Results 19,921-19,940 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome Ms Mateus Parra.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you. That finishes the opening contributions from the witnesses. I will now turn to the committee members to develop the issues as referred to and included in the presentations. I call Deputy Brady.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I noticed from my screen that Ms Tunney had indicated by raising her hand before I went to Deputy Brady. Perhaps it was for a brief intervention before going to our members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will group questions from a number of Deputies and Senators before going back to Ms Tunney. Perhaps she will be kind enough to distribute the questions as she deems appropriate among her colleagues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: We will revert to Ms Tunney to deal with the many questions as asked. Before giving Ms Tunney the floor, in the context of my own support for a more robust framework, allegations were made earlier with particular reference to named companies. One of those was the ESB, as Deputy Brady pointed out. This committee has correspondence from the ESB. My understanding, by way of follow up, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I remind members that if Ms Mateus Parra does make a contribution, we should have the translator at the ready.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I want to add to what Deputy Stanton said about looking at domestic legislation in some EU states. Mr. Walsh might be able to give us a practical manifestation of what would happen if, for example, a human rights abuse occurred in the Amazon and the remedy was in a court in Dublin. How would he see that working out practically, with particular reference to the conduct of the hearing but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Ms Tunney for that response. Before bringing in Deputy Stanton whose hand is raised, I will bring in Mr. O'Neill who has raised his hand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: That is very useful. Deputy Stanton has a further question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will come back to Ms Tunney but, first, there was a reference by Mr. O'Neill or Ms Tunney to a community support figure. A survey showed 81% support from the Irish people towards a more robust framework, which in any circumstances is overwhelming. If that indicates the support of the Irish people, was a similar survey conducted of Irish business? Where does the support lie in terms of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you. I call Mr. Walsh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you, Mr. Walsh. I call Mr. O'Neill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Engagement with the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights (7 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Thank you very much. To bring matters to a conclusion, this was a very interesting engagement and I thank our guests for their expertise and for sharing with us the experience of their work over a number of years. In particular, I thank Ms Mateus Parra for joining us from Colombia and for sharing with us the first-hand experience there. I also again thank Ms Tunney, Mr. O'Neill and Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Special Representative: Mr. Eamon Gilmore (14 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I see members are tuning in remotely. I apologise for the lack of in-person engagement but, as members know, it is in accordance with current Covid-19 restrictions. I have received a note from Deputy Leddin to the effect that he will join us after 3.30 p.m. or 3.45 p.m. I am very pleased that we are having this session with the former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Special Representative: Mr. Eamon Gilmore (14 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. Gilmore for that comprehensive overview of the work being undertaken by him and his office. I will now turn to members of the committee. Given the wide-ranging nature of the overview and of the work under discussion, I propose to take observations and questions from a number of members before reverting to the special envoy for a response. We will start with Deputy Brady. I see...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Special Representative: Mr. Eamon Gilmore (14 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will go back to Mr. Gilmore again on the basis of a number of issues already discussed, particularly questions on Colombia that were raised by Deputy Brady and added to by Senator O'Reilly. Colombia has been the subject of some discussion and debate in this committee over the past year or more. Mr. Gilmore has spoken about his work and about the importance of the European Union...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Special Representative: Mr. Eamon Gilmore (14 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Mr. Gilmore and I will come back now to our committee members commencing with Deputy Leddin, followed by Deputies Clarke and Stanton.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Special Representative: Mr. Eamon Gilmore (14 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: The Deputy had indicated a particular timeframe for himself.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Special Representative: Mr. Eamon Gilmore (14 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Before bringing matters towards a conclusion, I will make a couple of observations. I acknowledge the importance of Mr. Gilmore's work in Colombia on behalf of the European Union, which includes ourselves in Ireland, as an active member of the Union. I acknowledge the expertise and experience he brings, having regard to his many years in domestic politics here, with particular reference to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: EU Special Representative: Mr. Eamon Gilmore (14 Dec 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Before we conclude, I see Senator Ardagh offering. My apologies for not seeing you earlier, Senator. I will give you the floor before we conclude.