Results 14,621-14,640 of 16,608 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Other Questions: Catalan Referendum (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his response, but we can look at the most recent referendum in Scotland when we did not include ourselves in the debate. We allowed the Scottish people and the referendum system decide. As I stated earlier in the House in reply to a parliamentary question, the Government's position is that the constitutional and political arrangements in any country of the European...

Other Questions: Catalan Referendum (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I wiill repeat myself on the question of Catalonia, that it is very much a matter for the member state and one to be determined by its own constitution and institutions. Again, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter. The Spanish people have recourse to their own democratic institutions in keeping with the rule of law and they can agree to the constitutional and...

Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 9, and 43 together. I acknowledge those across the House who work on a cross-party basis with the Government on this issue and the tireless efforts of Justice for the Forgotten. Dealing with long outstanding issues related to the legacies of the conflict in Northern Ireland is of the utmost importance to the Government. A Programme for a Partnership...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: Ireland very much urges the government of Myanmar to begin implementing all the recommendations contained in the final report of the advisory commission on the Rakhine State as soon as possible. We very much welcome the government's announcement on 12 September of the formation of the implementation committee to take this forward. When the time comes, it is critical that the refugees and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I strongly condemn all human rights violations and abuses against refugees and migrants, both in Libya and along the central Mediterranean route. I am aware of reports of appalling conditions currently faced by migrants in Libya. The security situation in Libya is fragile, and the government has only partial control of the territory, which limits the capacity of the international...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is correct that EU Foreign Ministers adopted Council conclusions in July, which urge the Libyan authorities to improve humanitarian access to and conditions in detention centres, as well as to look for alternatives to detention. People are making huge profits from smuggling and we need to this be brought under greater control. The EU has a number of initiatives which provide...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I am, unfortunately, unable to give the Deputy a breakdown but perhaps I will be able to get that for her. Given the particularly difficult situation in Libya, the monitoring and evaluation of programmes is very much subject to a number of other measures regarding good delivery and proper reporting. These include the fact that beyond the obligation of partner organisations to report...

Other Questions: Catalan Referendum (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Ireland enjoys a close relationship with Spain. These relations are deeper and more textured than simply involving periodic government-to-government relations or developing trade ties or occasional encounters at multilateral events. Our close friendship has at its heart an empathy which is nurtured by generations of contacts between our peoples...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Risk Assessment (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: What we all know and can acknowledge and recognise is that we do not know what will be the outcome of Brexit. Very shortly after the referendum last year, the Department of the Taoiseach convened essentially a Cabinet of Ministers and cross-departmental officials to discuss the possible implications, examine how we can mitigate the impact of Brexit, and what the challenges will be within...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Risk Assessment (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: With respect to the negotiations, Ireland will negotiate as part of one of 27, and that is very clear. The Deputy pointed to the energy sector. Energy is a core sectoral policy domain of the European Union. It is one of the key links between Ireland and the UK. To focus on Ireland's energy needs in this context, it poses particular challenges with Brexit on the horizon. We have set out...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine State, in particular the ongoing violence which has been taking place following the attacks which were undertaken by Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants on 25 August. The excessive response by the security forces in response to these attacks is deeply troubling. It is critical...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: It is important that we recognise the extremely complex challenges the Government of Myanmar faces and that it has taken a range of positive steps in pursuit of peace, in reconciliation, in democratic reforms and economic growth. Ireland absolutely supports the democratic transition which is currently under way in Myanmar following the elections in 2015. It is important we address the root...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: As stated by Deputy Cullinane, we do enjoy a high level of support from the task force, headed by Michel Barnier and Mr. Verhofstadt. We are very appreciative of the level of support that the task force and our partners have shown for Ireland's unique concerns. Mr. Barnier, following his meeting with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on 4 September reiterated that Ireland’s interests are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: This is a decision that has been made by the British people and a decision that we respect. That said, the Government would prefer if the UK remained within the European Union and that it would remain in the Single Market and the customs union. Following on our meeting earlier in this Chamber it is clear that the most positive outcome would be for Northern Ireland and the UK to have the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Risk Assessment (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, Deputy Coveney has responsibility for co-ordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit, including developing and advancing Ireland’s approach to the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The conclusion of a withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK is a key priority for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy O'Brien for raising this issue. The ambition set out by the Taoiseach to double Ireland’s global footprint by 2025 reflects the scale and the complexity of the challenges we face in the years ahead. These include Brexit related challenges but also those from growing protectionism internationally, the need to continue the fight for justice, peace, equality and for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: Thank you very much.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: Thank you.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is correct that Ireland currently has 80 diplomatic and consular offices. We have 961 diplomatic staff employed abroad and have relations with 178 different countries. When the Taoiseach speaks about doubling our footprint, that does not necessarily mean doubling the number of offices or doubling the budget. It is about ensuring that what we have currently is working and that we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has said, Ireland is a small, open economy. We need to promote our own interests proactively on the international stage, particularly in the context of Brexit. The Taoiseach has spoken very openly about the possibility of offices in New Zealand, Vancouver and Mumbai, to name but a few. We cannot get into the specifics at the moment because we do not yet know the locations for...