Results 6,641-6,660 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Deputies Maureen O'Sullivan and Eric Byrne want to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: My question relates to tonight's vote. We must be clear about what is happening. It is the Parliament, more than likely, which will recognise the state of Palestine. The Government has said that it will recognise the state of Palestine when the time is right. Could Ms Minch tell me whether it is case of "damned if you do and damned if you don't" in respect of recognising or not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: We have been there a number of times. We went there last year. First of all, I went to Gaza and Israel with the then leader of the Opposition, An Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, and Deputies Billy Timmins and Alan Shatter. The committee has gone on a number of occasions. We went last year to the refugee camps in Jordan. We think Jordan has an important role to play in the peace process....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: I see where Ms Minch is coming from with regard to the ban on settlement goods, and she spoke about €230 million worth of goods. A ban will not be effective unless every country in the European Union makes it effective, and this will not happen. Europe is very divided with regard to the Middle East and the foreign ministers will tell one this. The gesture is more symbolically than...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Yes, but this issue has been going on----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: It has been with the committee for a number of years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: That is the problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: What do the witnesses think of the new EU policy guidelines being worked out at present with regard to the labelling of goods from settlements so they are not misrepresented to consumers as having come from Israel? Is work ongoing at EU level in this regard? Is this a first step with regard to what the witnesses are proposing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: They would have a choice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Would it be seen as a first step, given the divisions which exist with regard to the ban on settlement goods in the European Union at present?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: That is true.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: We have had a very good interactive debate between committee members and the witnesses. It is good to differ, challenge and ask questions. It is important to probe what is happening in Israel at present. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: One of the issues about which the witnesses spoke is very straightforward and will be dealt with this evening and it will be unanimous. The ban is an ongoing issue for the committee. As I stated, a ban on settlement goods can only be effective if the EU as a whole acts. Otherwise it will not work. We have had motions on it previously and we have put them to the Minister. With the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: I thank the witnesses for coming before us. There will be further debate on this issue. More than likely, somebody from the Israeli government will put a different point to us in the new year, as the committee must be balanced and hear everybody's viewpoint. We certainly take on board what the witnesses have said today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: They have given us a very comprehensive view of their workings and the effects the illegal settlements are having.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (11 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: 215. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 768 of 17 June 2014, if a review has been undertaken of the national car testing facilities in County Clare; his plans to open a second NCT centre in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47571/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (16 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: 313. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of headage and single farm payments will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48047/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (16 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: 321. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 19 November 2014 when a single farm payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48253/14]

Leaders' Questions (17 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Where is the evidence?