Results 1,521-1,540 of 2,792 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (3 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: Ireland has provided development and humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people for many years. The country has been beset with a combination of both climate and natural disasters as well as continued human rights and poverty challenges for decades. The global coronavirus pandemic is further straining an already fragile social and health infrastructure. Since 2018, Ireland has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (3 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains a roster of Irish volunteers available for nomination to election observation missions organised by the OSCE and the EU. Due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the OSCE and the EU suspended election observation missions until last month. In respect of forthcoming elections this month and next, in Ukraine, Georgia and Republic of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: Recent developments in Nigeria, which have seen credible allegations of the use of excessive force against protesters, are of great concern, in particular the violence of 20 October in Lagos. Armed men in military-style attire attacked a group of protesters in the Lekki area of Lagos, using live ammunition, resulting in at least 12 deaths and many people injured. I extend my deep...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (3 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: Yemen is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world with 24 million people, 80 per cent of the population, continuing to require assistance and/or protection. The UN is warning that the country is on the brink of famine. Yemen faces outbreaks of violent conflict, flooding, displacement, cholera and restrictions on humanitarian access. Currently COVID 19 is spreading rapidly in the country. ...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Airports (6 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: I thank Senators Chambers and Murphy for providing an opportunity to speak about the Government's plans for the continuing support for Ireland West Airport Knock through the Covid crisis. I am happy to speak today on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. At this stage there can be no doubt about the impacts of Covid-19 on the aviation industry and the knock-on effects...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Airports (6 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: I acknowledge the Senators' comments. We have listened carefully to them. To give further assurance, the Government understands absolutely the intrinsic value of airports such as Ireland West Airport Knock to our economy, particularly in facilitating tourism and economic activity. We acknowledge in particular the difficulties facing our airports and the wider aviation industry at present....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (6 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: I thank my party colleagues, Senators Buttimer and Burke, for raising this issue. I am delighted to have an opportunity to reply on behalf my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. In September, the Minister launched the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, which sets out an ambitious new roadmap for waste planning and management and seeks to shift the focus away from waste...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Recycling Policy (6 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: I acknowledge the contribution of both Senators and will relay their points to the Minister.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Election Monitoring Missions (6 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: As the Senator noted, the Department maintains an election observation roster comprising highly qualified volunteers who are competitively selected. The roster is a demonstration of Ireland's contribution to the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law as a member of the EU and the OSCE. Roster members are expected to discharge their responsibilities to a high standard....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Election Monitoring Missions (6 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: I will start by putting something immediately on record. There is not something rotten going on. That is a regrettable choice of words by Senator Mullen. It is a key cornerstone of the way in which we operate that we are conscious of ensuring the well-being and safety of members of the Irish roster when selected. We are also conscious of ensuring the safety and health of everyone in our...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Election Monitoring Missions (6 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: Other countries have different ways of doing things. The Government in this country puts the health and safety of our citizens first.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (10 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: Since the restriction measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic were implemented in March 2020, Ireland has not nominated observers to participate in international election observation missions. Due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the OSCE suspended standard election observation missions (EOMs). The OSCE EOM to North Macedonia which had commenced activities on 1 March 2020...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (11 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: The Department of Foreign Affairs enables participation by Irish citizens in overseas election observation missions organised by the EU and the OSCE through nomination of volunteers from our Election Observation Roster. The current, five-year roster was established on the basis of an open, competitive application process in 2018, using a competency framework for ranking in line with Public...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Search and Rescue Service Provision (12 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: I wish to take the opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister for Defence, who is unfortunately unable to be present in the Chamber due to previous commitments. He has asked me to respond to this matter and to highlight the important role played by the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps, in supporting a wide range of public-facing services. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Search and Rescue Service Provision (12 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: I will ensure that she receives a copy. It is important to listen to what people are saying, as the Deputy pointed out. I will reiterate a couple of the points I made in my reply, as she may not have taken them on board the first time. Personnel from the Department of Defence and members of the Air Corps are key stakeholders in the steering group that is progressing this contract....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Budget 2021 (17 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: A Better World, the Government's policy for international development, establishes gender equality as a policy priority, specifically identifying response to, and prevention of, gender-based violence (GBV) as a key focus. Ireland is consistently among those OECD countries with the highest proportion of official development assistance (ODA) invested yearly in gender equality measures. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: Recent developments in Nigeria, including credible allegations of the use of excessive force against protesters, are of great concern, in particular the violence of 20 October in Lagos. Armed men in military-style attire fired towards a group of protesters in the Lekki area of Lagos, using live ammunition. The number of casualties remains unclear, but reports have claimed that at least 12...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (19 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: Sixty years ago this year, Ireland opened its first African diplomatic Mission as part of a drive to strengthen ties with African countries, especially those that had recently won their independence. Today our presence has grown to twelve Embassies across the continent of Africa, including in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa. In 2019, the Government launched...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Constitutional Amendments (19 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: The Government is committed to holding a referendum on extending the franchise at Presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside the State.  We have restored the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Elections) Bill to the Dáil Order Paper.   The date for the holding of the referendum will be decided once the legislation has been approved by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (24 Nov 2020)

Colm Brophy: Ireland's current International Election Observation Roster, which is facilitated by the Department of Foreign Affairs, is effective as of 1 January 2019 and will run through 2023. Roster members were selected on the basis of an open competitive application process in 2018. This process has ensured that 1) there is a suitably skilled, trained and security-vetted pool of volunteers who are...