Results 1,881-1,900 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy did not read what I said.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy is bluffing again.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy's latter point is well made. The Minister has asked his European colleagues to follow our example and appoint to the region, at national level, their own special envoys. I am delighted to note that the UN has followed our example in appointing Bill Clinton as a special envoy. At EU level the Commission has given a commitment that it will monitor the efficacy of what is donated,...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: They are to be responded to later.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: I would like to answer that question which I hoped to answer earlier.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: The simple answer to the Deputy's earlier question is that there will not be a provision in the Estimates for the topping up or replenishment of the moneys which will be expended from the emergency fund. By definition that fund is an emergency fund. There will be no effort to replenish it until it is exhausted, but if we find ourselves in a situation in the middle to the end of the year...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: I must correct that in case the Deputy creates the wrong impression in the House.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: The Government has made a clear pledge that the emergency fund is designed to be used for precisely this kind of emergency. It is impossible to predict whether emergencies will occur but the Government commitment is clear. If there is a difficulty towards the middle or end of this year in regard to other unforeseen disasters, whether they be famine, flood, fire or whatever, we will replenish...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: That is a very pertinent question and it arose at the meeting of Foreign Ministers attended by the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and me in Brussels. The issue of enhancing the EU's civil logistics response capability is actively under consideration. It is being pursued as we speak at European level. In effect, we are trying to ramp up our capability and ensure that Europe can respond in a...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: I hate to be hard on this, but the Deputy has stated virtually nothing with which I could agree. I admire his ability to agree with the British Government for a change. It is marvellous to see, and perhaps we will see more of the same in coming weeks and months on other issues. He may see things as it does regarding criminality too. It is astounding to hear someone describe the Irish...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy, in his desire to be negative and oppositional in this House, may be on his own. Virtually every other party in the Seanad and in this House has acknowledged that the Irish response, at Government and non-governmental level, has been extraordinarily generous. For the Deputy's benefit, I would like to quote someone who is very highly regarded in the development community worldwide,...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: I have no intention of adding further to my answer other to say that the Deputy's contribution is miserly in the extreme and in sharp contrast to the attitude adopted by the responsible Opposition parties, namely, Fine Gael and Labour. It is cheap beyond belief but somehow does not surprise me.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: All our lives have been touched in recent weeks by the events in the Indian Ocean region of Asia. We have witnessed the awesome destructive power of nature, the ensuing enormous loss of life and the heartbreak for families and friends of victims. We have also seen the best of human nature demonstrated in the global response to the disaster. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs,...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: As I have said in response to previous questions asked about the commitment to an ODA budget of 0.7% of GDP in the Houses of the Oireachtas, we have not retreated from it but rather we hope to achieve it. Moreover, we hope that before the White Paper process — which will be announced shortly in newspaper advertisements — is exhausted and we travel to New York in September for the high...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: I do not intend to get into the definition of Irishness because all the allocations from Development Co-operation Ireland are open to all NGOs, whether they are international or Irish. There is no restriction on any NGO or organisation applying for funding from the Irish sources.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: May I briefly answer the other question about the Supplementary Estimates?

Overseas Development Aid. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: I welcome this opportunity to confirm to the House the decision to produce a White Paper on Ireland's official development co-operation programme. The Deputy will be aware of the increases in funding for official development assistance with €545 million being allocated this year, an increase of €70 million over 2004. In addition, further increases of €65 million have already been agreed...

Overseas Development Aid. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: I disagree with every sentiment expressed by the Deputy. However, it is hardly surprising since the Deputy did not open his ears before giving his monologue.

Overseas Development Aid. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: If Deputy Ó Snodaigh was listening, I indicated earlier that the consultation process is not about the 0.7% target. He has conflated two distinct issues. The White Paper process to which his question formally relates, but his subsequent verbal content did not, is simple. It is designed to raise public awareness of the programme. It is also designed to get greater public expressions of...

Overseas Development Aid. (2 Feb 2005)

Conor Lenihan: A timetable will be put in place in advance for the Millennium Project Summit.