Results 17,101-17,120 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Apologies have been received from Deputy Wynne and Mr. Colum Eastwood. Obviously, we will have new members because one of our members, at least, has joined the ministerial ranks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I believe Deputy Brendan Smith lost a brother. I propose a vote of sympathy for him. The committee will join in that. To explain to our guests, we rotate speakers. The order is Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Alliance Party, the Green Party, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and Aontú. We give about 15 minutes to each political party. It is a very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: We all remember the Blaneys, that is for sure, and the Bolands, and all of the history.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, she is online.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Thank you very much. Mr. Kirwan's long experience and knowledge can greatly enlighten us in our questions session in regard to what happened and what we need to do now. As is normal practice, we will take H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and then Dr. Martin Mansergh, and we will then put questions to the witnesses, if that is okay. I thank Mr. Kirwan for his contribution. I call H.E. Dr. McKee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: The ambassador’s experience has been very important in making those changes to our relationship North, South, east and west. The unique and special commitment of our Civil Service, particularly the Departments of Foreign Affairs, and the Taoiseach, has been rewarding in terms of the way our country and economy developed as a result of the Good Friday Agreement. Dr. Mansergh is no...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Dr. Mansergh. I attended the launch of the IBEC report yesterday morning. It was enlightening. The report is a dynamic, non-political, economically focused report, which shows the huge importance of the economic prosperity, North and South, that is a direct result of the GFA. It shows the way forward as one island with 7 million people, 3.5 million of whom are workers. It points...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely. I could not agree more. That is why our committee is so focused on all of us moving forward together. Did Mr. Kirwan wish to say something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Kirwan. We will now start our rotation of speakers as follows; Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, SDLP, Alliance Party, Green Party, Sinn Féin, Labour Party, Independents, Aontú and so forth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is very important and useful information that is very reflective of what happened.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does Senator Currie wish to comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is no problem. Does Dr. McKee wish to comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I call Mr. Kirwan first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Would Dr. McKee like to make any comments on this part of the discussion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: He was a Louth man.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: And he was a Fenian. He turned out to be a unionist. However there are not too many of them around still.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Wally Kirwan, H.E. Dr. Eamonn McKee and Dr. Martin Mansergh (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Dr. McKee's last point is important. One of the weaknesses of our articulation of the Good Friday Agreement is the lack of unionist involvement in our discussions. As has been said, much of our debate is not listened to willingly, much less participated in. They feel if they participate at all, their position will be gone forever. That is the impression I get. We must find a mechanism to...