Results 5,861-5,880 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: As of now, and on the best information, our neutrality remains intact.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: We have eight people involved in the EU Training Mission in Mali and they are there largely to train the existing force and to ensure the operations are based on human rights. There is also a request that member states make a contribution to the EU peacekeeping force, MINUSMA, which is due to come into place from the beginning of July. Whatever decision is made on that is another matter. ...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: When listening to Deputies Michael McGrath and Dara Calleary, I noted the traditional political approach of dividing the coalition parties by saying the Labour Party had always made one point, while Fine Gael always made another, thereby implying they were totally divided on an issue. We are not divided; this legislation was agreed as part of the programme for Government and we agree that it...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 18 together. As Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland’s Official Development Assistance, I am very conscious of the need to ensure that our development assistance is spent effectively, is fully accountable and that it makes a real difference to the lives of the world’s poorest people. The overarching objective of the aid...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000, focuses on the involvement of children in armed conflict in an effort to strengthen implementation of the Convention and increase the protection of children during armed conflicts. The Protocol became legally binding on 12 February 2002 and, to date, more than 100...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: Sierra Leone’s protracted civil war, in which 50,000 people died, fostered widespread abuse of human rights. Women suffered the brunt of the conflict, and experienced some of the most horrific acts of violence during the war. While Sierra Leone has made considerable progress towards peace and sustainable development since the end of the war in 2002, the country continues to suffer from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 45 together. The Africa Agri-food Development Fund is a joint initiative between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. The Fund was launched in April 2012. The fund is part of Ireland’s overseas development cooperation programme and is designed to support the development of new...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Children in Armed Conflict (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 77 together. I share the widespread concern at the continue involvement of children in armed conflict, and at the appalling suffering of children in wars and conflicts. The issues involved are highlighted in the most recent annual report of the UN Secretary General on children and armed conflict, which was issued on 15 May. The report notes that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: Strong progress has been made in improving access to education under the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, adopted internationally in 2000. Today, forty million more children are enrolled in primary school than at the start of the new century. However, this progress has been uneven. For instance, children from conflict-affected states and children from remote rural areas in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 49 together. The unprecedented humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Syria and in surrounding countries is of grave concern. As the Deputy will be aware, there are now almost 7 million people in need of emergency humanitarian assistance inside Syria, while the number of fatalities as a result of the widespread and indiscriminate violence is in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: The humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighbouring countries is distressing. The number of fatalities as a result of the widespread and indiscriminate violence is in excess of 90,000 and there are now almost 7 million people in need of emergency humanitarian assistance inside Syria, many of whom are children. Fear and uncertainty have forced more than 1.6 million Syrians to flee to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: Ireland’s aid programme, Irish Aid, which is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is strongly focused on the fight to end extreme poverty and hunger, especially in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In 2012, the Government provided a total of €639 million for Official Development Assistance. Ireland’s assistance is directed to development programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: Ireland’s programme of official development assistance continues to have a special focus on the continent of Africa. As the Deputy is aware, African countries have historically faced many difficulties, including food insecurity, poverty, protracted conflict, environmental degradation, weak government capacity, unequal global trading relationships, severe infrastructural weaknesses,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: It is always good to be back. I would like to join with those expressing good wishes to Senator Norris. It is always a shock to hear about these things. I would also like to thank Martin Groves and welcome Brian Hickey to the committee. I welcome the opportunity today to brief the committee on the Government's new policy for international development, One World, One Future, and to debrief...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: It is slightly below 0.5%. We will not know with certainty the exact position for 2013 until we receive the final GDP figure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I thank members for their extensive and probing questions. I will address as many of them as I can. We have been doing our best to stabilise the overseas development aid budget, which decreased more than 30% from its high of 0.5% of GDP in 2008. In 2012 we were at 0.48% and the figures for 2013 will depend on the performance of the economy. We intend to maintain expenditure at close to...

Topical Issue Debate: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: I also availed of the J1 visa when I was a student and I found it very useful and valuable. We would certainly like to protect it and it should not be undermined in any way. The Government fully supports the valuable opportunity the Jl summer work and travel programme provides for Irish students who wish to work and travel in the United States during the summer period. The participation of...

Topical Issue Debate: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: I do not think it is my telephone. Earlier versions of the Bill and some amendments sought to make changes to the Jl summer programme. These changes would have included the classification of Jl summer participants as "foreign labourers", thereby imposing heavy additional obligations on their employers and the sponsoring organisations who operate the programme. There was also a proposal...

Topical Issue Debate: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: My understanding is that J1 visas will operate on the same basis, namely, that no employment is required prior to departure to the United States. Furthermore, the Bill now moves on to the House of Representatives and the Government will continue to seek to influence the stakeholders there. The Tánaiste will visit Washington next week and he will meet with key players on Capitol Hill in...

Topical Issue Debate: US Surveillance Activity (2 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: The allegations referred to by the Deputy, if true, are naturally of concern to all EU member states. The European External Action Service, EEAS, of the EU has sought clarification of the situation in Washington and Brussels. The Government also expressed its concerns to the US Embassy in Dublin at a senior official level and looks forward to clarification being provided in response to the...