Results 2,161-2,180 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello
- Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)
Joe Costello: It is vital we stabilise the Palestinian issue because it could have a knock-on effect throughout the Middle East and further afield. A number of Senators asked how we would address the issue of human rights. We have raised the issue at every level, including at European Union level where we have sanctions. We have raised it in respect of the International Criminal Court at the United...
- Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)
Joe Costello: We are meeting to discuss the devastating humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighbouring countries. I am heartened that Members of Seanad Ãireann have taken the time and interest to request an update on the situation. During my recent visit to Jordan, I was able to witness first-hand the enormous humanitarian consequences that the crisis is having on innocent civilians and the pressures...
- Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)
Joe Costello: We are meeting to discuss the devastating humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighbouring countries. I am heartened that Members of Seanad Ãireann have taken the time and interest to request an update on the situation. During my recent visit to Jordan, I was able to witness first-hand the enormous humanitarian consequences that the crisis is having on innocent civilians and the pressures...
- Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)
Joe Costello: I thank the Senators for their incisive and knowledgeable input. They have given me some awkward questions which I will answer to the best of my ability. I thank Senators Leyden, Mullen, Higgins, Mac Conghail, Healy Eames, Mooney, Heffernan, Reilly, Colm Burke and O'Keeffe for their contributions. Rather than go over what each said, I will try to cover the themes as I introduced them. I...
- Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)
Joe Costello: It is vital we stabilise the Palestinian issue because it could have a knock-on effect throughout the Middle East and further afield. A number of Senators asked how we would address the issue of human rights. We have raised the issue at every level, including at European Union level where we have sanctions. We have raised it in respect of the International Criminal Court at the United...
- Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (25 Sep 2012)
Joe Costello: Ireland’s EU Presidency offers an important opportunity to lead and influence debate on international development issues, with a credibility based on the strength and effectiveness of our aid programme. In focusing on EU development policy during the Presidency, we will seek to build on the strong focus in Ireland’s aid programme on the fight to end hunger and undernutrition...
- Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Summits (18 Sep 2012)
Joe Costello: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development which took place in Rio de Janeiro in June, marked the twentieth anniversary of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development and the tenth anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. The goal of the Summit was to secure renewed international political commitment for sustainable development, with a focus on...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (19 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: The Government's aid programme, managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is strongly focused on the fight against poverty and hunger and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The fifth of these Goals focuses on reducing maternal mortality and achieving universal access to reproductive health, including ante-natal care and family planning services....
- Written Answers — Humanitarian Aid: Humanitarian Aid (19 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: The humanitarian situation in Syria has deteriorated rapidly in the past number of months. Estimates of those affected by the violence range from 1.5 to 3 million, with the lack of precise data indicative of the challenging situation on the ground for both humanitarian actors and the media. In the year since the current crisis began in March 2011, more than 11,000 deaths have been reported....
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (19 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: The Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, channels a significant proportion of funding through development Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This reflects the strong contribution which Irish NGOs are making to the fight against world poverty and hunger, and the broad support which they continue to receive from the Irish...
- Seanad: Childhood Obesity (12 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, who is speaking in the other House. The Minister established the special action group on obesity to advise him on priority actions to tackle overweight and obesity. In the light of the growing problem of obesity among children, the group has identified the necessity of targeting...
- Seanad: Childhood Obesity (12 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: I have given the most up-to-date information from the Minister. Given his indication that the project will be mainstreamed, I assume that whatever difficulties have arisen are being addressed and that the matter will be resolved. We can take it in the round that this is now part and parcel of the way forward. In conjunction with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Minister for...
- Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: I am delighted to speak on the Personal Insolvency Bill 2012. It represents a significant step forward in our efforts to deal with personal debts. The financial turmoil in recent years has resulted in too many people facing debts they are never likely to be able to repay. Most people are agreed that the existing legislation is draconian and offers little opportunity for people to escape...
- Written Answers — Humanitarian Access: Humanitarian Access (11 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 51 together. The Government remains seriously concerned about the situation in Sudan and South Sudan, just one year on from South Sudan's independence. We are working with our EU partners to ensure that humanitarian access is granted to the thousands of people affected by the conflict in the region. The humanitarian crisis in the region has been...
- Written Answers — White Paper on Irish Aid: White Paper on Irish Aid (11 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: The 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid set out clearly the basis and the priorities for Ireland's official aid programme, which is working on behalf of the Irish people to improve the lives of the world's poorest people. The programme is recognised internationally for its sharp focus on poverty and hunger, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, for its partnership approach, and for its leadership in...
- Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: The situation in Mali is of serious concern to the Government and our partners in the European Union. In April, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed strong Conclusions which repeated the EU's condemnation of the seizure of power by force in Mali in March and called for an immediate end to violence, the protection of civilians and the restoration of civil, constitutional government. The EU...
- Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 32 together. The Government shares the concerns about the situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons and activists in Uganda. We have been following developments on this issue closely, through our Embassy in Kampala, and we have consistently made our views known to the Ugandan authorities. We are concerned about reports of ongoing...
- Written Answers — Trade Agreements: Trade Agreements (11 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: Since 2002, the EU has been negotiating a series of new Economic Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States. The Agreements are required as a result of World Trade Organisation (WTO) rulings that the unilateral trade preferences previously granted to the ACP countries established unfair discrimination between developing countries. Several years ago, there...
- Written Answers — Humanitarian Access: Humanitarian Access (11 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 55 together. The international humanitarian system has undergone significant reform since the Asian tsunami of 2004. Important lessons have been learned in the intervening period from the shortcomings in the international response and major steps have been taken to improve the effectiveness, predictability and accountability of the system as a whole....
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (11 Jul 2012)
Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 52 together. Since its inception in 1974, Ireland's programme of official development assistance has had a particular focus on the continent of Africa. Both historically, and in many cases up to and including the present day, African countries have been faced enormous difficulties, including food insecurity, poverty, protracted conflict, environmental...