Results 4,901-4,920 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government shares the deep concern internationally at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa and Yemen. Conflict, drought and loss of livelihoods are forcing people to flee their homes, and millions are suffering from acute hunger and are facing famine. The UN has called on the international community to step up efforts to avoid catastrophe. In 2016, Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: Ireland continues to respond to the unprecedented levels of humanitarian need resulting from ongoing conflict and violence in Syria and Iraq, including through support to neighbouring countries, which are hosting huge numbers of refugees. Since 2012, we have provided a total of €76.5 million in humanitarian assistance for the Syria crisis. At the conference co-chaired by the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: In 2016, Ireland provided over €190 million globally in humanitarian assistance to people affected by crisis and conflict, including in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria. The funding is directed towards the provision of life-saving assistance including food support, shelter, and the provision of basic services including health, education and water and sanitation. In 2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government has consistently condemned the human rights abuses being perpetrated by Al Shabaab and by Boko Haram, which remain a threat to the peace, stability and prosperity of Somalia and Nigeria respectively, and neighbouring countries. In Somalia, progress has been made in containing the threat of Al Shabaab. The Somali Government is supported by the African Union, and the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: I am deeply concerned by the human rights abuses being perpetrated by Boko Haram, including the taking hostage of women and girls. We, and the broader international community, have consistently called on all parties to ensure that abductions and kidnappings by Boko Haram and other groups cease and that all those who have been taken hostage are released. The UN estimates that,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

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 128 million people in 33 countries around the world are now in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The UN has identified the emergencies, in Syria, Iraq and Yemen as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The provision of effective humanitarian assistance is a key foreign policy priority for the Government. Ireland provided over €190 million in humanitarian funding in 2016 to assist people affected by crisis and conflict around the world, including refugees from war zones. In addition, Ireland also contributes to the European Commission’s humanitarian action outside the EU,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (13 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government recognises the value of a strong, independent and inclusive civil society and has a long history, through Irish Aid, of supporting Irish civil society organisations in fighting poverty and hunger and responding to humanitarian crises. Irish Aid manages a range of civil society funding partnerships to implement these objectives. When I addressed the World Humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (2 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: We are deeply concerned about the severe drought conditions in many parts of Somalia, as a result of poor and erratic rains over the last two years. The impact includes large-scale displacement in the worst affected areas, with almost 600,000 people forced to flee their homes over the last six month period alone. Over 6 million people in Somalia are now in need of urgent humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (2 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: Since 2012, Ireland has provided more than €76 million in assistance for the humanitarian crisis as a result of the devastating conflict in Syria. At the Supporting Syria and the Regionhigh-level conference in Brussels last month, I pledged that Ireland would provide at least a further €25 million in 2017. Ireland’s funding is channelled through a range of partners who...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (2 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 651 to 655, inclusive, 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 a roster of individuals who are available to participate in election observation missions organised in the main by the OSCE and the EU. The election observation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (9 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: In our humanitarian assistance, Ireland places a strong emphasis on the needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls in emergencies and conflict settings. A clear focus on gender equality, protection and gender based violence must be an essential part of every humanitarian operation. Since 2012, Ireland has provided just over €7.75 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Oversight (9 May 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. In the Programme for Government we have set out our ambition to make progress towards the UN target of providing 0.7% of GNP to Official Development Assistance (ODA) as resources permit. Over the past two years we have managed to increase funding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (9 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 to 319, inclusive, 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 a roster of individuals who are available to participate in election observation missions organised in the main by the OSCE and the EU. Members of the roster...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (30 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: Since 2012, Ireland has provided €76.5 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by the Syria crisis. This represents Ireland’s single largest response ever to a humanitarian crisis. Our funding has supported those in need within Syria as well as Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. We work with UN and Red Cross partners, and as well as NGO partners, to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (30 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s development aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. Ireland’s policy for international development, One World One Future, defines the goals and priorities that guide all decisions on Ireland’s development cooperation programme. Our aid is untied and provided wholly on the basis of need. Our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (30 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: We, and our EU partners, are very concerned about the long-standing humanitarian crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR), where insecurity, displacement and chronic vulnerability continue to cause great human suffering. Over seven million people in the DRC and 2.3 million people in CAR need humanitarian assistance. Just last week, a report...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Trafficking (30 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: UNICEF has recently presented a global snapshot of the plight of refugee and migrant children. I share the grave concern at the truly alarming numbers of children moving alone worldwide, many of whom are forced to take highly dangerous routes to reach their destinations, and are often at the mercy of smugglers and traffickers. Ireland has a strong partnership with UNICEF and we support...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Strategy (30 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: While Irish economic activity with countries in Africa remains relatively low as a proportion of our overall global economic activity, the potential for enhancing the trade relationship is strong. GDP growth in Africa has remained resilient, with the African Development Bank estimating growth of 4.7% in 2017. Medium-term prospects for economic development on the continent are also positive....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (30 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 354 together. I am deeply aware of the need to ensure that Ireland’s aid continues to target the most vulnerable and reaches those for whom it is intended, thereby making a real difference to the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. The Government’s Policy for International Development, One World, One Future reflects this...