Results 30,141-30,160 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (2 Oct 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: The constitutional status of Catalonia in Spain is currently the subject of public and political debate in Spain, including in Catalonia itself. As I have previously stated, it is a matter for the people of any country of the European Union to establish the arrangements for their own democratic governance and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on that process in any particular country.

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (25 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and for acknowledging why I am taking this on behalf of the Department of Health. During the summer, I had opportunity to spend a wonderful week in many of the areas to which the Deputy referred. I have some small appreciation of some of the difficulties to which he has referred. I would make the point to the Deputy that he is very strong in...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (25 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his response. I would emphasise a number of points in response to him while understanding completely the concerns of the people he represents. In no way did I mean to suggest that my small amount of time spent there is equal to the knowledge the Deputy and other representatives would have regarding the concerns people are articulating. That said, I emphasise some...

Topical Issue Debate: Syrian Conflict (25 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes.

Topical Issue Debate: Syrian Conflict (25 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue. I would like to make a point about our attitude towards European institutions. We should not criticise European institutions for not deploying powers which member states have chosen not to give them. While the Deputy did not make such a criticism, the point is worth making all the same. Many of the areas which are most sensitive to us are...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service Provision (25 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: Sure.

Topical Issue Debate: Syrian Conflict (25 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for the kind words at the start of his contribution, which I appreciate. I also thank him for the number of times he has raised this vital issue. What was a beautiful summer for many of us was haunted by those awful images we saw of the use of chemical weapons on those poor communities. Whether those weapons would be used was a fear many people had and it was truly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: It is the gas Bill, so I will do my best to come to a conclusion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I return to Deputy Dara Murphy's point about the legitimacy of our national Parliament. A very important part of how we do that is that when things go very well for our country we must acknowledge Ireland's role in making that happen and the role of Europe and its bodies in allowing that to happen. When things do not go so well we also need to be honest. The semester process which will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank my colleagues for the kind comments they made and assure them that I hope to continue the tone of how I have done things in the past.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, and I would tell them to buy silver or gold or the dollar or sterling. Those discussions happened a number of years ago, but for the most part they have come to an end and that is huge progress. However, we cannot take that progress for granted in future discussions. Deputy Dara Murphy asked about the nuts and bolts of how the money will be spent. I will be able to answer those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I see Deputy Durkan is exhorting us about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank my colleagues for their contributions. Deputy Kyne suggested an interesting research project that would ask people what they think of when they think about Europe. The research with which I am familiar includes the Eurobarometer polls conducted across Europe. These polls clearly demonstrate that people's faith in European institutions declined during the crisis. However, I would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: Is that in respect of regional funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Chairman and colleagues for their comments. I wish Deputy Dara Murphy and Senator Noone, the new members of the committee, the best of luck and hope they enjoy it as much as I did. Yesterday, I read an interesting newspaper article on the UK’s Liberal Democrats recent conference. When delegates get up to speak, a set of traffic lights appear behind them. If they speak...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: -----appropriate to mean a set of economic governance procedures that would be used to overview how member states operate their economies and national budgets? I have no doubt during my tenure in office I will get sucked into using the same language. At the beginning of my opening statement, I spoke about banning the use of the word "institution" and then used it throughout my contribution....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: Thank you very much for your kind words, Chairman. I am delighted to be with the committee members. My appearance at the committee is striking for two reasons - at least, it is striking for me - the first being that I spent seven very happy years working with it on matters about which we were concerned. I had the privilege of being a member of the committee as a Senator and then being its...

Seanad: Directive of European Parliament on Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to thank Senators for all their contributions. I have listened intently to what everybody has had to say and I wish to respond to the core points. I want to answer a question that was put to me concerning the status of the sexual offences legislation. I note Senators' concerns about its assignation as a C-piece of legislation. It is so designated at the moment because in order for...

Seanad: Directive of European Parliament on Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

Paschal Donohoe: That is it. Burglary can be a crime and many transgressions in civil law are crimes also. The matter under discussion here, however, is in a whole different universe of acting against somebody. They are torture scenes and we need to keep that in mind as we discuss how to respond to the problem. Senator Brennan mentioned the issue of incomprehension. I find myself in exactly the same place...