Results 2,801-2,820 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Does the Minister have sympathy at all with the petition? This is the petitions committee. Consider the conflict between the transportation of people to a theatre of war – that is the expression that has often been used – and our neutrality. Does the Minister not have some understanding – “understanding” is the wrong word because it would be an insult...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: The petitioners have suggested – I use the word “suggested” deliberately – that the European Parliament, Council of Europe and Amnesty International are among the bodies that have published reports that indicate rendition planes have landed at Shannon Airport. I completely understand the separation of responsibilities between the Department of Foreign Affairs and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Let us dwell on the idea of assurance for a moment. Is it part of the understanding between sovereign states that assurance is as far as it goes, and that it does not merit being followed by investigation? If another state were to seek assurance from Ireland over a certain matter and we gave it, would that be it? Citizens find the manner in which these diplomatic relations arise difficult...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: The argument made by the petitioners is that the burden on them to establish such proof would be quite enormous. Therefore, their argument centres on why we do not police the planes and search them on an ongoing basis. We do not do so because we accept the assurances given to us by the sovereign state that is the United States. Every time we debate this, it is asked why we do not search.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: That is fair enough. Can I clarify a matter? The Minister said he would return to the matter of cargo planes. Are they currently classified as civilian as opposed to military?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Therefore, they are under the Minister’s remit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Does the transportation of materials such as depleted uranium, heavy weapons or drones come under the category of cargo and is it, therefore, civilian in nature? Is it in the hard-military category? I do not know the answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: I get that. If cargo planes are classified as civilian and the cargo comprises depleted uranium, drones or heavy weapons, are they reclassified as military and, therefore, not under the Minister’s remit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: It follows that the Minister is responsible for what I have described, or for whatever might be in the plane.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: I am just seeking clarification.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: If anyone wanted to carry depleted uranium, for example, on a cargo plane classified as a civilian plane, he would have to seek authorisation from the Minister’s Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Has anybody sought or been granted authorisation through the Minister’s Department for the carriage of depleted uranium, heavy weapons or drones? I am sorry it has taken so long to get to the end of my questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: As I understand it, there were 13 applications to transport munitions through Irish airspace refused in 2013 by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I cannot state this categorically but it is my clear understanding. I am open to correction. Was there a reason for the 13 refusals? Is it in the Minister’s capacity to answer that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: So it is a discriminatory thing based on the type of weapon?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: I thank Mr. Buti. I would like to start with what he says on page 8, where he says: "We assumed they would do their job in a conscientious manner." He was, of course, speaking about national supervisors and regulators in regard to their supervision of the banking sector. Did the regulators and supervisors in Ireland do the job in a conscientious manner?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Was it a good approach on the part of the Commission to assume that anyone would do their job in that manner?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Mr. Buti states on page 8 of his presentation that the Government - meaning the Irish Government - had to step in with its deep pockets to stave off the collapse of the financial sector and the economy as a whole. Will Mr. Buti explain what he means when he states the Government "had to" step in?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: The expression "had to" does not mean the Government was forced to do this.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: In January 2001, the EU Commissioner, Pedro Solbes, announced a recommendation under Article 99.4 of the treaty would be made against Ireland. I understand this was the first time a recommendation of that kind had been made. How important or significant was it or was it run of the mill? Was it a case of, "We can do this. We will start here"? Was it a very big, important moment?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (18 Feb 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Mr. Buti makes clear on page 5 of his statement that it was not implemented by Ireland. Who in Ireland did not implement it?