Results 1,361-1,380 of 1,750 for speaker:Declan Breathnach

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and persons in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. Members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile phone is turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on their device. It is not sufficient for members just to put their phones on silent mode as that will maintain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: We will move on to the witness' statements.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: Before I open up to the floor, I acknowledge the presence of Senator Diarmuid Wilson in the Gallery. I also welcome the visitors with the delegation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I will take a second speaker. Mr. Baird has indicated. I apologise, Mr. Francie Molloy has indicated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I am sorry, Mr. Molloy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I thank Mr. Molloy. The words of the Tánaiste were that the A5 was being postponed. This was reiterated by the Taoiseach in the Dáil earlier. Would the witnesses like to avail of the opportunity to respond to those two contributions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I call Mr. Treanor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I call Mr. Mr. McCreesh. Most of the other members also want to contribute, so I am conscious of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: Two more of our guests have indicated. They should feel free, if they leave something out, to come back in when the other speakers have contributed. I will take Mr. Doyle and then Mr. Baird before reverting to Deputy McLoughlin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I will take Deputy Brendan Smith and then Senator Craughwell before going back to our guests.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: As well as the central Border region there are also the north-west and east Border regions, we will hear a presentation on the latter, which is part of my area, later. Mr. McCreesh mentioned the issue of being fully recognised as a region and as a collective unit. Do the witnesses see merit in the co-ordination and facilitation of efforts between the three groupings working together? They...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Challenges Facing Cross-Border Authorities: Irish Central Border Area Network (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I am particularly impressed by the visitors who have travelled with the witnesses today. It shows the importance of collegiality and of people having a voice. In my time in this House this is the biggest delegation to come into the Gallery. I reassure them that this will not be the end of our engagement; the secretariat, in the planning programme, will note that we intend to have an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and people who may come into the Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. Members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting mobile phones are turned off completely and switched to aeroplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device. It is not sufficient for members to just place their phones in silent mode as this will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: That is fine. I call Councillor O'Hanlon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I call Alderman Hatch.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: I thank the witnesses for their presentations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: Would Mr. O'Hanlon or Mr. Hatch like to say anything on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: Just before I bring in Ms Gildernew, I wish to ask the same question as I asked of the previous group about the need for facilitation to ensure there is joined-up thinking on the economic approach to the entire Border region. Does Ms Arthurs see that as important? As I stated, many areas have the same issues but many of them also have strengths that can be used to attract funding. Does she...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: We are here to discuss how we can improve the situation, which is not a reflection on the great work that the three organisations are doing. As I said at the earlier session, one could close one's eyes and listen to either group, or even people of different persuasions North or South; if one did not know their names and where they came from their problems are exactly the same. To respond...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: East Border Region (14 Feb 2019)

Declan Breathnach: Before I bring in Senator Black, others have referred to the difficulty with regard to the electricity interconnector and the impact for the east Border region in that respect. Others have mentioned issues of broadband and mobile coverage, especially in the cross-Border context, and the need for people to recognise those issues need to be addressed. Mr. Hatch mentioned the absence of the...