Results 1,981-2,000 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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...

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...

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

Helen McEntee: I fully agree with Deputy Smith that it is not right that families have not found out the truth of what happened and are still wondering if they will ever receive the truth. There have been several appalling cases from the Troubles where truth and justice were secured only after decade-long campaigns by the victims, their families, civil society and government. That should not be the case...

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

Helen McEntee: I again give a commitment that that will be the case and I will pass on that message. I assure the victims' families that the Government is doing everything it can.

Other Questions: Humanitarian Access (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I am aware of the deportation of the four persons Deputy Daly named. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was notified immediately by one of the individuals and we have since received letters from each of them about the incident. The leader of the group has led study groups to the West Bank for over ten years, involving a total of 17 tour groups and over 400 people. These groups met...

Other Questions: Humanitarian Access (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: As Deputy Daly is aware, the reasons given on the deportation order do not tell us anything and that is why the Department has asked for an explanation. It may be that the refusal was on foot of legislation enacted earlier this year which provided for admission to be refused to any person who has advocated or is a member of a group which has advocated a policy of boycott in relation to...

Other Questions: Humanitarian Access (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: Deportation officials in Ireland have the same rights as any other deportation officials to make a call. As a Government, however, we need to closely observe what has happened here and the fact they are possibly pursuing a more aggressive policy on deportations. This impacts on the four individuals now. They may apply to return to Israel in the future but we expect that they would be...

Other Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: The national plan on business and human rights was approved by Government in July and will be launched by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, within the next few weeks. Ireland will be the 16th country in the world, and the 12th EU member state, to adopt a national plan on business and human rights. The publication of the national plan meets a commitment made by the previous Government in June...

Other Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: Touching on the delay, the Deputy has outlined some of its stages. It began at the Department's annual NGO forum on human rights in November 2014 and continued as further consultations took place throughout 2015. This included workshops with business and civil society representatives. In February 2015 following the public consultation it received over 30 submissions which had to be...

Other Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: There will be a deadline for the implementation of this plan. The business and human rights implementation group, which will comprises representatives of Government, the business community and civil society, will take forward the implementation of the actions in this plan and it is proposed that the implementation group will meet twice yearly over the first three years to review the...

Other Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 15 and 33 together. I am sure all Members of the House joined with this young man's family and friends on Monday last, 18 September, in welcoming the news from Cairo that he and his three sisters had been acquitted at the conclusion of the trial in which they were defendants along with more than 400 others. This young man's name, Ibrahim Halawa, has...

Other Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: The Deputies are correct in saying that every effort was made to ensure that Ibrahim was brought home. There were ten engagements with the Taoiseach at presidential level, 20 direct engagements at foreign ministry level and we had up to 40 members of staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade working on this case at any given time and around 20,000 person-hours were spent on this...

Other Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I pay tribute to this extraordinary young man, Ibrahim Halawa, for his maturity, strength of character and his resilience and to his family, friends and all those who supported him through this time.

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora and international development are acutely aware of the very understandable concerns which exist among members of the Irish community in the US in light of recent developments. The changed political landscape in the US has resulted in a renewed focus on the plight of the many millions...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is right this needs to be a priority and remain a priority for the Irish Government. When the Taoiseach spoke to President Trump this was an issue he raised. As the Deputy mentioned, the appointment of Deputy Deasy is significant. He has already made two substantive visits since his appointment. One of them was at the end of July and one was at the beginning of September. He...

Other Questions: Undocumented Irish in the USA (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: Deputy Deasy will work under the overall direction of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Ciaran Cannon. He will work closely with, and will be supported by, the recently appointed Irish ambassador to the United States, H.E. Dan Mulhall, as well as the embassy of Ireland in Washington DC and our consulates throughout the United States. The Deputy is right to...

Other Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 18, inclusive, 21, 22, 25, 32, 41 and 42 together. The Government condemns the violence has taken place in Rakhine State. This includes the attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, and the excessive actions which the Myanmar security forces have undertaken in response. It is imperative that an end is brought to this violence. I reiterate...

Other Questions: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Helen McEntee: Regarding the freedom of the city, it is a matter for Dublin City Council. It was a decision made by the council in the first place, so any decision on this has to be taken by it.