Results 5,041-5,060 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7529/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 833 of 16 January 2013, the position regarding an agri environment options scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7638/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 11 December 2012, when payment of an agri environment options scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7641/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: As we have a quorum we will commence the meeting in public session. Apologies have been received from Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, who is unfortunately unable to attend today's meeting. The draft minutes of the meeting of 6 February have been circulated to members. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. Unless there are matters arising from the minutes, we will proceed with the main business.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: We have correspondence on that and we will deal with it under that heading.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: No, but there is correspondence on the matter. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference to the recording equipment, even on silent mode. I will wait for the people in the Gallery to be seated before introducing the witnesses. Before introducing witnesses from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: Thank you for a very interesting presentation on the role of Chambers Ireland and its perspective. One of the most interesting sentences in the statement was that changing times need new priorities. That is very important. I will take questions from three members, Deputy Brendan Smith, Deputy Seán Crowe and Senator David Norris. I remind members to keep their contributions short and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: Should that be done to help people to export?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: We will take that point on board when preparing our report. It is something about which everyone is concerned because this amounts to more red tape and it is cumbersome for those interested in coming here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: Senator Norris has a few more questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: I do not think the outsourcing of passports will happen in the near future. There are major security concerns in respect of passports, particularly post-9/11. Around the time of the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, we visited the passport office in Balbriggan to see the operations for ourselves. There were some delays at that time but most of the delays...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: I wish to inform Chambers Ireland that officials will appear before the committee in respect of the business and the tourist visas in the near future, because we see that as a problem. Will Mr. Talbot comment on the visa position for Deputy Durkan before I hand over to Deputy Eric Byrne?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: Being a mid-west Deputy, I would like to support Deputy Neville on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: I will bring in two other speakers, Senators Mullins and Walsh, who wish to contribute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: The witnesses have heard from three members, each with a set of questions. Some of them are overlapping but I imagine the witnesses will answer them as well as they can.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: I have a question for Mr. Talbot. Mr. Martin Murray from Asia Matters attended the committee recently to discuss the trade potential in Asia, in particular in some of the emerging markets. Yesterday afternoon, the Indonesian ambassador, who is based in London, paid a courtesy call. Has Mr. Talbot contacts with counterparts in chambers of commerce in Asia? What is his view on the emerging...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Recovery: Discussion with Chambers Ireland (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank the witnesses for a very useful discussion which saw good interaction between the members and the representatives of Chambers Ireland. The committee will certainly consider the views of the witnesses when preparing a report. I wish Chambers Ireland well in the future.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Colombia Peace Process: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: Members will recall that we received correspondence recently from Jack O'Connor, president of Justice for Colombia Ireland about the peace process in Colombia. The committee subsequently received briefing material from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A very good meeting was held on 16 January 2013 with the Colombian ambassador. When we reviewed the position at our last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Colombia Peace Process: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: Some members may wish to comment. Deputy Durkan has also tabled amendments.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Colombia Peace Process: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Pat Breen: Motions are part of the committee process and they are not unusual.