Results 28,441-28,460 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

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)

Paschal Donohoe: It is because we have raised that matter directly with the US Government. It has given us an assurance that it is not happening. If any such evidence exists of it happening, it is a criminal matter and the Garda Síochána should be supplied with the evidence.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: I will come back to the Senator on the issue of cargo aircraft because I do not want to give an answer here that may mislead him in any way. The reason for us turning down an exemption would be based either on advice we would get from another Department regarding foreign policy on the matter or a judgment that munitions or weapons are being carried in a way that is not consistent with our...

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)

Paschal Donohoe: I have already said that we raised this with the US Government and it has given us an assurance that it is not happening. The illegal detention of any person is, clearly, illegal. It should not be happening and the Irish State would not be complicit in that in any way. The Government has raised this matter with the US Government and it has given assurances to us that this is not the case....

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)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. As for his first question on whether, because there are fewer civil aircraft now coming through the airport, it would be easier to deploy an operation, the logical answer to that question is that because fewer aircraft were going through any kind of a check or mechanism, it would be covering a smaller number of aircraft than was the case in the past. As for my own role...

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)

Paschal Donohoe: In respect of rendition, I am not aware. There has been much expression of strong views on the matter. However, it is more of a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to comment on and to tell members whether such evidence has been offered to them.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: That is a good and pointed analogy to put to me. However, there is a difference between the relationships between a household and families and that between two countries. We have raised this issue at diplomatic and political level with the US Government, which is the source of nearly all of the personnel to whom the Chairman refers. The American authorities have assured the Government...

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)

Paschal Donohoe: These are questions I am sure the Chairman will put to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. My role here pertains to the regulation of civil aircraft and the primary and indeed only role I have is as to whether those aircraft and the people on them are safe when they come into Irish airspace and when they land on Irish property. The Government has clear mechanisms in place in 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)

Paschal Donohoe: I have answered that question already. I strongly believe the way in which we regulate these matters is consistent with our neutrality.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, I do. I do not believe “understanding” is a pejorative word to use in this regard and I understand exactly where the Senator is coming from. This is an important matter that should be examined openly. This committee has a role to play in this regard. I will do my best to be answerable to the Senators and others concerned regarding areas within my responsibility. I will...

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)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes. I am very much aware of the view that has been expressed and the investigation that has taken place into the claims. The information available to me is that the Council of Europe investigated various allegations in regard to secret prisons and extraordinary rendition. Regarding the 46 responses that were received in regard to this, Ireland's was one of nine deemed to be sufficiently...

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)

Paschal Donohoe: The next step in the process is that if anybody has evidence that the grounds for assurance are ill-founded, it should be supplied to the Garda Síochána.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: We are talking about a country with which we have strong and positive relations. It gives us assurance and we are entitled to accept that as a consequence of the relationship we have with it. If somebody has reasonable evidence that the assurance is ill-founded, it should be supplied to the relevant body. I could not be stronger in my condemnation of rendition. I have already described it...

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)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, that is correct.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, they are. I will come back with an answer to the question asked of me earlier by the Senator.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: If it is a civil aircraft, it is under my remit. If it is a military aircraft, it is not.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: No, it does not. Perhaps I could state it differently. If it is a civil aircraft, it is my responsibility.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: If the cargo is on a civil aircraft.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: I am just trying to be clear in my response to the Senator’s question.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes.

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)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not aware of it. If it is the case, I will revert to the Senator. I am not aware of such permission having been sought.