Results 30,201-30,220 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy may feel there is a tradition of Ministers coming into the House not answering his questions. He raised his voice and waved his pen at me. I asked him two questions. The first question I put related to the chain of events leading up to this. An elected Ukrainian Government said it wanted to develop a further, deeper and peaceful relationship with the European Union. What...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The EU talked to the Ukrainian Government, which was democratically elected as the Deputy well knows. The second question, which I put to him again, was whether the Deputy believes there is parity and equivalence between what the European Union has done, which has been peaceful and based on negotiation, and the actions of the Russian Federation.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very happy to come into the House to debate all the other points the Deputy made in regard to what happened in international law over the past ten years and his views and concerns in regard to that but the questions tabled relate to Ukraine. I visited parts of the Balkans in January and saw many of the difficulties still there and the current consequences of the bloodshed and pain that...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Does Deputy Wallace believe there is equivalence between how the European Union has conducted itself in regard to this and how the Russian Federation has behaved?

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: At least what we have attained, in what has been a debate here, is clarity on where the Deputy is coming from. While the Deputy has condemned what Russia has been doing, he also said that what the European Union has done recently is equivalent. The European Union is not the body which had troops in place when an illegal referendum was being held. It is not the body which has broken...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will conclude on this point.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: On the point made in regard to the expansion of the European Union into central and eastern Europe, that expansion has been continually affirmed by the peoples in those countries in election after election.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: States have the right to have their borders protected by international law and their people have the right to make decisions in accordance with domestic and international law. It is in Ireland's national interests that those international laws and values are upheld and articulated. We have argued, and the EU has recognised, that the response to what is already a historic mistake and crisis...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 8, 14 and 18 together. As we have previously stated, Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has given rise to the worst crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War. Ireland has strongly condemned Russian actions from the outset of the crisis. The referendum held in Crimea on 16 March was illegal and its...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: However, I so do in making clear to the Deputy the point the Government has made in respect of the claim of extraordinary rendition and the assurances and commitments it has received in return.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for the question. In respect of neutrality, as the Deputy would expect I am a strong supporter of Ireland's neutrality. In my current role, I can discern the huge benefit it brings to Ireland to allow the Government to conduct its foreign policy in line with the values I believe Irish people to have. On the Deputy's point regarding a referendum, there are no such plans...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland has strongly condemned Russian actions from the outset of this crisis. The annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol following the illegal referendum on 16 March is a flagrant violation of international law, including some of its most fundamental norms. For its part, the Ukrainian Government is to be commended on the measured response it has shown in the face of this provocation. There...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his question. An informal meeting of foreign affairs Ministers will take place tomorrow and on Saturday morning. The main subject for discussion tomorrow is Ukraine and the situation that is taking place in the region. Shortly thereafter, within the next two weeks, there will be a meeting of the foreign affairs Ministers of the European Union at the Foreign Affairs...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I can categorically assure him of the urgency and priority that is being given to the successful conclusion of these talks and negotiations. We are aware of the very difficult and dangerous backdrop to these discussions, to which the Deputy referred. We all know that since 2009 dissident and terrorist groups have now been responsible for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The key line in my earlier answer is that there is an expectation that all parties that are involved in this must and should deliver. It is crucial that momentum is maintained to deliver a prompt conclusion to these vital negotiations. I also want to acknowledge the role that all parties are playing in this and to articulate my regret that the UUP has withdrawn. I have already made clear...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, which has been pursued by successive Governments, is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. This policy has been underpinned by a set of complementary values which includes the protection of human rights, support for development and the promotion of disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his question. I want to respond to two of the main questions he has put to me. On the first one regarding the allegations and claims that Irish airports have been used in some way for extraordinary rendition, I want to emphasise again to the House that the Government has on several occasions made it very clear to the United States Government that it would be illegal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government welcomes that the political talks on parades, flags and identity issues and dealing with the past have resumed following a break over the St. Patrick’s Day period. As the Tánaiste has said previously in this House, it was disappointing that the party leaders had not made more progress in their discussions before St. Patrick’s Day, following the substantial...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I would like to welcome the re-launch of talks aimed at resolving the long-standing Cyprus question. I welcome in particular the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014 by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders which lays a solid foundation for the negotiations. I would urge those involved in the talks to engage fully in the process and to work in a spirit of good faith, under the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: On 27 March 2014, Ireland, as an elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), voted in favour of the resolution referred to by the Deputy, entitled "Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka". Of the 47 members of the Council, 23 voted in favour, 12 voted against and 12 abstained. The resolution was tabled by the United States, the United...