Results 2,501-2,520 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Would it be seen as a first step, given the divisions which exist with regard to the ban on settlement goods in the European Union at present?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: That is true.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: We have had a very good interactive debate between committee members and the witnesses. It is good to differ, challenge and ask questions. It is important to probe what is happening in Israel at present. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: One of the issues about which the witnesses spoke is very straightforward and will be dealt with this evening and it will be unanimous. The ban is an ongoing issue for the committee. As I stated, a ban on settlement goods can only be effective if the EU as a whole acts. Otherwise it will not work. We have had motions on it previously and we have put them to the Minister. With the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: I thank the witnesses for coming before us. There will be further debate on this issue. More than likely, somebody from the Israeli government will put a different point to us in the new year, as the committee must be balanced and hear everybody's viewpoint. We certainly take on board what the witnesses have said today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: They have given us a very comprehensive view of their workings and the effects the illegal settlements are having.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Deputies Maureen O'Sullivan and Eric Byrne want to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: My question relates to tonight's vote. We must be clear about what is happening. It is the Parliament, more than likely, which will recognise the state of Palestine. The Government has said that it will recognise the state of Palestine when the time is right. Could Ms Minch tell me whether it is case of "damned if you do and damned if you don't" in respect of recognising or not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: We have been there a number of times. We went there last year. First of all, I went to Gaza and Israel with the then leader of the Opposition, An Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, and Deputies Billy Timmins and Alan Shatter. The committee has gone on a number of occasions. We went last year to the refugee camps in Jordan. We think Jordan has an important role to play in the peace process....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: I wish to follow up on one question that was not answered. We spoke about the honest brokers and the EU, but what about the Americans? They have big influence in that region. Does Mr. Costello think they could do more?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Outside of military aid, what of political dialogue and trying to get a solution?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Would Mr. Costello accept Secretary of State Kerry went out of his way to try to do a deal there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: I want to follow up on Hamas. Deputy Mitchell also wants to come in. Does Ms Minch think Hamas is a real obstacle to any peace initiative given it does not recognise Israel?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: I want to get a balance on the whole thing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: In terms of the non-recognition of Israel, does Ms Minch think this is an obstacle in moving the peace process forward? On a dialogue with Hamas, I agree with her.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: My point is any two-state solution is going to involve land exchange. It cannot happen otherwise, given the erratic settlements that are there at the moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Ms Minch referred to the Palestinian Authority, but there are great differences between Hamas and Fatah, particularly when it comes to violence. Does she think they can overcome these differences and govern in a democratic way?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: I will ask the delegates to answer those questions, but I will come back to the Deputy again if he has other questions to ask. Some of his questions have been answered, but I ask the delegates to update him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Palestine and Israel: Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (10 Dec 2014)

Pat Breen: Thank you Deputy Durkan. Does anybody want to comment on the Deputy's last points?