Results 6,121-6,140 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Ireland enjoys excellent bilateral relations with Cuba and I look forward to Irish-Cuban relations developing further in the period ahead. I also welcome the recent agreement by the European Union and Cuba to open negotiations on a political dialogue and co-operation agreement which will provide a strong framework for the European Union’s relationship with Cuba. I am pleased to note...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: The people to whom the Deputy refers are the original Cuban five. They were sentenced in 2001. Two have already been released. Another is due for release in 2017 and another in 2014, and the last person was charged with other serious matters. The thrust of the question is the link between the Cuban five and the activities in which they were engaged in the United States, and there is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: The issues in question relate to charges against unregistered agents of a foreign government and the offences arising from them. This a bilateral consular issue between the US and the Cuban authorities. The Irish Government has no formal standing on this matter, but it is of concern to us and the officials in the Department are engaged on it. I spoke to the Ambassador of Cuba last month....

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Through the Government’s development co-operation programme, Ireland is committed to providing long-term strategic assistance to nine key partner countries, eight of them in Africa. Good governance and human rights are key elements of our development programme. In addition to providing assistance to organisations promoting human rights, our embassies in our key partner countries work...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: President Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which the Ugandan Parliament passed earlier this year, into law. Shortly afterwards, a group of Ugandan citizens launched a constitutional challenge to the legislation. The Ugandan Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law has issued guidelines on the international response cautioning against linking cuts in ODA to...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Yes, I am confident. I met a host of civil society organisations, including LGBTI representatives, when I visited Uganda. While I said that other countries had cut off aid, they have not cut off aid entirely. They have made cuts in their aid or they have suspended elements of it. This is the case for Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. Ireland has not done so and has continued...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid Oversight (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: In October 2012 we suspended over €16 million of Ireland's development assistance to Uganda following the discovery of fraud in the Office of the Prime Minister. In response to our strong action the Government of Uganda has since refunded in full the €4 million of Irish Aid funds which were misappropriated. A full report on the fraud by the evaluation and audit unit of the...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid Oversight (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: All of that has happened. The evaluation and audit unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not only conducted an evaluation and examination of the position in Uganda but has also looked at the position in our other partner countries, eight of the nine of which are in Africa, while the ninth is Vietnam. As a result of the fraud uncovered, we have taken a very deliberate step...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid Oversight (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: We deal with the situation as we see it on the ground. Under the OECD guidelines, the most desirable way to ensure partnership engagement between the donor country and the partner country is for the governments to engage. Where the partner government has a budget to deal with health, education and so on, that becomes part and parcel of the prioritisation donor countries engage in to ensure...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: I attended the Foreign Affairs Council meeting of development Ministers in Brussels on 19 May. The Council adopted conclusions on the 2014 annual report to the European Council on the EU’s development aid targets. The Council conclusions note that, despite continuing serious budgetary pressures, the EU’s collective official development assistance - from member states and the...

Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: The latest figures show that four countries - Sweden, Luxembourg, Denmark and the UK - have met the 0.7% GNI target. The UK did so just this year. Ireland's ODA level stood at 0.45% of GNI in 2013, which placed us joint seventh in the EU table. This is against a background of being in the troika programme and in an economic crisis over the past five or six years. Overall, the EU...

Return to Writ: Longford-Westmeath - Introduction of New Member (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish to be associated with the congratulations to Deputy Gabrielle McFadden on her election. It must be a time of sadness on the passing of her sister but also a time of hope due to her own election and the fact that she continues the legacy so ably carried on by her sister here. I am happy to recognise that Deputy Gabrielle McFadden's husband Brian is in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Angola has experienced high economic growth rates in recent years, but continues to face drought-related humanitarian emergencies, and the aftermath of 27 years of conflict. In particular, the widespread use of landmines during the conflict has held back agricultural development in some areas. A drought during the 2012-2013 agricultural cycle continues to have an impact on Angola’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. The number of fatalities surpasses an estimated 150,000 people. There are now over 9.3 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, and a further 2.8 million Syrian refugees require assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Since the outbreak of the conflict in South Sudan in mid-December 2013, more than 1.2 million people have been forced from their homes and an estimated five million people are in urgent need of assistance. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), there is a serious risk of famine later this year unless adequate humanitarian assistance can be delivered to those most in need. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Since the outbreak of the conflict in South Sudan in mid-December 2013, more than 1.2 million people have been forced from their homes and an estimated five million people are in urgent need of assistance. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), there is a serious risk of famine later this year unless adequate humanitarian assistance can be delivered to those most in need. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (28 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. Ireland, together with our EU and UN partners, closely monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world, including human rights situations of key concern on the African continent. This is conducted on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources including both official channels and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Development Fund: Motion (29 May 2014)

Joe Costello: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for inviting me here today to discuss the internal agreement relating to the 11th European Development Fund. As the Chairman mentioned, the EDF is the main instrument for delivering EU development assistance to the African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP, group of states. The European Development Fund, unlike the EU's other external relations...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Development Fund: Motion (29 May 2014)

Joe Costello: I thank the Chairman and members for their questions, which strongly probe the genesis and nature of the European Development Fund. Deputy Brendan Smith asked about the genesis of the fund and a number of other speakers also referred to the issue. He noted the role of the European Commission, through the development Commissioner, and the involvement of each member state on the committee...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Development Fund: Motion (29 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Yes, it is a great company. We should publicise the fact that a State company is able to compete with the largest country in the world. The quality of its business, engineering and expertise make for a good story and one we should all tell. Incidentally, I will also sign a double taxation agreement with Botswana. My visit to Africa will have other elements of a trade mission, both in...