Results 1-20 of 4,850 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Trade Agreements (14 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am very grateful to Senator Higgins for raising this Commencement matter. I genuinely welcome the opportunity to clarify the concerns raised by the Senator about information provided to the House in the debate on Commencement matters on 3 September. At that time, the Senator asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to update the House on Ireland's position regarding the amendment...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Trade Agreements (14 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: It is fair to say that the handling of this matter fell below the standard we would expect across these Houses and within the Government. The late submission of documents by the European Commission so close to the 4 October deadline left member states in a difficult position. I wish to reiterate to the Senator that Ireland's long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support...

Seanad: Support for Ukraine: Motion (14 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I sincerely thank the proposer and seconder for tabling this motion and Senators for engaging constructively with the amendments. I join in the welcome to our dear friend the Ukrainian ambassador, Larysa, and our friends from Tiglin in Greystones and beyond in the Gallery. They are welcome, not just Leinster House, the people's house, but also to Ireland for however long they need to be...

Financial Resolutions 2025 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am due to be sharing time with other Deputies, who will no doubt be here imminently. We are splitting 25 minutes between four of us. On a serious note, before I commence this debate, I sincerely and personally commend the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who has left the Chamber. That sentiment was echoed by the Ceann Comhairle. Her closing line was an appeal to men of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (7 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 12 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to follow closely the consequences of the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and reductions in the amounts of Official Development Assistance (ODA) announced by some other donor countries. We are also monitoring developments in the US on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Access (7 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Two years of conflict have resulted in the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with nearly 12 million people forcibly displaced. Over 20 million people in Sudan face crisis levels of hunger, including famine in many parts of the country, in what is a preventable crisis. Since the outbreak of the war, Ireland has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I remain deeply concerned by the devastating situation in Sudan. More than two years of conflict have resulted in the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 150,000 people already dead and some 12 million people forcibly displaced. We are gravely concerned by reports that arms continue to reach parties to the conflict in Sudan despite existing UN and EU embargoes and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (2 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since January 2025, the renewed offensive by M23 militia in eastern DRC has seen thousands killed, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a significant worsening of the already dire humanitarian situation. Ireland has been providing humanitarian and development support to...

Situation in Gaza: Statements (1 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank all Deputies for their very sincere and heartfelt contributions to what is, once again, an extremely difficult debate that has taken place against the backdrop of a genocide and a famine unfolding on our television screens or on our mobile phones in our pockets. Let me be clear from the outset: there is no room for ambiguity. The war in Gaza must end. There must be an immediate...

Global Sumud Flotilla: Motion (30 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: I join with everyone in acknowledging the friends, family and supporters of those on the flotilla who join us in the Gallery. I thank them as representatives of their loved ones, but also for their own advocacy. In closing today’s session, I echo the sentiments expressed throughout the House in conveying my deep concern over reports of attacks on the flotilla and take this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (17 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: The effect of cutbacks in ODA by some major developed countries is already being felt. The immediate impact in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, can be seen in sectors such as global health, humanitarian response, and governance and human rights. When I attended the Financing for Development Conference in Seville in July, followed by the meeting of G20 Development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (8 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: Further to PQ 44118/25, I can confirm that I am continuing an extensive consultation process to inform the development of our next Diaspora Strategy, which will launch at the Global Irish Civic Forum in April 2026. This consultation exercise has involved meeting with diaspora organisations at home and abroad. In June, I hosted a roundtable discussion in Iveagh House to hear from my fellow...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (8 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade works to engage with our communities abroad and, in the past, has partnered with Fáilte Ireland to deliver the Global Irish Festival Series. This initiative encourages Irish people living abroad to return home to visit Ireland and provides funding and support, through local authorities, for events that tap into international diaspora...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (8 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: Our approach to our diaspora has always been, and will continue to be, focused on supporting the most vulnerable members of the global Irish community. The diaspora also play an important role in Ireland’s international engagement, as key partners in delivering on the government’s trade, tourism and investment objectives in priority markets. The new Government Action Plan on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (8 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to follow closely reports and announcements related to cuts to aid and development spending. Through Ireland’s Embassies and Missions we are monitoring the impact on partnerships and programmes on the ground. We are consulting constantly with our partners as the situation evolves, including with UN agencies and international NGOs. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (8 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains committed to the target agreed at the UN to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income in Official Development Assistance (ODA). The commitment was reaffirmed in 2019 in A Better World, Ireland's International Development Policy, and again in the Programme for Government. Ireland’s ODA consists of funding for programmes through the international development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (8 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: I look forward to engaging on Ireland's EU Presidency in the second half of 2026, when international development issues will be an important part of the agenda. Work on the development of Ireland’s Presidency priorities is now in hand, taking into account the EU's Strategic Agenda for 2024-29, the legislative programme proposed by the European Commission, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Further and Higher Education (8 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Ireland Fellows Programme (IFP) was established in 1974 and is an important element of the Irish Aid programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  Its aims are to nurture future leaders in developing countries, to develop partner countries’ capacities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and to build positive relationships with Ireland.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (8 Sep 2025)

Neale Richmond: The term Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights’, or SRHR, is used on a regular basis in texts that relate to development cooperation and human rights. For Ireland, these include references in A Better World, Ireland’s policy for international development; the annual Irish Aid reports; responses to Parliamentary Questions; and, in national statements such as those delivered...