Results 3,021-3,040 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: There has been no discussion at EU level in relation to bringing about the release of Marwan Barghouti, nor has the Tánaiste raised the issue with the Israeli Government.Marwan Barghouti was sentenced in 2004 to five life sentences for murder, having been convicted of involvement in a number of attacks, including a suicide attack on Israeli civilians. He is nonetheless often reported as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government is very strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The aid programme is regarded internationally as one of the most effective in delivering results in the fight against poverty and hunger. Our commitment to development cooperation is clear in the Programme for Government and has been strongly reiterated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Total expenditure on overseas ministerial travel at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the calendar year 2013, including airfares, accommodation and travel and subsistence and other costs, amounted to just over €228,500. This included the cost of travel of Ministers and staff attached to Ministerial offices. Of this total, the travel costs of the Tánaiste and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scottish Referendum (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The people of Scotland will vote in a referendum on 18 September 2014 on the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?". That question is one which the people of Scotland, and they alone, should decide. I do not believe it would be appropriate for the Government to comment, therefore, on issues which at this stage are hypothetical, especially where comment might be perceived as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government has condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. It violates the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We have participated actively in the development of a strong EU response to Russia's military mobilisation while commending the measured response shown so far by the new Ukrainian Government. Presidential...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Tánaiste has consistently made clear, here in the House and at EU level, and in Ireland's interventions in UN and other fora, our strong criticisms of a range of Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to the urgent need to bring to an end the occupation itself. In these criticisms, I have focussed increasingly on aspects such as the unequal treatment of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers of the Cuban citizens imprisoned in the US. As this is a bilateral consular issue between the US and the Cuban authorities, the Government has no standing in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials in my Department are in regular and ongoing contact with the US Embassy on a range of issues, including in relation to requests for permission for the landing of US military aircraft at Shannon Airport. Permission for foreign military aircraft is granted on the basis that the aircraft in question is not armed, is not carrying arms, ammunition or explosives, is not engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware from previous answers,the crisis in Ukraine has dominated the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) over the last few months, leading to the convening of two extraordinary sessions of the FAC on 20 February and 3 March, both of which I attended. The Taoiseach also attended an extraordinary meeting of the Heads of State and Government on 6 March and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities exceeds an estimated 140,000 people, there are now over 9.3 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a further 2.6 million Syrian refugees requiring...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of concerns over the treatment of ethnic minorities, principally Tatars and Ukrainian-speakers, living in Crimea. Indeed on 27 March, the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) expressed its grave concern at serious allegations of intimidation and discrimination against Ukrainian-speakers and Tatars in the Crimean region of Ukraine, now under...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Generation (8 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this issue. Ireland is fortunate to have very rich wind resources. We can exploit these renewable resources to generate electricity, reduce our import bills for gas and oil and contribute to decarbonising our energy systems. The exploitation of this clean, sustainable and indigenous resource will allow us to break our dependence on expensive...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Generation (8 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Senator for the points he raised. I will make two brief points in response to two key points he made. In respect of his comment about the role of consultants in the process being a kick in the teeth, I urge him to wait for the conclusion of the public consultation and the Government's response to it before he decides whether or not the role of consultants has been a kick in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Generation (8 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Before the Senator makes a judgment in respect of the consultation process he looked for-----

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Generation (8 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not being flippant.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Generation (8 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: To the best of my knowledge, we are having a debate. If the Senator is entitled to put points to me, I am equally entitled to respond, which is what I am doing. I am simply making the point that given that many were calling for a period of public consultation, let us see what the results of it will be before the Senator decides that it is not sufficient.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Generation (8 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am speaking to the representative of a party that has a track record in spending taxpayers' money on consultants that would put any other Government to shame.

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Pearse Doherty for giving me the opportunity to discuss this issue. I wish to focus on three areas. First, I shall respond to the Deputy's claims on what the Government has and has not done. Second, I shall examine the progress achieved, while being very conscious of how much more needs to be done. Third, I shall comment on the Bill and its provisions and outline the...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am sure they have no reason to be worried.

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank all colleagues for their contributions to the debate and I will respond in the same vein. In reply to Deputy McDonald, I do not know whose contribution she was listening to this morning but she was not listening to mine. I made it very clear that I am acutely aware of the strain this is causing people because I meet them so regularly. I am acutely aware of their difficulties. When...