Results 2,101-2,120 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fee-Paying Schools (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I will convey the Senator's comments about the Catholic fee-paying schools to the Minister for Education and Skills. In reply to her question as to whether there is a future for fee-paying schools, I certainly believe they have a future.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Live Exports (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: Gabhaim buíochas libh as ucht an cuireadh teacht go dtí an Seanad. Ba mhaith liom Nollaig shona a ghuí oraibh go léir. I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney. I wish to thank the Senator for raising the issue of markets abroad. The priority of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The current Irish regulations on the approval of ships for livestock transport set a high standard, higher than that which applies in other EU member states. These regulations were introduced in 1996, following a comprehensive review of this area, in response to a series of major difficulties that arose with livestock shipments from Ireland at that time. Since then, our policy has been that...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I will bring the Senator's concerns to the Minister's attention. I will emphasise the point made by the Senator that the matter needs to be expedited.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage: Fee-Paying Schools (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the policy of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, on fee-paying schools. This Government has protected front-line services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget. There will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage: Fee-Paying Schools (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I will convey the Senator's comments about the Catholic fee-paying schools to the Minister for Education and Skills. In reply to her question as to whether there is a future for fee-paying schools, I certainly believe they have a future.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme. The programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger and is consistently rated internationally as one of the most effective in the world. It is strongly focused on the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa, prioritising investments in the areas of education, health, good governance,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (20 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The humanitarian crisis in Syria is of great concern to the Government. Since the uprising in Syria began in March 2011 an estimated 40,000 people have been killed in the violence. Over 2.5 million people inside Syria are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, with 1.2 million people displaced inside the country. The number of registered refugees from Syria in the region has now passed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Voluntary Youth Work (19 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through Irish Aid, has provided significant funding to the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) for the implementation of the National Youth Development Education Programme, a partnership between Irish Aid and the NYCI established in 2004 to promote a deeper understanding of global...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Development Education (19 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The Irish Aid programme reflects the values and experience of the Irish people and depends on their continued support. An important element of the programme, funded under Vote 27 of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is support for development education in Ireland. Irish Aid’s development education budget provides funding for the activities of education institutions and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (19 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The appalling suffering of the Syrian civilian population over the last twenty one months is of deep concern to Ireland. Since the uprising in Syria began in March 2011 an estimated 40,000 people have been killed in the violence. Over 2.5 million people inside Syria are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, with 1.2 million people displaced inside the country. The number of registered...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (19 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: Some €498 million of this total was allocated to Vote 27 – International Cooperation which is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A further estimated €125 million will be provided through payments by other Government Departments, and by Ireland’s allocation of the EU Development Cooperation Budget 2013. ODA eligible contributions from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (18 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: Ireland’s aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger. It is strongly focused on the poorest countries and communities in sub-Saharan Africa, prioritising investments in the areas of education, health, good governance, food security and nutrition. The programme is central to our foreign policy, has an enviable international reputation, and consistently enjoys...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (11 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The Government’s overseas development programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is the Irish people’s aid programme. It reflects their core values of justice and fairness and represents a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people to assist some of the world’s poorest communities. Ireland’s aid...

Report of the Expert Group on the Judgment in the A, B and C v. Ireland Case: Statements (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: I am delighted to have the opportunity to say a few words on this difficult subject. At the outset, I listened carefully to Deputy Calleary and I respect his views and judgment. He is a serious politician but I disagree with his conclusions. This is not the time to wait for the committee to make a decision. It is a decision the House must make and we must give political direction. The...

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: This year was the first time a centralised system was introduced. The Deputy should look at the beam in his own eye.

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: Who got us into this spending mess?

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: Who introduced free third level education?

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: The Deputy needs to give credit where credit is due.

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Joe Costello: What is Fianna Fáil going to do?