Results 15,961-15,980 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Brecknell. Before I follow our agreed rotation, I see Deputy Tóibín has a question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: We agreed a rotation earlier. I will stick-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I want to stick to what we agreed. I appreciate the Deputy being helpful in his suggestion. The rotation is Fine Gael followed by Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, the SDLP, Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, Independents, Aontú, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and the Green Party, which we agreed earlier. I call on the Fine Gael members, Senator Currie and then Deputy Carroll MacNeill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before you do, I will take Deputy Carroll MacNeill as well as the other Fine Gael member present. There are seven or eight minutes left in the slot. Deputy Carroll MacNeill can ask her questions and then we will let Senator Currie back in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Can we agree as a committee that we will write to the Minister for Justice seeking a report on this issue in support of what the families have said, in particular given Ms Urwin said in her address that they have committed to seeking priority for legislation if it is needed, and to look for reassurance on that issue? Do we agree that would be a reasonable thing to do and that we would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does Mr. Brecknell wish to say anything?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Smith still has some time left if he wishes to use it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thought you had another separate question. We will be taking you later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Would Ms Urwin like to say something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: In the letter we agreed to write earlier, perhaps we could add reference to the urgency of the matter and to the fact the committee will support our guests and fully agrees with them. We will ask the Minister to contact the Attorney General and express the full urgency and concerns that have been expressed, if that is helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: We must suspend the meeting in order to accommodate a vote in the Houses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: This session will involve contributions from Sinn Féin, followed by the Green Party. Ms Gildernew suggested Deputy Tully, but she may not be back yet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can ask Mr. Stephens. I know he cannot speak at this meeting but there is no reason the committee cannot do that, or, indeed, write to all MPs who, like Ms Gildernew, have a voice in the British Parliament. It is a matter for each MP to use his or her voice. The reality is that if one wants to stop a vote in a parliament, and one has a seat in that parliament, there is a clear way to do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: The only way to stop legislation one does not want, if one is a member of parliament, is to vote against it. That is my own view. Each party and member is entitled to a vote and has the right to use it as they wish. There are five or six minutes of Sinn Féin's time left. Perhaps Deputy Tully wants to come in. She suggested earlier she might wish to do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am sorry, but we must suspend again for reasons beyond our control. I understand from the clerk that there is another vote in the Dáil Chamber so, unfortunately, we will have to suspend. The Sinn Féin time slot has ended so it will be the turn of the Green Party, and Deputy Costello, who has been waiting a long time, when we come back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Our meeting is now resumed. I thank Mr. Brecknell and Ms Urwin for their patience and understanding of the slowness of the democratic process with our voting system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: We had a problem hearing the Deputy clearly, unfortunately.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Perhaps Mr. Brecknell and Ms Urwin wish to comment on what they heard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: If we were to agree to that proposal from Deputy Costello, then the clerk to the committee can circulate a draft letter as soon as possible after this meeting is over. That might go some way to meeting the points that have been made. Ms Michelle Gildernew had a proposal as well. I think that the secretariat communicated with her and circulated the statement that we made earlier. Does any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Justice for the Forgotten (2 Dec 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: If my memory is good enough, yes. First, we agreed that we would write to the Irish Government on the issues that the witnesses have raised, particularly the commitment they got about prioritising legislation if no progress is made. The clerk has the wording. Ms Urwin spoke about the advice of the Attorney General in her statement, so we will write to the Government urging it to seek the...