Results 2,201-2,220 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Perhaps Mr. Kelly would elaborate on the scarcity of personnel on the ground issue in the context of Japan and Korea having a huge abundance of agencies in Asia.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Thank you. As a number of members have indicated their wish to speak we will move on as quickly as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: A number of issues have been raised and I suggest we deal with the first four questions on education and other areas and deal with the remainder later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: The witnesses may now respond to the questions raised by members. Given that we have opened two new embassies in Thailand and Indonesia, with a consulate general in Hong Kong, what is the importance of having a resident embassy? It is something that cannot be emphasised enough. There were ten ASEAN countries mentioned so where is the real growth potential for Ireland to do business? We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: He was there for nine years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: The Indian economy is recovering very well. How difficult is it for Irish exporters or people to do business in India, given the size of the country? It may be difficult politically to work there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: In respect of Indonesia, which Mr. Nevin highlighted, do the State agencies have any plans to have somebody on the ground in Jakarta, given that it is such a big market of 250 million people and that we have opened a new embassy there? Are there plans for Thailand as well?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: They are concentrated very much in China, Singapore, Japan and Korea.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: We will meet them over the coming weeks so there will be an opportunity for the committee to ask what plans they have to expand on the ground given their resources. It would be an opportunity, particularly in Indonesia.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: One good thing is that our ambassador, Brendan Rogers, has taken over responsibility for Myanmar from ambassador, Damien Cole, our ambassador to Vietnan. That means he is responsible for two countries on which he will be able to focus.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: As the witnesses will know, we are preparing a report on doing business with ASEAN countries. Their contributions today and their nine-point plan and recommendations will be very useful to us and will form an important part of the report we hope to present before the end of summer. I thank Mr. Kelly and Mr. Nevin for appearing before the committee. We had a very interesting, comprehensive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Ibrahim Halawa (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Most members have been presented with an update from the Department on the case of Ibrahim Halawa. The case was heard on Sunday, 26 April and bail was refused for all the applications. Part of the reason it was adjourned was that some of the lawyers for the defendants were looking for additional time to prepare more information on the cases. The good news we are hearing is that Ibrahim...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Ibrahim Halawa (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: All I can tell the Deputy in that regard is that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Irish embassy in Cairo are working closely to clarify the issues pertaining to the charges. As we have been told, they cannot give concrete or firm answers in relation to the minor charges. We know that Ibrahim Halawa was not involved in storming the police station. It looks like the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Ibrahim Halawa (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: I thank the Deputy. Senator Daly wants to make a brief comment before we conclude.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Ibrahim Halawa (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Ibrahim Halawa (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: If the Senator looks at item No. 8, it will tell him what is going to happen. It is unlikely that Ibrahim Halawa will be released before the trial. I will certainly not have this on the agenda every week, but if there are any developments we will update members on them. I will try to keep in contact with the Department and the Minister on a weekly basis in relation to this matter. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Ibrahim Halawa (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: I think it has been very useful to all of us.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (29 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: 44. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on arrears of disability allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16914/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Respite Care Grant Appeals (28 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: 52. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a respite care grant appeal will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16251/15]