Results 1,001-1,020 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I have not received any apologies but I understand that Senator Craughwell will not be able to be with us for the entire meeting. I can call him early if it helps. Joining us today from Amnesty International Ireland are Mr. Colm O'Gorman, executive director and a former Member of these Houses; and Mr. Tim Hanley, campaigns officer. Joining us remotely from South Africa is Mr. Saleh...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank the Senator and note the apology.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. O'Gorman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Brady. For the benefit of Mr. O'Gorman and our other guests, I propose to take contributions from a number of members and then go back to our panellists for further observations and replies to specific questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I ask the Deputy to group his questions because I am anxious to bring in colleagues who have joined us especially for this debate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy should ask a number of questions and then I will come to Senator Joe O'Reilly. I ask Mr. O'Gorman to ensure the issues raised by the Deputy are responded to by him or his fellow panellists.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: Having regard to the fact we have heard from three members of the committee who have asked a considerable number of questions and forwarded a diversity of observations, I propose to go back to Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. Hanley and Mr. Higazi for their responses. Then I will resume with Deputy Clarke.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I remind members this is not about the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: What the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said and what he does on this issue is on the record. It is a matter of fact. I would not like this meeting to be turned into an attack on the Minister for Foreign Affairs in any way. We expect him to be here at this committee within a few weeks and, as is always the case, I will be inviting Deputy Brady and others to make commentary in his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. O'Gorman for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. Higazi. Would Mr. O'Gorman like to comment further on some of the issues raised by Deputy Brady?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: Would Mr. Higazi like to come in at this stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I remind Mr. O'Gorman that last year this committee, following extensive engagement and hearings over a number of weeks, produced a detailed report wherein we fully accepted that there were very serious breaches of international law. We called for an end to the unacceptable practices of forced and continuing demolitions and evictions. In terms of the next steps in the report published by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Boyd Barrett is not a member of the committee, but he is very welcome. I also welcome Senator Black.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett and call Senator Frances Black who is not a member of this committee but is very welcome for this discussion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I remind Mr. O'Gorman and Mr. Higazi, in particular, to whom the question was addressed, about the piece of legislation referred to. I do not believe it is as simplistic as suggested by Senator Black. It is a light piece of legislation. The House will have an opportunity to discuss it. It is not just an issue of political will. There are some legal issues attached. However, I do not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you. I am conscious of the time but Deputy Clarke is looking to ask a question. We have other business.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Israel's Apartheid against Palestinians: Amnesty International (22 Feb 2022)

Charles Flanagan: I think that rather concludes matters for the moment. As we have been informed, a Dáil debate will take place next week. There will be a Seanad debate which will take place at the earliest opportunity, I am sure. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is coming in on 9 March. I am sure there are issues that have been raised in respect of this report that will be raised with him on that...