taken place into the claims. The information available to me is that the Council of Europe investigated various allegations in regard to secret prisons and extraordinary rendition. Regarding the 46 responses that were received in regard to this, Ireland's was one of nine deemed to be sufficiently...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The next step in the process is that if anybody has evidence that the grounds for assurance are ill-founded, it should be supplied to the Garda Síochána.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: We are talking about a country with which we have strong and positive relations. It gives us assurance and we are entitled to accept that as a consequence of the relationship we have with it. If somebody has reasonable evidence that the assurance is ill-founded, it should be supplied to the relevant body. I could not be stronger in my condemnation of rendition. I have already described it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, that is correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, they are. I will come back with an answer to the question asked of me earlier by the Senator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: If it is a civil aircraft, it is under my remit. If it is a military aircraft, it is not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: No, it does not. Perhaps I could state it differently. If it is a civil aircraft, it is my responsibility.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: If the cargo is on a civil aircraft.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am just trying to be clear in my response to the Senator’s question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not aware of it. If it is the case, I will revert to the Senator. I am not aware of such permission having been sought.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: There would be two reasons. My understanding is that in 2014 there were 19 refusals. Permission was refused on the basis of the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. If that refusal happened they were then required to reroute, so they were not allowed through Irish air space. Regarding the rationale as to why that would be the case, the stated policy of the Department of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I cannot give the Chairman an exact list of what that weaponry would be. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade defines policy in that area. If I can be of further help on that matter I will be, but it is a matter for which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has primary responsibility.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As regards the rationale for the refusals I discussed with Senator O'Keeffe, they were all refused on the basis of advice we received from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. As regards the nature of cargo aircraft, we would expect that the majority of them would be civil. I would have responsibility for them and my answers would apply thereto. I touched on the inspection...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: That would involve the nature of the suspected munitions that were on it and whether they are discriminate or indiscriminate. I have done my best to give the definition of what "indiscriminate" is. The Chairman has, fairly, asked for more on that. As I said, however, that definition is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy referred to the fact that we turned down 19 applications. I would see it slightly differently to him because the fact that 19 were turned down is evidence that we do take that responsibility seriously. We look at broad considerations in this respect. We have an input from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which is important in our deliberations. In addition, my own...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am by no means seeking to cut off the Deputy and will do my best to answer all of his questions, but I have an engagement at 5.30 p.m. I do not mean to be disrespectful to the committee.