Results 3,501-3,520 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I suggest that at the next meeting we ask the Tánaiste to raise the issue of an ambassador at the highest level. Is that agreed? Agreed. That should be fine. I propose we go into private session. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: If we had a proposal on the table, we would be flying high.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: There was a proposal in the Senate legislation that 10,500 E3 visas would be issued every year. We did not push this because it would have been part of the pre-conference. We were told that if a bipartisan approach was taken on the issue, six Bills would be put to the Senate, with one of which most of the undocumented Irish would be happy. If this legislation was referred to the Senate, it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We will not comment on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Immigration Reform: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We will proceed to No. 3 on our agenda, US immigration reform. I put this issue on the agenda because we will be dealing with the report on the visit in private session later. Many of the members are interested in getting an update on what is happening on immigration reform in the US at present. An all-party delegation of four members of the committee travelled to the US last October. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank Mr. Power for his powerful presentation and members for their powerful questions. It is an issue to which we will return in the coming weeks. I agree that we must learn from what happened in Haiti. I remember Mr. Power visiting that country when he was Minister of State. As I also recall, large amounts of money were pledged in the aftermath of that disaster, but some donors failed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: Senator Mullins got good value for money with that contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: That is one of the points Ms Valerie Amos made in her interview. Aeroplanes could not land because the runways were blocked and because of the inclement weather conditions after the typhoon. There were high winds and helicopters could not fly. She said that was part of the problem in regard to the distribution of aid and getting to the areas that needed help.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I call Deputy Neville followed by Deputy Durkan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I was going to say Deputy Power, but does Mr. Power wish to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: Stay where you are.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I will ask Mr. Power to respond after Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's contribution.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I invite Mr. Power to comment on the contributions of Deputy Mitchell and Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank Mr. Power for his presentation. The first speaker is Deputy Brendan Smith.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: That would be fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank Mr. Power for that graphic account of his visit to the Philippines and for updating us on the current situation in Syria. Some committee members visited the Za'atari refugee camp last June to see it at first hand. The camp has grown from 15,000 people to 120,000 people. Jordan is now closing its borders to some refugees, putting more pressure on the camps and the situation in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: We will begin with the draft minutes of the meeting of 13 November 2013, which have been circulated to all members. Are they agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Syria and the Philippines: Discussion with UNICEF Ireland (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference with the recording equipment in the committee rooms, even in silent mode. I welcome Mr. Peter Power, the executive director of UNICEF Ireland. He is familiar to all of us, having been a Member of the House for so...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: 111. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason payment of jobseeker's allowance has ceased in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49635/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Centres Provision (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Breen: I welcome the opportunity to raise this matter and thank the Minister for Health for being present to answer my query. I acknowledge the progress he is making in reforming the health system, particularly when economic resources are scarce. Tweaking the existing health model as the previous Government did would never have delivered the fundamental change this programme of reform will...