Results 1,621-1,640 of 10,843 for speaker:Matt Carthy
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: Okay. My understanding is that all 32 were granted. I just want to get clarification on that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: It is about the 32 dual-use applications under the Control of Exports Act 2023. There were 32 applications, which were all approved. Is Mr. Downes aware of whether there have been any applications so far in 2024 and whether any of them have been refused? It is a yes-no answer.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: I am talking specifically in terms of trade with Israel.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: Okay. Is Mr. Downes aware of any instances in 2023 or 2024 in which the Department of Foreign Affairs raised a concern in respect of a licence application?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: Mr. Downes said his Department seeks an opinion-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: -----from the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of such licences. In any instances, has the Department of Foreign Affairs raised a concern or issue with Mr. Downes in respect of it?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: I will ask a simple question: how many goods currently available for sale in Ireland are labelled as originating from Israeli settlements?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: Is it fair of me to say we are therefore working on the assumption that in the first instance the Israeli State is adhering to the law, and on the second assumption that those companies already engaged in illegal activities by operating within the illegal settlements are somehow then operating within the law when it comes to EU labelling rules?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: On that point, because I am just conscious that the Chair might cut me off at any stage-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: No, I am talking about Israel and the-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: We are talking about a pre-legislative Bill in respect of Irish funds being invested in companies that profit from illegal settlements. Mr. Downes can take it as a given, unless it is stated otherwise, that we are referring to the trading relationship with Israel.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: Okay. I will be very quick because I am aware there are other members. Mr. Downes mentioned in an earlier remark that the Taoiseach, along with the Spanish Prime Minister, has requested that the Commission undertake an urgent review of the Israel association agreement in terms of the human rights clause. Has Mr. Downes's Department carried out a trade analysis of what will happen and how...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: Would that not be a prudent thing to do?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: In this instance, the Irish Government has sought a review of the association agreement but the Department has not carried out any contingency planning for how that outworking might go. Is it fair to say that it is not Mr. Downes's expectation that the association agreement will be suspended any time soon? Otherwise, the Department would, in fact, have carried out contingency planning for...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: I have just one more question.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: If the trade is suspended, that will have implications for Irish companies - "Yes" or "No".
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: Did the Department carry out contingency planning for the implications of a hard Brexit, for example?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: Even though that was never the most likely scenario. Is that not correct? The most likely scenario was always that there would be a trading relationship beyond WTO rules. My point is that the Irish Government, with one other government, has requested a review of an association agreement currently in place. There will be implications for the Irish economy, for Irish companies and FDI...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: We do not know for sure because we have not carried out any contingency planning. I have one last question. I am conscious of the time.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)
Matt Carthy: I am coming to it now and I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence. I put on the record my commendation of the flexibility shown by the Chair today, and my appreciation of other members for their patience. Mr. Downes knows this is part of pre-legislative scrutiny in respect of the illegal Israeli settlements divestment Bill. There is no need for this pre-legislative scrutiny....