Results 4,821-4,840 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: Additional staff have been recruited. While the current staff complement are managing, additional staff are always welcome. I acknowledge the Chairman's reference to the situation in Nigeria, in respect of which I put my views on record yesterday. We will have an opportunity next week to talk about it further.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I thank the committee for this engagement. My officials are happy to be of assistance to it. I congratulate the committee on its work to date and if there are issues on which the Department can do better, we are happy to hear about them.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (29 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 to 387, inclusive, together. Ireland provided a total €138.2 million in financial contributions to the UN Agencies and Funds in 2015. Of this, €129.4 million was in voluntary contributions and €8.8 million in assessed contribution. It is not the Government’s policy to donate goods in kind to the UN in lieu of part payment of...

Topical Issues Debate: EU Issues (6 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle fá choinne an tseans labhairt fá dtaobh den reifreann san Iodáil agus ráiteas gairid a dhéanamh air don Teach. I am pleased to have this opportunity to make a short statement to the House on the recent referendum in Italy. Italy is a leading member of the European Union. It is a founder member and the third...

Topical Issues Debate: EU Issues (6 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: It is important that we avail of this House to have these conversations. In regard to referenda, we all have anecdotal examples of why people vote in particular ways, from which we can draw our own conclusions. Following the children's referendum when I asked a man why he had voted "No", he responded that he had done so because the "No" option was on the ballot paper, which shows his vote...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (6 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: The continuing conflict in Syria has generated the most serious humanitarian crisis in the world today. The Government is strongly committed to responding to the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people. Since 2012, Ireland has provided more than €62 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region. This is Ireland’s largest response to any humanitarian crisis...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the world’s poorest countries. It has experienced decades of violence since gaining independence in 1962. Violence in 2012 plunged the country into further instability and widespread conflict, and a major humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian situation across the country remains extremely serious. 2.3 million people, out of a population...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (8 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: I am very concerned at the increasingly serious drought situation in Somalia, and its impact on vulnerable communities across the country. I discussed the political and humanitarian situation in Somalia during my visit to Kenya last week. Five million people are now food insecure throughout the country, with over a million facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. This is a 20%...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (8 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: Ireland’s strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment is reflected both in the Government’s policy on international development, One World, One Future and in the review of Ireland’s foreign policy, The Global Island. This is recognised internationally. In 2014, a comprehensive review by the OECD Development Assistance Committee of Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (13 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together. International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international election observation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (13 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions 359 to 361, inclusive, together. The current Election Observation Roster maintained and administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was established in May 2013 for a period of five years. This followed a review of the previous roster and a public call for applications. Following the independent appraisal and ranking of the 263 eligible...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Undocumented Irish in the USA (13 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an gceist seo atá thar a bheith tábhachtach. Bhí mé i mo Sheanadóir ó 2002 go dtí 2007 agus gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis na Seanadóirí as an bhfáilte go dtí an Teach inniu. I thank Senator Lawless for placing this important topic on the agenda today. The roles currently occupied by Senator Lawless and myself...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Undocumented Irish in the USA (13 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator again. I will point to the very real human stories behind the issue. The Senator knows them at a personal level in Chicago and other places. I met someone who has been in the United States since 1986. To put that into perspective, that was the year I did what was not the junior certificate but the intermediate certificate at the time. That man has remained...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (16 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: Ireland is playing its part in support of EU measures and programmes to assist in the response to the migration crisis and, crucially, in addressing its root causes. In a Communication on 7 June, the European Commission set out a new results-oriented concept of co-operation with third countries, the Migration Partnership Framework. On 28 June, the European Council agreed that delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: Ireland has consistently condemned the human rights abuses committed by Boko Haram, and has provided some €3 million this year in humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict in north-eastern Nigeria. Boko Haram is a serious threat to the safety, stability and prosperity of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Some progress has been made by the Nigerian armed forces through...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Assistance (16 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: The international community is currently challenged by the unprecedented scale of humanitarian crises globally, as a result of war and conflict, drought and famine and the devastation caused by natural disasters. Over 65 million people are now displaced from their homes across the world, most of them living in situations of conflict. Humanitarian assistance is a key foreign policy priority...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (17 Jan 2017)

Joe McHugh: I share the concern about the current situation in the Gambia, and the statements by President Jammeh suggesting that he does not accept the result of the democratic elections held in December. I fully support the statement on behalf of the EU High Representative last month calling on the President to respect the will of the Gambian people as expressed in the election result. I am also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (24 Jan 2017)

Joe McHugh: The declaration of a state of emergency by Gambia’s former President Jammeh and the move by the Gambian Parliament to extend his term by an additional three months were a clear attempt to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and frustrate the will of the Gambian people. They were a cause for serious concern and were rightly condemned by the United Nations Security Council....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (24 Jan 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. Our policy for international development, “One World, One Future”, clearly articulates our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) in Official Development Assistance (ODA) as economic conditions allow. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (24 Jan 2017)

Joe McHugh: Ireland continues to respond to the immense humanitarian needs arising from the crises across the Middle East region. We recognise the need to support the countries such as Jordan which have demonstrated remarkable generosity in hosting refugee communities fleeing from conflict in Syria and Iraq. In 2016, Ireland provided more than €3 million through the Irish Aid humanitarian...