Results 5,641-5,660 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: That is one of the points Ms Valerie Amos made in her interview. Aeroplanes could not land because the runways were blocked and because of the inclement weather conditions after the typhoon. There were high winds and helicopters could not fly. She said that was part of the problem in regard to the distribution of aid and getting to the areas that needed help.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: Senator Mullins got good value for money with that contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank Mr. Power for his powerful presentation and members for their powerful questions. It is an issue to which we will return in the coming weeks. I agree that we must learn from what happened in Haiti. I remember Mr. Power visiting that country when he was Minister of State. As I also recall, large amounts of money were pledged in the aftermath of that disaster, but some donors failed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We will proceed to No. 3 on our agenda, US immigration reform. I put this issue on the agenda because we will be dealing with the report on the visit in private session later. Many of the members are interested in getting an update on what is happening on immigration reform in the US at present. An all-party delegation of four members of the committee travelled to the US last October. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: If we had a proposal on the table, we would be flying high.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: There was a proposal in the Senate legislation that 10,500 E3 visas would be issued every year. We did not push this because it would have been part of the pre-conference. We were told that if a bipartisan approach was taken on the issue, six Bills would be put to the Senate, with one of which most of the undocumented Irish would be happy. If this legislation was referred to the Senate, it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We will not comment on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We will be returning to this in the report in any event. We will keep this high on the agenda and we will return to it in the new year when we hope there will be another window of opportunity for some form of immigration reform to be tabled in the United States Congress.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: Invite a group of whom?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: It is highly unlikely one will get any members of Congress over unless they are on official business-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: -----because they will all be looking at re-election in the new year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: It is also a busy time during which they will be preparing budgets. Deputy Durkan will be aware of what went on with the budget.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: The committee will be aware of what went on in September with the United States budget and the crisis that arose. There will be an opportunity from time to time for members of Congress who pass through this country and stop off here. If they do so, we will try to meet them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We can talk to the United States Embassy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We can talk to the US embassy official, Mr. Stuart Dwyer, in that regard. As the committee will be aware, we do not yet have an ambassador. It has been almost 12 months. I suppose if a new ambassador was appointed early in the new year, we could invite him or her to an informal meeting and put that top of the agenda as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We will try for that but I would say they have other priorities at present. I ask Senator Walsh to be brief because I want to go into private session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I suggest we raise that issue with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore, at the next meeting with him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I suggest that at the next meeting we ask the Tánaiste to raise the issue of an ambassador at the highest level. Is that agreed? Agreed. That should be fine. I propose we go into private session. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (26 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: 339. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on domiciliary allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50261/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Appointments (26 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: 448. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the public service embargo will apply to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50239/13]