Results 561-580 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: I admire and totally applaud the idealism from which the Deputy's concern for the people of Palestine springs. The Irish position could not be clearer. We are in favour of engagement and continue to disperse our development aid in the country. The European decision was taken for good, well-argued reasons.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: The key point, as Deputies Allen and Quinn are aware, is that there was no vote. Matters at European level are generally pursued by way of consensus. I have only been in this post for two years, but I have never been in a situation where there has been a vote at a gathering of European Ministers. Deputy Allen posed some serious questions and while I wanted to respond earlier, the procedure...

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: I believe that refers to other donors and not to the Irish aid money. I reassure the Deputy that none of our money has been tampered with in the context of what we do on a humanitarian basis in Iraq.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: I will revert to the Deputy with a detailed note on the matter so that he can be more reassured on the matter. The economic partnership agreements have, to a large extent, been misconstrued by many people in civil society and in the Dáil. The EPAs are development instruments designed to help these countries. They have not yet reached the deadline by which they are to be finished and...

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: To a large extent, it is not remarked upon in the literature. Our access to the Common Market allowed us to become one of the greatest and biggest trading nations on earth. Some 90% of what we produce is now exported.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: Deputy Carey referred to his recent visit to Ethiopia. We will continue our operation in Tigré and will consider the regional presence of our programme in that country. We are actively considering how we can spread our aid more regionally. Tigré is our only regional involvement. As the Deputy correctly stated, the safety net project saves up to 6 million people from dying as a result of...

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: I do not know. It has perplexed us all that the European Union does not seem to make people aware that the money is there, or have it drawn down and disbursed. We have a good reputation in this regard but not all donors do. The European Union has been slow and we have put as much pressure as we can on the Commissioner, Mr. Michel, to disburse that money in a timely and efficient fashion....

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: It has been the policy of some of the multilateral or Bretton-Woods institutions but we are not particularly enthusiastic about it.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: The European Union does not have a policy of supporting privatisation in Africa or other developing countries. We are addressing the matter of the EPAs. We have voiced serious concerns at EU ministerial level on behalf of our partner countries in Africa which are deeply disappointed the Commission is not discussing these EPAs in a timely fashion. They want the EPAs to work but they also want...

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: We do not have much hope for this situation because we tell the South Africans and many other African governments that we want to see them act on this matter.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: While we have strong positive feelings about the new economic partnership for Africa we have expressed deep concern about its peer review process of how countries conduct themselves in matters of governance and proper government. The NEPAD initiative will not work unless something is done about Mugabe and the situation in Zimbabwe. I would love to pour more hope into the situation but...

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: The European Union regularly brings virtually all the complaints made by Falun Gong to the attention of the Chinese authorities. We act in concert with those representations. The strength of the European Union is to act as a cohesive group and raise concerns at that level. We try to hold people to account for human rights. I accept there is something-——

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: For the benefit of the House I do not wish to inflict a five minute round-up on Members. I am conscious of Deputy Allen's points about getting his questions answered. I will open the debate up to further questions if that is in order.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: For the first time in a long while I am beginning to agree with Deputy Allen. This was intended to be an initiative but I see now——

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: I am at a loss to answer that directly. I do not wish to be dishonest or misleading in my reply. I will reply to the Deputy directly by letter.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: Absolutely. My senior colleague attended that meeting.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: I am not the Minister for Foreign Affairs yet.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: My senior colleague would be a bit put out if I started answering ex cathedra on subjects discussed at meetings which he attended. Are there further questions?

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy referred to the UN Convention against Corruption.

Europe and the Developing World: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Conor Lenihan: That is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.