Results 2,641-2,660 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am sorry to interrupt but I just want to get the agreement of members that we will give five minutes extra to everybody for this section of the meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have to move on the next group. The theme is obviously current for everybody so perhaps it will be picked up by other questioners. It is very informative. Mr. Finucane will start for Sinn Féin. The slot is for 20 minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Okay. Would Ms Boyd like to comment on that? Does Mr. Finucane want to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: If gardaí are doing checks on the land border, maybe the committee should request their statistics about outcomes from such checks, how many they have done, if they record them, and what issues relating to trafficking may have arisen. Would that be a reasonable question to ask?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: The clerk can take that on board. It would be reasonable to do that. It would inform the debate. If there are reasons of which we are not aware in terms of outcomes, we would be clear on them afterwards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will move to the Fianna Fáil slot. As far as I know, Deputy Brendan Smith is on his own at the moment. He has 20 minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before our guests answer, if any other members of the Deputy’s party present and who wish to contribute, in whatever order, there are 11 or 12 minutes left in the slot. I want to make sure everybody is aware of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: We should invite representatives of the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, if that is agreed. I accept the bona fides of your beliefs. That is the information you have been given. There are still three minutes left. Does Deputy Brendan Smith wish to speak again?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Smith, are any of your colleagues present? There are a couple of minutes left in this slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Thank you, Deputy Smith. That was very useful. Ms Claire Hanna was here and, I think, had to go to another meeting. She will try to get back. I see Dr. Farry of Alliance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Sure, no problem. By their very nature, rights apply universally. A right cannot be denied. Mr. Holder is saying that a human right cannot be politically obstructed and a government cannot be allowed do that either.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I see Ms Hanna is back. I will make one point, which is only by way of information. When we met ex-prisoners, we got one case relating to a transport company that is a semi-State body. We wrote to the company and the answer we got, in fairness to it, was that it was engaging directly with the people concerned. That is the only complaint we received that I am aware of and it was being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Anybody in uniform who behaves in a racist manner is not fit to be a member of the organisation. If the police do not absolutely actively discourage that, it is not an efficient, appropriate and modern police force.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: We have some members online who have not spoken. If they wish to make a contribution, I will bring them in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: Everybody who has spoken is clear on what we are doing. We have listened very carefully to the witnesses and some very important points have been made. The clerk to the committee has taken note of the issues. It has been a very helpful and informative session. We will get back to the witnesses and they may wish to correspond further on any matters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I said earlier there would be a rotation to be helpful. The order will be Fine Gael, followed by Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, the Alliance Party, the Green Party, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Independents and Aontú. The proposal we have here is that we take 15 minutes each and see how it goes. We have two wonderful Fine Gael...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Representatives from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (24 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: On that point, the Department of Justice has published reports on trafficking of human beings in Ireland. We should hear what it has to say, articulate the arguments and examine your charge that it is motivated by colour. If that is true, it is appalling and unacceptable. Obviously, it is a very serious charge. In fairness to everybody, and I know I am taking Deputy Brendan Smith's time,...

Security Situation in Europe: Statements (23 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the ambassador from Ukraine. The world is in a very difficult position and, clearly, we all have worries about war breaking out and families being destroyed and obliterated from the face of the earth. It is unacceptable to all of us. The Irish Government, the European Union, the United Kingdom and America are all speaking with one voice here - there must be an end to this...

Legacy Issues in Northern Ireland and Reports of Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland: Statements (23 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is a very important debate. I listened carefully to all of the speakers so far. I fully support the view as expressed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in relation to what must happen now and what the future should be for all of us. Earlier this month, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland published a very significant report assessing the RUC's handling of a series of loyalist...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies (23 Feb 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: 100. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the latest work relating to the Media Commission recruitment drive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10289/22]