Results 2,061-2,080 of 3,523 for speaker:Lucinda Creighton

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I was waiting for that.

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: Five or six excepted.

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: Yes.

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: That is what we are doing.

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I thank Senators for their very interesting statements, their lively contributions and their questions so far. First, I will address the two questions asked by Senator Colm Burke. On supporting SMEs, I could not agree more with the Senator. The Irish economic model is a good one to highlight the importance of SMEs because we have already seen the upturn in inward investment and exports....

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: There is an obvious role for this House to scrutinise EU legislation. I have always advocated this and I will speak with the Leader and the Whip to ensure this happens. It is important the potential of the Seanad, as well as the whole of Parliament, is fully realised. I am more than happy to take up this cause. There is only one case of the Oireachtas issuing a yellow card against an EU...

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: That is a positive step. I cannot do the work of committees for the committees but I will happily engage with them. It is also for the committees to ensure that their line Minister comes before them to discuss the issues. If there is a policy issue that is of concern to a committee, whether it is something in the pipeline or coming forward in a tangible, legislative process, it is not for...

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: That is what I am saying; the role of the Seanad is for Senators and the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges to decide and define how it wants the Seanad to operate in that regard. There is nothing stopping the Seanad. I am very supportive of that role being taken up by the Seanad. We do not have any conflict. We are ad idem. I am happy to support the much greater and much...

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I am happy to fight that case.

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: It can on behalf of the Parliament.

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: That is the way it is done in most parliaments.

Seanad: Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Discussion with Minister of State (8 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: We are going over the same ground but I restate my absolute commitment to proper legislative scrutiny in the Houses of the Oireachtas. For far too long that has not happened and we have a wonderful opportunity to use this House and the committee structure to make our contribution at a European level much more robust. I reiterate the point that it is important we do not simply go down the...

Human Rights Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: In 2009, negotiations commenced on a multi-party trade agreement between the EU and two member states of the Andean Community of Nations, namely, Colombia and Peru. The negotiations concluded in March 2010 and the agreement was initialled by the parties on 13 April 2011. The Tánaiste, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and I are well aware of and share the concerns that have been...

Human Rights Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: It is fair to say that there is a challenge here in terms of balancing the need to provide an incentive to Governments such as the Colombian Government to make progress on human rights issues while being conscious that we cannot turn a blind eye. In fairness, the European Union and the Government, in feeding into that process in our engagement with the Commission, and at Council level, have...

Human Rights Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: We will certainly take on board the concerns of those important and reputable agencies. There is no question about that. We are moving in the direction of concluding the trade agreement, but it has not been done yet and there still is opportunity for further negotiation. I accept Deputy Mac Lochlainn's point about the process for accession to the European Union and the length of time it...

Diplomatic Representation (10 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: The Opposition was not in power.

Human Rights Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: The regulation of product labelling is not the responsibility of my Department, but is overseen by a number of domestic Departments. The Tánaiste's predecessor, Deputy Martin, undertook to discuss with other Departments the possibility of introducing labelling to identify products of illegal Israeli settlements. He reported to the Dáil in November last year on the outcome of those...

Human Rights Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I am not sure if there is a question in that contribution.

Human Rights Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: Deputy Mac Lochlainn and I had an exchange on this general issue during the meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. We are ad idem in terms of the Government's approach to settlements. As the Tánaiste mentioned in his response to previous questions, we are deeply disturbed by the aggressive action of Israel in respect of settlements. If there is some way we can...

Human Rights Issues (10 Nov 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: It is difficult to say that no such produce is circulating because there is no mechanism for clearly identifying and labelling it. There is probably a small amount circulating in the economy. The issue is how to identify it and how to oblige suppliers to label it clearly. That is a matter for the line Ministers and the issue has been explored. There is no appetite to go down the road of...