Results 21-40 of 6,465 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the guests for being here. I observe two things at the outset, to respond to Mr. Cohen's statements. It is important to put on the record I abhor antisemitism and I regret very much if there are people from the Jewish community who have felt any increase to that in recent years. It is wrong and it should absolutely be the case the Jewish community feels welcome and a part of Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Thank you. Mr. Shatter has made the point regarding the balance between effect and symbolism and so on and he has also made the point on the scale of goods and so on. Is it fair to say-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The interplay of symbolism and effect of political actions. Is it not fair to say Ireland is a small country and many actions undertaken by an Irish Government in the international context could be categorised as limited in impact?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: This cannot be the only element of Ireland's approach to the Middle East, Israel and the occupied territories. Clearly, a great deal more is needed. As an international conference happens this week and next week, it is important the Irish Government plays a full role in it, however, as legislators we must also look to what we can do ourselves domestically. A similar charge relating to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Others have covered some of the ground I was going to cover. The objections to the Bill are on a number of bases. The first is whether it is economically wise, and how to balance that against the moral question. We will have further discussion of that. The second is whether it is possible under EU law. We have had fair discussion of that point. The third is whether the occupied...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I will direct my question to anyone else but will also add a supplementary point. Would Dr. Reynolds, Ms Crawley or Ms Al Tamimi have a view that were those actions to be replicated, the symbolism and economic impact on the settlements would be considerable? Would that happen if such a position were adopted by multiple European countries and others across the world?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on his position in relation to the EU-Israel association agreement. [38030/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Trade Agreements (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is very important. A related but not identical by any means sector is life sciences and orthopaedics. This is another sector in which Ireland has a very significant footprint and which, unlike pharmaceuticals, is already affected by the 10% in that area. I would ask whether that has had an impact as of yet. I will briefly flag two sectors which, because they involve items that are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Trade Agreements (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I will raise two more issues, the first of which I have raised in briefings with the Tánaiste's officials and, in fairness, they are well aware of the importance of it. From an Irish point of view, the potential for distortions between North and South is a very particular risk that we face. It is not in anyone's interest. We could have a seesaw-type effect that might favour one side...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): International Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I would nonetheless make the point that the rhetoric employed by her and her office at that early juncture gave political cover to the Israeli Government and the US to undermine the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, UNRWA, and put in place their own position. I welcome the fact we will be attending the emergency meeting because it is important to work with other...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Trade Agreements (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 5. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position regarding potential increased tariffs with regard to the US; and the preparations being made for same. [38025/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Trade Agreements (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Another week has brought another dramatic statement from President Trump. It is hard to interpret what will happen with his announcement of potential 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals. We can all guess and gauge how accurate it is. People who work in pharmaceutical companies, life sciences and all these sectors are concerned. The direction of travel is in a particular direction. It is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): International Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 3. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland will be represented at the emergency ministerial conference in defence of international law and the rights of the Palestinian people on 15 and 16 July 2025 in Bogotá. [38024/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): International Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: An emergency meeting next week in Bogotá has been called by the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of South Africa. It will be attended by a variety of countries concerned at the current situation and the breaches of human rights. They include Spain, Portugal, Uruguay and many others. It has been called in response to the escalating violations of international law in the occupied...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): International Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I welcome that. I thank the Department and the Tánaiste for ensuring that is the case. It is important. The approach required is to ensure Ireland is using its voice collaboratively with countries internationally and individually. The Tánaiste has articulated that in the past. There are far more actions domestically that we could take undoubtedly, and we have had many...