Results 181-200 of 2,547 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council Meeting: Discussion (7 Feb 2024)

Colm Brophy: I want to tie into the European side for the Minister of State with responsibility for European issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council Meeting: Discussion (7 Feb 2024)

Colm Brophy: I would like to raise one or two points in conclusion. I would like to take a moment to talk about John Bruton. I had the privilege of knowing John since I was a teenager. He was one of the people fundamental to me in shaping my politics and why I got involved in the Fine Gael political party. There are so many occasions and things that I could talk about. There are two things I want to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council Meeting: Discussion (7 Feb 2024)

Colm Brophy: Thank you very much for that answer. With that, I will draw our meeting to a close.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council Meeting: Discussion (7 Feb 2024)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Minister of State. A number of members have indicated, the first of whom was Deputy Howlin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council Meeting: Discussion (7 Feb 2024)

Colm Brophy: I ask the Senator to focus on the European aspect.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (23 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: 290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration can be giving to enabling SNAs make contributions to an AVC pension scheme directly from their salary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2683/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: I am delighted to welcome to our first meeting of the year the Belgian ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Ms Karen Van Vlierberge. She is joined by her colleague, Mr. Julien Thonar. The ambassador is here to discuss Belgium's priorities for the EU Presidency. We wish Belgium the best of luck with its Presidency and look forward to hearing its priorities. Before we begin our discussion, I will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: I thank the ambassador very much. I hand over to my colleagues, I want to acknowledge the very comprehensive programme she has outlined. As I was listening to the presentation, I reminded myself that this is a six-month Presidency. It is amazing the amount that the ambassador covered. I know there are a number of areas that members will want to ask about and engage on. The first member...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: I will ask a question if nobody else wants to come back in. There is very little to say because it has been a very comprehensive discussion. I want to pick up on the ambassador's final point. Europe faces a very big choice in terms of its defence industry. The potential for an outcome in the US presidential election that would, for the first time since the end of the Second World War,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: The ambassador will keep the Deputy informed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: And a lot of other focus.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: We will conclude. Deputy Ó Murchú has promised me that this is going to be a really small contribution. It will be a succinct and small contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: I thank the ambassador. We will now conclude because at this point we have had contributions from everybody. I thank the ambassador and her colleague for coming in today. It has been a very strong engagement and we have covered a lot of ground. I wish you the best in your Presidency in the coming three, four, five or six months and that it is an active and productive one. As Europe we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: I am going to echo Deputy Troy's words on this.. Unfortunately, we had almost half an hour of discussion on Gaza just before Her Excellency's arrival. I ask her to make it a summary in response rather than repeating everything we have just gone through and, obviously, to answer the Deputy's first question as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Ambassador of Belgium to Ireland (17 Jan 2024)

Colm Brophy: Absolutely, which is a fair-----

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Pensions (12 Dec 2023)

Colm Brophy: 169. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if pensioners or soon-to-be pensioners of An Post, who were originally employees of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs prior to the creation of An Post, can still exercise their right to claim a Civil Service pension rather than the reduced pension available from the An Post scheme; and if he will make a statement...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Colm Brophy: I would like to focus on the future, looking beyond Christmas and beyond what has happened. Over the next 12 months how would the Minister like to see the policing of demonstrations change? What level of policing can we expect, particularly in Dublin? I think people realise that due to the actions of the Minister and the Garda Commissioner, there has been a very strong uptick in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Georgia's Application to join the European Union: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Colm Brophy: I wish everyone a good morning. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Teimuraz Janjalia, one of Georgia's Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs. I hope I have pronounced his name correctly. He is joined by his ambassador, as well as one of his senior councillors. They are all very welcome. Before we begin the formal session, we have what we call a note on privilege that I must read...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Georgia's Application to join the European Union: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive opening statement. He acknowledged that Ireland is very supportive. This Government and Oireachtas and this committee have worked for what we believe to be proper, full enlargement of the European Union that takes account of the Europe we live in today, building a new and larger European Union with the participation of new member states. That is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Georgia's Application to join the European Union: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Colm Brophy: I would be interested to hear how Mr. Janjalia sees external players reacting to progressive membership talks, and greater and deepening ties between Georgia and the European Union. Where does he assess the risks or volatility of reactions to that? Russia is the obvious example. I fervently hope come December that candidate status will be able to progress. As Mr. Janjalia will be aware...