Results 24,941-24,960 of 26,268 for speaker:Seán Ó Fearghaíl

European Communities (Amendnment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: -----acknowledge the work done by Deputy Martin. It was a clear demonstration of a positive and constructive Opposition. Our director of elections, Deputy Dooley, toured the country with Deputy Martin. I also acknowledge the reason and dignity with which the campaign was generally conducted by people on all sides of the divide. There may have been a bit of political opportunism and some...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, who I presume is taking this item.

Northern Ireland Issues (23 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Minister of State. We are getting used to these exchanges. One of the sad points about this is that we are obliged to have a discussion about it at all. Dissident republican activity has been escalating in recent months. A significant number of bombs have been located and diffused by Army experts and Derry has been rocked by explosions earlier in the year. This is compounded...

Northern Ireland Issues (23 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I welcome the Minister of State's statement that there is close co-operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda. It is vital for that to continue. There is a need for initiatives in the Twenty-six Counties area to counter dissident activity. As we are well aware, it is happening here as well. We need to be conscious that the areas of greatest deprivation in the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Irish role in the UN observer mission in Syria; the future plans for the force; the timeline for its full deployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25165/12]

Order of Business (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Media reports indicate the iconic pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is to visit Europe and perhaps Ireland on foot of invitations from NGOs. Does the Taoiseach intend to issue a formal invitation to her to visit Ireland? I further suggest to the Taoiseach that it would be a good idea to invite her to address this House or indeed these Houses, given the respect in which she is held.

EU Presidency (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: In 2004, the current Tánaiste was critical of the expenditure that was incurred when many meetings were held across the country. The Government of the time was trying to showcase the country to its best advantage. There are suggestions that the number of ministerial meetings in this country will be reduced. Is the Minister of State concerned that such a move would limit our opportunity to...

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 100: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to attend the Euro 2012 Championships in Poland and Ukraine in view of the recently published treatment of imprisoned former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25421/12]

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: We hope the dilemma the Tánaiste faces is whether to go to Kiev. We all hope there will be an Irish match in that location. We also appreciate the general public desire to see a separation of politics and sport. It is not a great idea for politics to intrude onto the field of sport. Notwithstanding that, the circumstances surrounding the case of Julia Tymoshenko, which have been...

Human Rights Issues (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: In the event of the Tánaiste travelling in the course of 2012, does he anticipate seeking an opportunity to visit the prisoner to see for himself the circumstances in which she exists? Will the Tánaiste instruct our consular or diplomatic representatives to meet the former president and discuss her plight?

Middle East Peace Process (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 103: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his proposals in response to continued Israeli settlements in Palestine in view of the recent European Union communiqué on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25422/12]

Middle East Peace Process (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I concur with much of what has been said by Deputy Mac Lochlainn. I commend the Tánaiste and his EU counterparts on the mid-May communiqué, as well as for highlighting the issue of goods emanating from the settlements. Talking to Israeli representatives in this country, one gets the sense of a willingness to negotiate and move forward. What one sees happening on the ground, however, is...

Middle East Peace Process (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: In terms of the new government arrangements in Israel and the coming together of Likud and Kadima, does the Tánaiste envisage there being any opportunity for progress arising out of that in so far as Prime Minister Netanyahu is no longer dependent on the more extreme elements in parliament?

Foreign Conflicts (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 165: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will take appropriate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25017/12]

Foreign Conflicts (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Minister of State for his response and for what his Department is doing and urge the Government to continue to support these regions. Last November, Deputy Mac Lochlainn and I had the privilege of visiting Ethiopia and its western borders to meet the refugees who then were pouring across the border from Sudan and South Sudan and we saw how intractable are the problems in that...

Foreign Conflicts (22 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Tánaiste is to be commended for holding this conference, which is an important initiative. We have a lot to offer and can become much more proactive in the whole area of conflict resolution. I see this very much in the context of developing Ireland's reputation abroad, boosting our opportunities for trade and augmenting our development aid budget. As that last is constrained, we could...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (17 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 40: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24779/12]

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (17 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 114: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 102 of 2 May 2012, if he will account for the number of women who occupy senior management positions in local government for the purpose of measurement with regards to gender balance and equal opportunity alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24660/12]

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 170: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on concerns raised in relation to inter-country adoptions (details supplied); the action she will take to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24610/12]

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (17 May 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 172: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding inter-country adoptions; the action she will take to address the concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24658/12]