Results 4,601-4,620 of 13,254 for speaker:Seán Sherlock

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Seán Sherlock: Vote 27 - international co-operation - covers the main elements of the Government's international development assistance programme, Irish Aid. The Vote provides the funding necessary to deliver the Department's high-level goals to contribute to the reduction of global poverty and hunger, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. We can be proud that against a background of great...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Seán Sherlock: Deputy Smith is a former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Seán Sherlock: As some of the questions are quite technical members might intervene if I miss any of the points made. In regard to the questions posed by Deputy Smith, as I understand it DAC praised Ireland for its work on policy coherence across Departments. A wide range of Departments participated in the review. Perhaps I missed something in the question articulated by the Deputy. An interdepartmental...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I know that.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I take the point the Deputy is making and I assure him that absolutely and utterly there has been a response from the Irish Government at Geneva on these issues. The danger of situations such as these is the mistakes are repeated. I reassure the committee that not only were we very responsive and we influenced the international response, and great credit is due to our embassy staff, but we...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I move:That Report Stage be taken now.

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I am standing in for the Minister for Justice and Equality. The effect of the amendment would be to replace the current three-member GSOC with a single person. The Minister appreciates this is one of a set of changes to the Garda Síochána Act 2005 that has been recommended by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. It was the view of the joint...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: With regard to the specific question from Deputy Niall Collins, we acknowledge that the vacancy has arisen for the chairperson of GSOC on foot of Mr. O'Brien's resignation. The appointment of members of the Ombudsman Commission is governed by section 65 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This stipulates that the commission consists of three members, all of whom are to be appointed by...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Report Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I will revert to the Deputy. Mr. O'Brien stated that his resignation was essentially for family reasons. With regard to the timing and advertisement, it is a matter for a Government decision so we will revert to Deputy Niall Collins on that point. I note the points made by the Members opposite concerning one or three commissioners. The Government has set out its position on Deputy...

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the Seanad today at the beginning of what may turn out to be one of the most important years in world development. This year, 2015, will see international agreements on a new global development agenda, agreement on how to finance this agenda, and a legally-binding agreement on climate change. These agreements will affect all of us, but they...

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: Will I proceed?

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: However, before we look forward to the events of 2015, I would like to take a look back at some of the key achievements and processes of Irish Aid in the past year. Last year, the Government allocated almost €600 million to Official Development Assistance. This represents a significant investment by Ireland in building a fairer, more peaceful and more sustainable world. This...

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: There are eight countries in Africa and Vietnam.

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: Just for the record, it is important that I correct that assertion utterly. I am happy to address it in my reply and I am aware that the Senator only has five minutes, but we do not tie our aid. We have an Africa strategy as well as the Africa Ireland Economic Forum. I would be happy to address the Senator's points but, for the record, we do not use our Irish Aid budget for trade promotion.

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I thank all of the Senators for their contributions. I will start with ODA and percentage targets. As I understand it, the targets were set in 1973. Since then, there has not been a Government that has reached them. The highest point was reached in 2008 when we hit approximately 0.59%, or a monetary figure of €920.6 million. I regard this as an apolitical space because, throughout...

Seanad: Overseas Development: Statements (4 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: With regard to Syria specifically, we have allocated €29 million since 2011 to the crisis there. In geopolitical terms it is a major challenge. We all acknowledge this and it is self-evident. Through our investments we have ensured we are working with the Irish NGOs on the ground, the Red Cross in particular, and the United Nations through multilateral arrangements. We are now...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (10 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: In response to an invitation from the Nigerian authorities, the EU deployed an Electoral Observation Mission to observe the Presidential and National Assembly elections which were scheduled for 14 February and the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections which were scheduled for 28 February. Over the past weekend, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria announced...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Rural Development Programme Projects (10 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has funded men’s shed projects under both the rural development fund and the Leader element of the 2007 to 2013 rural development programme. Funding has been provided to renovate buildings to house...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Rural Development Programme Projects (10 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I will relay the issues raised by Senator Kelly to the Minister. There is also an opportunity for the national men's shed umbrella organisation to potentially use its leverage to attain membership of the local action groups. I believe that the stakeholder model, in terms of the funding that has been espoused by Senator Kelly, in which the HSE is an actor, could become a major influencer for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Syrian Conflict (10 Feb 2015)

Seán Sherlock: I fully endorse the concerns expressed by Senator Power. The Syrian conflict has been a litany of unimaginable horrors. More than half the population has been displaced by violence and almost two thirds of Syrians, 12 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance. Less than half of Syria's hospitals are fully functioning and around one quarter of schools have been damaged,...