Results 2,361-2,380 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: I will try to get this meeting over in less than two hours as I have an important group to meet at 4.30 p.m., so I ask members to confine themselves to questions rather than statements.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: Two hours is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: We will try to get it done as quickly as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: We note that and will follow up on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: I welcome the witnesses. We are joined by Liam O'Neill, president of the GAA and Páraic Duffy, director general of the GAA. We have asked Mr. O'Neill to discuss the GAA's role and interaction with the Irish diaspora, so we are delighted to have both the president and the director general here today. Before introducing both men, I want to note the role played by the GAA at Croke Park...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: Excellent.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: Would Mr. O'Neill like to say anything?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: We have been all over the world in the presentations but one country was not mentioned. Ireland is doing a great deal of business with China. For example, the beef market was recently opened to us and our exports to the country are at an all-time high. There was a high profile visit of the then Vice-President of China, now President, Mr. Xi Jinping, to Croke Park. When we visited China...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: That is good. The photograph of Mr. Xi Jinping in Croke Park can be seen in many places in Beijing at present and I know the Chinese are very proud of it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: Good. In view of the numbers present, I intend to confine members' contributions to three minutes each. Some may wish to pose questions, while others may want to make observations. I call Deputy Smith.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: I suppose I should congratulate Deputy Buttimer on Cork's win over Clare on Saturday night.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: There is plenty of variety in the questions that have been asked. Some questions overlap, but our guests can do their best between them to answer the questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: Will Mr. Duffy elaborate on the importance of achieving UNESCO cultural heritage status for hurling? I believe the committee will reach unanimous agreement in support of such status. What action can the joint committee take to assist the GAA on this issue? What would be the benefits of securing such status for hurling?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: We certainly will lobby for that and ensure that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is informed. I will not say anything about Laois.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: Does Mr. O'Neill want to make any further comments?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Interaction of GAA with the Diaspora: GAA (25 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: I travel in my role as Chairman, as do other members. Everywhere we go I have to commend the work done by our consulates, embassies and ambassadors. They will always give priority to the GAA to ensure that we see the work it and local clubs are doing. No matter what reception one attends on our behalf, young GAA players always attend. The €3 million the Department has given to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (24 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: 279. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when single farm payments will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7783/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (24 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: 280. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when area based payments for 2013 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7785/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Establishment (24 Feb 2015)

Pat Breen: 300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; when the scheme will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8127/15]