Results 781-800 of 1,212 for speaker:Dara Murphy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State (25 Sep 2014)

Dara Murphy: I will take guidance from the Chair and start with his question. I thank the members for their detailed questions, and if I do not cover everything I would be happy to go through individual questions. The Chairman's question goes to the core of discussions across the Continent, and he is correct that Italian Prime Minister Renzi has addressed the matter. It concerns the question of what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Minister of State (25 Sep 2014)

Dara Murphy: I have indicated how easy it was to take over from somebody who took his role so very seriously and did such an excellent job in the Department. He was an excellent Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, and I hope to do the job even half as well.

Other Questions: Trade Relations (7 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: I thank Deputy Smith for his kind words at the outset this afternoon. The crisis in Ukraine continues to be a major focus for the European Union. On 29 July last, the EU agreed a package of restrictive measures targeting sectoral co-operation and exchanges with the Russian Federation. These measures limit access by Russian state-owned financial institutions to EU capital markets, impose an...

Other Questions: Trade Relations (7 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: Measures are in place specifically to seek other markets. The Deputy is aware that sanctions have only been in place for a number of weeks. Bord Bia has established a helpdesk for exporters. We must also acknowledge that the recent discussions on this difficulty give rise to the hope that a political solution involving the EU and Ukraine will be found. This matter has the attention of the...

Other Questions: Trade Relations (7 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: If the Deputy has been contacted by groups that believe there is some potential, Enterprise Ireland would be more than willing to engage with them. If he passed on their details, we would happily facilitate him. We are trying to secure a competitive advantage in new markets across a broad range of sectors, including the most vital one of agrifood products. The State has done significant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Catalan Referendum (7 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: Arrangements for the governance of any EU Member State are a matter for determination through that country’s democratic processes. Hence, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on such processes in any particular Member State of the European Union.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cyprus Reunification (7 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: Ireland is on record in welcoming the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014 announcing the resumption of settlement talks, and believes that it lays a solid foundation for the re-launch of negotiations for a fair and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem. We welcome the determination of both sides to conduct negotiations in a structured and results-oriented manner. While Minister Flanagan...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (7 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 437 together. Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Enlargement process. Enlargement is generally seen as one of the most successful foreign policy initiatives of the European Union. In this context, we welcome the nomination of Johannes Hahn as Commissioner Designate for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations and wish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (22 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 107 together. The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the statutory body responsible for the licensing and regulation of the private security industry. The PSA, an independent body under the remit of my Department, has adopted a phased approach to licensing and currently licences...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (22 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: Following an extensive consultation process, in January 2012 the European Commission published proposals for a General Data Protection Regulation to replace the 1995 Data Protection Directive (Directive 95/46/EC) and proposals for a Directive on data protection in the police and criminal justice area to replace the 2008 Data Protection Framework Decision (Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA)....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (22 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: The centrepiece of the European Union’s existing data protection regime is the 1995 Data Protection Directive (Directive 95/46/EC). It is an internal market measure which seeks to reconcile the protection of personal data with the free flow of data within the internal market and to countries outside the EU. It has been given effect in our domestic law in the Data Protection Acts 1988...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (22 Oct 2014)

Dara Murphy: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Nov 2014)

Dara Murphy: With regard to the single supervisory mechanism that was put in place recently, the Minister for Finance and others made it clear that the important decision - the so-called game-changer to which the Deputy referred - was that the facility would be open to Ireland if it were in the best interests in the country to apply for the retrospective bank guarantee.

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Nov 2014)

Dara Murphy: We have seen significantly more money returned to the Exchequer for Bank of Ireland than was put in. The State is a significant owner of AIB and Permanent TSB, and choices will be made on our options. The Deputy is correct about the specifics of afforestation and climate mitigation. The detail of the overarching targets will be discussed over the period coming up to the international...

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Nov 2014)

Dara Murphy: ISIS was discussed at the meeting in August and it is expected that it will be discussed again in December. I do not, however, have an update for Deputies in that respect. The question on Cyprus, to an extent, is similar. At the last minute, the Cypriot Prime Minister took ill, which meant that the level of detail considered in the discussion was curtailed. However, Ireland supports...

Mortgage Arrears: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (5 Nov 2014)

Dara Murphy: The debate in the past two days has highlighted the mortgage difficulties faced by many homeowners and the importance of implementing measures to assist those who remain in difficulty. In that regard, I compliment Deputy Joan Collins for tabling the motion, in particular on its timing. Representatives of the banks appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Nov 2014)

Dara Murphy: I thank the Senator and the Cathaoirleach for their kind words. It is a pleasure and great privilege for me to be here for the first time and I hope to return on another occasion. I also convey the apologies of the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. The Senators' amendment provides for the insertion of a new section in the terrorist offences Bill prohibiting the transfer of data "to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Nov 2014)

Dara Murphy: I accept what Senator Ó Clochartaigh believes might be the intention behind the amendment. There are in place, however, mutual assistance treaties which have been agreed with states throughout the European Union and elsewhere and which function well. Those treaties provide protection and safeguards in respect of both data and individuals. I could not agree more with Senator Bradford...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Nov 2014)

Dara Murphy: As the Senator says, it is a very similar argument to the one he made before, so he will not be surprised to hear me make a similar reply. I am unable to accept this amendment because the grounds for refusal of mutual assistance applications, which are included in this Bill, already make such provisions. I refer the Senator to the provisions in section 14, "refusal to confiscate". For...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Nov 2014)

Dara Murphy: There is a difference between the legal provisions that would be put in place and instances such as those the Senator has referenced, where mistakes are made. There can and must be an acceptance that no matter what system or legal basis exists, an error can still be made and even the type of amendments he is proposing in both of these Bills would still not remove the possibility of an error...