Results 28,661-28,680 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: I do not doubt for a second the Minister's sincerity in this regard. This is not just this House condemning a particular act of violence or a particular atrocity, however. It is the undermining of the basis for lasting peace in a situation that has often been the root of a conflict that has spread across the world over the last number of decades. The West Bank is the main part of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: It is no use all of us saying we will continue to condemn and so on, if the basis for a solution is fundamentally undermined and made impossible. Then, we are talking about a single state. Is that the only viable outcome that is left? That will mean permanent conflict in Israel in my view. We heard the Israeli finance minister, Mr. Bezalel Smotrich, say there is "no such thing" as a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: They robbed the Palestinians of hope, which will lead to violence.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Visits (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: There will be lots of new claims.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: Expansion is the word.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: A strain.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: 115. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his most recent engagements with the UK Government on its Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill following the recent decision adopted by the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13614/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: One of the very few occasions in my long service here where I attended a meeting with a viewpoint that was supported by every political party of the island of Ireland was at a meeting in Belfast City Hall during which the legacy Bill was opposed. I have never signed a document that was signed by every shade of opinion, nationalist, republican and unionist, North and South, in opposition to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: It is a founding member of it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: In terms of having a strategy to stop this Bill being enacted, has the Tánaiste had discussions with other parties in the Westminster Parliament? They could be with the Labour Party, being the largest party of opposition, to see how it can work towards stopping it or with the House of Lords in terms of its input, which has been effective in terms of Brexit negotiations in the past. My...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: Racist.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: I have just five minutes to talk about this very wide agenda before the European Council. Of course, the agenda, quite understandably, is dominated by the ongoing war in Europe, the ongoing illegal assault on Ukraine by the Russian Federation. A number of issues will be discussed at the Council. As for additional support for Ukraine, what specifically will we do? The Taoiseach talks...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: This is a simple but a very important measure to abolish the inpatient charge for adult public patients in public hospitals. The Bill, as the Minister has indicated, repeals section 53C of the Health Act 1970 so this is a thing that has lasted a very long time, together with the associated regulations. This is all very welcome and will certainly assist in the cost-of-living pressures that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Strategic Autonomy: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: I apologise for missing the earlier contributions but I had something else to do. I have read the written submission and I thank our guests for it. It raises some very important debating points. If I raise an issue that has already been covered, I ask our guests to say so. I will make two quick observations first. First, in terms of looking at the Irish defence spend, and I have some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Strategic Autonomy: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: Perhaps the Cathaoirleach should take some credit in that regard.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: Will the Tánaiste share his decision that he intends to bring to the Government with the women beforehand?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: The statutory requirement question-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: 43. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to ensure the Defence Forces conform with the working time directive as per the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13684/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: The Minister is relatively new to his Department; however, if he had been sitting here for defence questions regularly, he would have noted the question under discussion has been recurring for a long period. Retention and recruitment probably comprise the most fundamental issue facing the Minister. It is a matter of having a proper cohort of people, set out in our plans, to ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Disaster Response (21 Mar 2023)

Brendan Howlin: 92. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the assistance provided to Turkey and Syria following the recent earthquake; the amount of aid that has been disbursed; the plans for further assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13612/23]