Results 5,281-5,300 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: We will move on to the next part of the meeting. I would appreciate if members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery would ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference. We had some incidents last week. Mobile phones interfere with the sound recording so I would appreciate co-operation from all concerned. The next...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank Mr. Cotter for his valuable presentation. I have a question about pre-clearance facilities. Members will not mind if I put on my parochial hat for a moment. I come from the mid-west region and have seen the benefits of passenger pre-clearance facilities. Very shortly there will probably be military pre-clearance facilities also. Will Mr. Cotter outline the benefits for this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: There are many questions for Mr. Cotter. Many other members also wish to ask questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: Most of the directors we met in Silicon Valley were focused on the importance of that direct link. It saves time for people travelling over the Atlantic and they no longer have to stop off in either London, New York or Atlanta.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: I do not think they exactly said they would withdraw adoption.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: We need to quote them properly as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: In other words, Senator Norris is asking about the link between human rights and trade.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: Much of this is very political. The delegates are not dealing with political issues but if they wish to answer they can do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: It is political.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: Senator Norris. Could I let the witness in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: Will the Senator allow the witness to answer the question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: What is Mr. Cotter's view on the link up between the universities here and the US? When we went to Atlanta, we noted Georgia Institute of Technology was linked up with a number of universities. Should we do more of that in the US?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: I invite Mr. Cotter to reply to the questions of the three Members. Some of the questions are overlapping but this is his opportunity to address all of them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank Mr. Cotter very much indeed for the informative discussion we have had this afternoon. The American Chamber of Commerce is in safe hands with Mr. Cotter as director of public affairs. I also thank Mr. Small and the rest of the team from the American Chamber of Commerce who came here this afternoon. They have given us food for thought. We will include their recommendations in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: In that context, and this will form part of our report, where would Mr. Cotter see it as important to have a bigger presence in the US? We considered Texas. Should we have more consul-general offices throughout the US? Is that extremely important if we want to attract foreign direct investment in here?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: Energy too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion: Discussion with American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank Mr. Cotter again. We have had a very stimulating and thought-provoking discussion. We look forward to working closely with the American Chamber of Commerce again soon. We will certainly present a copy of our report to the chamber when we finalise it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Case of Mr. Sergei Magnitsky: Motion (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: We will resume in public session on the motion on Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who died in police custody in 2009 and who, after his death, is being prosecuted on charges of tax evasion. Let us return to 6 March. Senator Walsh tabled a motion, which is before the committee. Deputy Durkan tabled an amendment to it and moved it on 17 April. Following discussion at the last meeting, I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Case of Mr. Sergei Magnitsky: Motion (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: I advise the Senator he should not believe everything he reads in newspapers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Case of Mr. Sergei Magnitsky: Motion (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Pat Breen: I know.