Results 29,981-30,000 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government is very strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The aid programme is regarded internationally as one of the most effective in delivering results in the fight against poverty and hunger. Our commitment to development cooperation is clear in the Programme for Government and has been strongly reiterated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Total expenditure on overseas ministerial travel at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the calendar year 2013, including airfares, accommodation and travel and subsistence and other costs, amounted to just over €228,500. This included the cost of travel of Ministers and staff attached to Ministerial offices. Of this total, the travel costs of the Tánaiste and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Scottish Referendum (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The people of Scotland will vote in a referendum on 18 September 2014 on the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?". That question is one which the people of Scotland, and they alone, should decide. I do not believe it would be appropriate for the Government to comment, therefore, on issues which at this stage are hypothetical, especially where comment might be perceived as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government has condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. It violates the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We have participated actively in the development of a strong EU response to Russia's military mobilisation while commending the measured response shown so far by the new Ukrainian Government. Presidential...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Tánaiste has consistently made clear, here in the House and at EU level, and in Ireland's interventions in UN and other fora, our strong criticisms of a range of Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to the urgent need to bring to an end the occupation itself. In these criticisms, I have focussed increasingly on aspects such as the unequal treatment of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers of the Cuban citizens imprisoned in the US. As this is a bilateral consular issue between the US and the Cuban authorities, the Government has no standing in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Officials in my Department are in regular and ongoing contact with the US Embassy on a range of issues, including in relation to requests for permission for the landing of US military aircraft at Shannon Airport. Permission for foreign military aircraft is granted on the basis that the aircraft in question is not armed, is not carrying arms, ammunition or explosives, is not engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware from previous answers,the crisis in Ukraine has dominated the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) over the last few months, leading to the convening of two extraordinary sessions of the FAC on 20 February and 3 March, both of which I attended. The Taoiseach also attended an extraordinary meeting of the Heads of State and Government on 6 March and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities exceeds an estimated 140,000 people, there are now over 9.3 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a further 2.6 million Syrian refugees requiring...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of concerns over the treatment of ethnic minorities, principally Tatars and Ukrainian-speakers, living in Crimea. Indeed on 27 March, the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) expressed its grave concern at serious allegations of intimidation and discrimination against Ukrainian-speakers and Tatars in the Crimean region of Ukraine, now under...

Report on Defence Forces Service with the United Nations in 2013: Referral to Select Committee: Middle East Issues (1 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputies Lawlor and Nolan again for their contributions. I agree with Deputy Nolan's analysis regarding the inherent complexity of the situation, the weight of history and the dilemmas and challenges facing the countries and communities in the region. Amid this complexity, the view of the Government, one which is clearly shared by the Deputies, is that we strongly support a...

Report on Defence Forces Service with the United Nations in 2013: Referral to Select Committee: Middle East Issues (1 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, has consistently made clear the Government's strong criticism of and opposition to Israeli settlements and settlement expansion, which are illegal under international law and constitute a major obstacle to peace. Settlements and related policies in area C seem...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: National Reform Programme for Ireland 2014: Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Yesterday the director general of the HSE, Mr. Tony O'Brien, commented on issues pertaining to consultant costs and monitoring. His comments and those of the Minister for Health suggest issues have arisen in this regard and that we have to move to address them. I am aware from my time on the Committee of Public Accounts that it is a complicated issue, but it is receiving the attention it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: National Reform Programme for Ireland 2014: Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Chairman and all members for their contributions today. I will kick off with an overview of the points made to me. If one considers the range of issues that have arisen, which include everything from the post-leaving certificate courses to nuclear energy, with a bit of Bonar Law in the middle, the breadth of those issues is absolutely huge. I do not mean that in a flippant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: National Reform Programme for Ireland 2014: Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1 Apr 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the committee for the opportunity to make this presentation. A copy of my speech is on its way to the committee and we will have an opportunity to circulate it during the session. First, I thank the committee for its invitation to join members here today and welcome the opportunity to engage with them on the European semester process and the preparation for Ireland’s...

Report on the Contribution of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to Economic Recovery: Statements (28 Mar 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Chairman of the committee, Deputy Pat Breen, for bringing the report to the Dáil and for the opportunity to debate and discuss it today. Like others I acknowledge and thank all of the committee members who have made a contribution to the report and will comment on it during this debate, including Deputies Byrne, Crowe, Mitchell, O'Sullivan and Smith. I will make...

European Council: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will respond to questions that were put to me, beginning with Deputy Boyd Barrett. I did not answer questions about Ukraine because he did not put such questions to me. Now that he has, I will respond to that point. With regard to property, I refer to a point I made earlier. Do I believe house price increases at the moment constitute a macroeconomic imbalance? I do not believe so...

European Council: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: -----I am certain those in receipt of funding in Ireland use it for the purposes to which it is intended. I am certain of that. If there are any question marks about it, I am sure it will be investigated by the proper bodies.

European Council: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: On the comments about someone who is a respected and experienced MEP from my party, I have already said the approach of the Government is to, at the best possible moment, take the right steps to gain value back for the Irish taxpayer. With regard to the broader points put to me and in concluding on other areas that have not been touched on in the European Council discussions, I refer to...

European Council: Statements (26 Mar 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will respond to the different points the Deputies made. Deputy Boyd Barrett asked about the property sector and what he believes is taking place with regard to property prices and the significant difficulties to do with homelessness. He first asked me whether there was a European sphere of engagement on this topic. I must emphasise that policy on the delivery of housing, whether it be...