Results 6,321-6,340 of 25,858 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: But, what I would say-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I certainly will. The reality is that it is incumbent upon all of us - I include Sinn Féin and others - to make sure that we get to the truth of the matter and that what has happened never happens again. We must ensure that all future Ministers for justice and Taoisigh never preside over the sorry saga we have seen in the past week to ten days. It borders on the pathetic. I am also...

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I can tell the House, and I am sure many other Members can do so as well. What we are concerned about is getting to the truth for Garda McCabe and for Sergeant McCabe. There are six other gardaí who have never got the truth, who were murdered by the Provisional IRA while carrying out their duties. Their families have never got the truth. I have no love for this Government at all...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I apologise for being late. I have read the Minister's statement and wish to raise two points. I am sure the Department was aware that there would be an increase in passport applications. I heard on the media this morning that the Minister intends to employ additional staff in the passport service, although that is not specifically alluded to in his address. How many extra staff does he...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for his comments. I note provision has been made for a 7% increase in salaries and wages next year. Perhaps the Minister or Mr. Gormley will answer my questions on staffing. Will the Department advertise for additional staff and if so, how many? Recruitment was reported on RTE, the national broadcaster. Not everything RTE says is true but it might be in this...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister indicated in his statement that he has spoken at least once to every other EU foreign Minister. That is crucial. I know he intends to keep that engagement going. How many bilateral meetings does the Taoiseach have left to do with his counterparts? I understand from questions to him yesterday that he may have done one third of the meetings. What plans are there to ramp up...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I appreciate that the Minister has kept us informed of the meetings happening within the Department. Speaking from an Opposition perspective, I say that we need more briefings from officials to other parties and groupings in the Dáil. I am not just talking about the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but of all relevant Departments. That aspect needs to be strengthened, in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I absolutely agree with the Chairman. It is not just the responsibility of the Government. We all have a role, including Members and officials. We all know the unique relationship between Ireland and Britain. I take it from the responses that Ireland will not seek special status for the North of Ireland in a European context. We are effectively saying that the British Government has...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that, Chairman. I understand what the Minister is saying, which is that because it would be difficult to achieve, we are not going to try. The largest number of EU citizens who will be outside the European Union will reside in the Six Counties, in the North of Ireland, post Brexit. It is totally unique. The EU will understand that it is unique. There are difficulties with...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for outlining the issues. I support the ongoing work of our Defence Forces in peacekeeping throughout the world. They are a credit to the country and we are all very proud of them. With regard to the human rights element to which the Minister alluded, what is Ireland's view on the proposed third country arrangements between the EU and Libya? I have been critical of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: No, to clarify, I do not make such a charge against the Minister. I asked whether since the recent announcements of the expanded settlements we had been formally in contact with the Israelis but I do not lay a charge at the Minister's door that he has not spoken out in the past.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I fully agree with the Minister on the trade promotion element and that trade is now firmly embedded within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. That is important. It is logical and it makes sense. To follow on from what the Chairman has said, I would like to ask the Minister about the new trade strategy. When it is published, what will the process be? Will the Minister being...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Ministers who were there in the interregnum did not-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I get the Minister's point of St. Patrick's Day. I was alluding to the number of trade missions excluding the St. Patrick's Day programme. Minster-led missions went from 34 to 18. Was that basically a result of the election?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, last year.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I want to add to Deputy Noel Grealish's sentiments. There are exceptional people working in the consular services who are a credit to the country, particularly when one sees them working on the ground. It has been consistently recognised, but this year will be more challenging for many of our embassies, particularly in Europe. There is never a problem with the consular services and the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Following on from the Chairman's point in regard to current spend being 0.3% of GNP, perhaps the Minister of State would confirm if that is the official outturn figure for last year.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Okay. Does the Minister of State have the final figure for 2016? There has been only a €10 million increase, although I acknowledge that, in fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, he will be fighting for additional provision. I recognise the work of Irish Aid, Mr. Gaffey and his team. It is superb, there is no question about that, but it needs to be further resourced....

Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (21 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I commend Deputy Frank O'Rourke for proposing this Bill. He has done much work in engaging with the various sectors affected by this issue. I looked back over the work of the last Oireachtas to find that the only Bill to pass all Stages in the Seanad was the Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2015, which Senator Marc MacSharry co-sponsored. It was from that Bill that we...

Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (21 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Absolutely. On a more serious note this is important legislation. It follows on from the work we did in 2015. Fianna Fáil has been consistent. We are asking the Minister of State to do what the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, did by accepting this Bill, but moving it on and bringing it into law.