Results 2,221-2,240 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Payments (23 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: 57. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when payment of arrears will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16091/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Apologies have been received from Deputies Olivia Mitchell and Ruairí Quinn and Senator David Norris. Draft minutes of the meeting of 1 April 2015 have been circulated to members. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. Unless there are matters arising from the minutes, we will proceed to the main business of the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Security Situation in Kenya: Ambassador of Federal Republic of Kenya (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: I am delighted to welcome His Excellency, Mr. Richard Opembe, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Kenya to Ireland and I congratulate him on his appointment. His role as ambassador is supplemented by the fact that we now have a resident ambassador in Nairobi which means we have two resident ambassadors, both in Ireland and in Kenya. That will foster closer relations. There is huge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Security Situation in Kenya: Ambassador of Federal Republic of Kenya (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: I thank His Excellency, Mr. Opembe, for his comprehensive overview on what his government is doing to counteract terrorist activities in Kenya. I now call Deputy Brendan Smith.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Security Situation in Kenya: Ambassador of Federal Republic of Kenya (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Will the ambassador respond to those three sets of questions? Deputy Crowe will lead off on the next set of questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Security Situation in Kenya: Ambassador of Federal Republic of Kenya (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: I invite the ambassador to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Security Situation in Kenya: Ambassador of Federal Republic of Kenya (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: I thank the ambassador for going through the questions in a very comprehensive manner. I wish him well in his role here and we hope his country finds peace and can deal with the terrorism threat. We also hope that countries will lift the travel advisory notice over time, because Kenya is a beautiful country with a beautiful coastline, mountainous regions and the Great Rift Valley. We look...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: The next issue concerns a motion relating to Ibrahim Halawa. Senator Daly has proposed a motion on the subject of his imprisonment in Egypt. The motion reads as follows: "That the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade request the Taoiseach to follow the example of the Australian and Canadian Prime Ministers to make direct contact with the Egyptian Ambassador in relation to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: We also have a briefing today from the Minister which I have circulated to members of the committee. I think it has been sent by e-mail anyway. We have a hard copy for members if they want it as well. I also know that the Minister answered a number of questions from various Members, including Deputy Crowe, yesterday during Priority Questions in the Dáil. Was it Deputy Smith?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: We received the update on that. I understand the Minister is aware of the position and may in the coming week have another discussion with the Egyptian authorities. The committee agreed that it would look at this again after the trial date so how does Senator Daly stand on the motion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: The motion is withdrawn. I also spoke to the Taoiseach about the case of Ibrahim Halawa, as I am sure other members, including Deputy Durkan, have done. I know the Minister is very concerned about it and is monitoring the situation very closely with his officials in Cairo. We will revisit this at next week's meeting and we hope there is a positive result at the court hearing next Sunday....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Senator Daly has submitted a second motion that relates to the suffering and loss of the Armenian people on the centenary of the Armenian genocide. The motion reads as follows: "That the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade recognise the suffering and loss of the Armenian people on this the year of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide."

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Does anybody else wish to speak on this motion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: I wish to make a brief comment. I am asking Senator Daly to postpone this motion for one week. First, our President is in Turkey this week at other events. Second, Deputy Eric Byrne and Deputy Durkan have made a point. I am not happy with the reply from the Department that Deputy Crowe read out. We need a more comprehensive reply on why successive Governments have not recognised it. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: I am only asking that you postpone it for a week. There is no problem with the motion. I am asking you to postpone it for a week until we get a comprehensive reply on the matter. I am not happy with that reply.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: No. You are pre-empting what the Department is going to say. I want to get a more comprehensive reply from the Department on the matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: No, I simply want a more comprehensive reply.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: Through the Chair, please. I simply have questions to ask in respect of the reply and I would like a more comprehensive reply. It is not a question of putting off the motion. We are going to deal with this motion and there is no problem about dealing with it. However, I think we should get a more comprehensive reply. One week is not going to make a difference. We are discussing an event...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: That is not the issue at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Pat Breen: We are not beholden to anyone. What I am asking for is a comprehensive reply in respect of the parliamentary question from yesterday. I will deal with this issue next week. I will table the motion again next week and members can vote one way or the other at that time. We need fair play. Members need all the information before they make a judgment on it.