Results 1,761-1,780 of 2,792 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: The number of people facing acute food insecurity and needing life-saving assistance hit a five-year high in 2020. Conflict, economic shocks related to COVID-19 alongside the impacts of climate change led to 155 million people experiencing acute food insecurity - an increase of 20 million people from the previous year. Across 55 countries, over 75 million children under five were stunted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 288 together. The UN estimates that, in 2021, 235 million people need humanitarian assistance and protection, equivalent to one in 33 people worldwide. Over 155 million people experienced acute food insecurity at crisis levels, or worse, an increase of around 20 million people from the previous year, Women and children are particularly affected...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland has been a long-standing champion of global efforts to reduce hunger and starvation. The roots of hunger lie in poverty, deprivation and exclusion, exacerbated by conflict, climate change - and now COVID-19. The eradication of hunger and a particular focus on tackling undernutrition has been a cornerstone of Ireland’s development programme since its inception. ‘A...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: Irish Aid's objectives are outlined in A Better World, Ireland's international development policy. These reflect Ireland's strong commitment to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and its targets, which remain at the heart of our approach to international development.  The Government's annual report on official development assistance is a useful resource which details the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA), directed through multilateral and bilateral channels, is directed to countries and people who are in greatest need. A Better World, Ireland's international development policy, re-emphasizes this approach throughout with an overarching principle to reach those that are furthest behind first, as well as achieving the core objective of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: Irish Aid currently has 11 bilateral programmes. There are nine in sub-Saharan African countries: Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia; with two further bilateral programmes in Vietnam and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). A number of the Embassies in these countries support development work in countries of secondary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: Safe drinking water is essential in the fight against poverty, hunger, child deaths and gender inequality, and has a renewed importance in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Despite this, 844 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. Ireland recognises that ensuring affordable and sustainable access to clean water is a key public health and development issue. The 2030...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland recognises that access to health systems and basic sanitation remain out of reach for many of the world’s poorest communities, despite the progress that has been made in reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and fighting diseases including HIV and AIDS. In Ireland’s international development policy, A Better World, we have committed to continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland strongly condemns the continued violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and Al Shabaab. Ireland supports the EU, UN and other international efforts to reduce the influence of Boko Haram and Al Shabaab and to prevent their attacks, especially against civilians and humanitarian workers and facilities. Ireland continues to monitor the activities of these groups and to assist populations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (29 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together. Ireland has a longstanding relationship with Ethiopia, our largest bilateral development partner, built over time and characterised by close working relationships with its people and Government. Over the past 5 years alone, Ireland invested approximately €200m to support Ethiopia’s development and growth, with a focus on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (30 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I thank Deputy Murphy for giving me the opportunity to discuss this issue in the House today. As many Members will be aware, rail services on this particular line ceased operation in 2010 under an agreement between the National Transport Authority, NTA, and Iarnród Éireann. A number of improvements were made to bus services in the area at the time to ensure continued public...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (30 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for her comments and will pass her remarks on to the Minister with regard to when the strategic railway review will conclude. It will commence shortly. The Deputy will be aware that a procurement process related to the review is under way. The review will examine the network across the island of Ireland with regard to improving sustainable connectivity between major...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (30 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and providing an opportunity to update the House. The Cork boundary alteration is the most significant of its kind undertaken in the State and represents a major reorganisation of local government in Cork. The main aim of the boundary extension was to allow the potential for further development within a new Cork City Council area, while also...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (30 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I hear the Deputy very clearly on that. The Minister is hopeful that the outstanding matters can be resolved between the two authorities in the coming weeks. Therefore, while a review to determine the overall success of the boundary extension may be considered in the future, at this stage of the implementation it would be premature to look at that. It is considered beneficial to wait until...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: On 8 May, the Government of Nepal made a request for emergency assistance to the EU through the EU Emergency Response Mechanism. In response, Irish officials made an assessment of medical equipment available in the HSE's stockpile of medical supplies. On June 16, Ireland donated the following equipment to Nepal: 72 oxygen concentrators; 42 ventilators; 12 bipap machines; 400 oximeters;...