Results 30,301-30,320 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: European Union Affairs: Statements (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I have continued to do all I can to support the development of our relationship with member states and with the EU institutions. I believe we continue to make progress in many areas but I am aware of how much more needs to be done and developed. I am aware of the work we need to do to ensure that banking union comes about and in such a way as to enable our own banking system to develop in...

Seanad: European Union Affairs: Statements (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which will be a huge trade arrangement between the US and the EU, could create an extraordinary opportunity for a diverse range of companies in Ireland to perform even better in the US. It is incredibly important to us that such trading relationships should deepen in a rules-based environment. That is what the negotiations on the...

Seanad: European Union Affairs: Statements (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: It is a pleasure to be here. The purpose of this debate is to give the House an overview of the Government's policy towards the European Union and provide an opportunity for Senators to comment on developments in the European Union which may be of interest to them. I will provide an update on the thinking and priorities of the Greek Presidency and some of the changes that are afoot in...

Seanad: European Union Affairs: Statements (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I understood they had been circulated. If Senators have not received a copy, I apologise and will ensure they receive one immediately. As I stated, I was contacted 12 or 18 months by constituents asking how best they could protect their money and ensure their wealth would be preserved in the event of the eurozone breaking up. A number of prominent economists and commentators spoke about a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will begin with an issue I accidentally omitted in my first round of answers relating to the question of voting rights. The first point is that this is an area of national competence in terms of how it is organised and provided to the citizens of each country. I am aware of the report mentioned. I am also aware of the fact that the Constitutional Convention is doing work in this area and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Absolutely. On Senator's Noone's point about the perceived disconnect between European institutions and Irish people, I am well aware of that. However, I see some positive signs of where that is changing. I have been struck by a few small changes recently which when put together could have a cumulative effect. In recent weeks RTE in its coverage has given considerable recognition to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: They will get a text message.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The text message that comes through on the network on my mobile telephone makes reference to the European Union. All these changes with regard to the role of the European Union at consumer level, if nothing else, over time will have an effect on the way people perceive the role of the Union and the work it can do. On Deputy Halligan's point regarding my impressions of Bosnia-Herzegovina...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank members for their questions. The Chairman asked about Bosnia Herzegovina and whether there was fatigue regarding enlargement and a more prominent role for the EU in the Balkans. That is not the case. Consider the EU's strong role in the breakthrough in the Serbia-Kosovo relationship. The High Representative, Baroness Catherine Ashton, played a pivotal role in that regard. Serbia...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Chairman. It is always a pleasure to address the joint committee. I greatly appreciate the committee's decision to change the time of this meeting to facilitate my appearance here. I asked for the meeting to be rescheduled because I am travelling to Berlin tomorrow afternoon for a number of engagements. While I am in Berlin, I will have an opportunity to meet my new...

Censorship of Publications Board Repeal Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jan 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to make a statement on general principles in the area to underscore what the Minister said and to respond briefly to the points various Deputies have made this morning. I agree with Deputy Kelleher’s point that for the vast majority of purchases or engagements people have with art, the ones who should determine whether it is acceptable – be it music, film or books...

Censorship of Publications Board Repeal Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jan 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am certain that given the principles the Deputy outlined earlier about the ability of people to determine what they read, he will exercise that himself. I assure him that the literature is available in bookstores around the country. He does not need to wait for this process to be served out if he wishes to read it. In terms of how long it is since anything has been banned, I refer to...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Policing (23 Jan 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will leave the Deputy's comments on the potential city status of Tallaght for another Minister to address. While my knowledge of the area is limited compared to the Deputy's I am aware of the considerable growth it has experienced and of the strength of its community. In respect to the substantive issue, the Minister is firmly of the view that policing is a matter for the appropriate...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Policing (23 Jan 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister regrets that he is unable to be present due to other business. He does not consider it appropriate to comment on remarks made by a member of the Judiciary, apparently during the course of court proceedings. Law enforcement policy is a matter for the Executive. Accordingly, I will...

Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Conflicts (23 Jan 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising this hugely important matter. It is one in which I have a very strong interest because I had the opportunity to attend the partnership summit in Vilnius at which the agreement to which he Deputy referred did not materialise. A number of weeks afterwards I attended the OSCE ministerial Council in Kiev and saw at first hand the pressures in the country to which...

Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Conflicts (23 Jan 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: To respond directly to the point made on justice being applied selectively, the European Union, through the Foreign Affairs Council, has put a huge amount of effort into dealing with the issue. The Deputy may be aware that a number of mediators were appointed by the Union, including Mr. Pat Cox, who invested a huge amount of time in travelling to Ukraine to deal with figures in the political...

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: If the Deputy wishes to see some indication of this, I point to Ireland now being in a position where people are willing to lend to it at rates that would have been unthinkable 24 months ago.

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: This reflects the progress made in dealing with the issue. As for his particular question on whether the Taoiseach has read the books mentioned, I am afraid that is one question I cannot answer on his behalf. However, I have read some of them and I am aware of some of the views to which the Deputy has referred. On Deputy James Bannon's point on the focus on regulation, this was a main...