Results 20,681-20,700 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Territorial Integrity of Georgia and its Integration into the European Union: Motion (23 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I move:That the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence:- welcomes an impressive growth of political relations and co-operation in a variety of fields over the last few years between Ireland and Georgia, and expresses hope that bilateral ties will continue to further deepen; the newly opened Georgian Embassy will contribute to this process; - reaffirms Ireland’s unwavering...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Territorial Integrity of Georgia and its Integration into the European Union: Motion (23 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I completely agree with the Chairman on that issue. It is not right that anyone should be denied the right to speak, particularly an ambassador. The Israeli ambassador, Mr. Boker, does a good job here. We do not always have to agree on everything. As the Chairman said, however, it is crucially important that everyone has the right to ventilate his or her point of view. I strongly condemn...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: 31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised the issue of the undocumented Irish during his recent visit to Washington; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8549/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Minister report on his recent visit to Washington, D.C. and his discussions on the fate of the undocumented Irish? What issues or measures did he raise with his counterparts in America? Can he report any progress in that regard with the new Administration?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for that outline. For the purpose of the discussions the Taoiseach will have with President Trump, is the Minister exploring other options? The Obama plan for overall immigration reform is dead in the water under the new Administration and we cannot wait for a change in administration to find a new tack. Might there be reciprocal visa arrangements such as a bilateral...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Minister for that update and also for raising the matter of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. While we have many issues to discuss with our British and European counterparts, it is important these items do not go off the agenda. I, too, along with my party leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, met James Brokenshire just over two weeks ago. We have restated to the British, as I am...

Other Questions: EU Migration Crisis (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Is there a proposed EU-Libya migration deal on the table? Are the measures that have been announced by way of the Malta declaration simply measures of stemming the tide or are they real measures of assistance? Médecins sans Frontières has stated:With their "Malta Declaration" on the Central Mediterranean, the European Council is delusional about just how dangerous the situation in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed) (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Libya is an example of how disastrous western intervention in other countries can be at times. Libya is an ungovernable country and the administration there has very little control over vast swathes of it. I am not sure, from the Minister's answer, whether the EU is moving towards a formal EU-Libya migration deal that will involve turning people away from EU countries and resettling them...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: 28. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. James Brokenshire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8547/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister has covered some of this. I want to ask him to report on his recent meeting with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. James Brokenshire. Will the Minister bring us up to date on that? It was the subject of a priority question earlier and that is why it was not grouped. Was the matter of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings raised with the British Secretary of...

Other Questions: EU Migration Crisis (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: 27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the proposed EU-Libya migration deal; his further views on the conditions in Libya and its ability to provide a secure and safe haven for refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8697/17]

Other Questions: EU Migration Crisis (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Minister will know, I have been very critical of the EU-Turkey arrangement and the move towards further third party arrangements between the EU and other countries. With that in mind, I ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the proposed EU-Libya migration deal. Does he have concerns about Libya's ability to provide a secure and safe haven for refugees? Will the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: 23. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm that when he stated in his recent press statement on 14 February 2017 that it is essential that none of the human rights protections or frameworks underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement are disturbed by any changes that are consequent to a Brexit agreement, that this includes the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and all the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: When the Minister said in a press conference on 14 February last that it "is essential that none of the human rights protections or frameworks underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement are disturbed by any changes that are consequent from a Brexit agreement", does that include the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and all the human rights and constitutional protections therein which give effect to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: We all agree that at the core of the Good Friday Agreement is a commitment to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights. We must ensure that what has been agreed and voted on by the people of the island North and South is sustained and not in any way diminished as a result of the Brexit negotiations. In particular, we must advocate for the ongoing realisation of the rights of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: To be honest, the Minister's position is not clear. I asked him if he supports the introduction of a bill of rights in Northern Ireland. He said he supports the Good Friday Agreement, as I do.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: That is super. Will he ensure the Irish Government vindicates those rights during the negotiations regarding Brexit? The Minister will recall that last week the Dáil, on foot of a Sinn Féin motion as amended by Fianna Fáil, called on the Government to seek special status for Northern Ireland as part of its negotiations with Europe and as part of the European bloc's...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Dáil Reform (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: Remember him?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Passport Applications (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: 21. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current processing times for the passport service; the steps that have been taken and the resources allocated to deal with the increased demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8823/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Passport Applications (22 Feb 2017)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sure the Minister is aware, as I am, of the difficulties being experienced within the passport service. I tabled this question to afford the Minister an opportunity to update the House on the current turnaround times, processing times, the resources that are allocated to the passport service and the additional resources he has planned, if at all possible. I am sure the Minister is...