Results 3,681-3,700 of 9,147 for speaker:Pat Breen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank the witnesses sincerely for attending the committee and highlighting this important human rights issue. We had a full attendance of members and some non-members of the committee, such as Senator Ó Murchú and Deputy Healy, who have taken a keen interest in this area, also attended. This is our remit and forum and we have had a constructive and interesting debate. Now that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: I would like to add to that. Obviously, this issue has been discussed at the US Congress, including in the Senate. A good colleague of mine, Chris Smith, has raised it with the Chinese authorities on many occasions. Has it been raised at a higher level? Did the previous Secretary of State raise the issue at a high level during her visits to China? What is the official line from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank the witnesses for their comprehensive answers to members' questions. As they will have seen, we are really interested in this issue. We regard it as a very serious issue. I thank Senator Norris for his keen interest in this area. We will follow up on what has been said now by considering Senator Norris's motion. The witnesses might like to stay here for that part of the meeting....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: That is something we can ask the Department of Health.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: Does the delegation wish to comment on the Senator's suggestion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: The Senator can ask a supplementary question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: Is there any evidence of organ tourism out of Ireland to China?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: What about the UK?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: I remind members to put questions rather than making long statements so there can be some interaction between members and witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: The draft minutes of the meeting of 3 July have been circulated to all members. Are the minutes agreed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: We were to get an update from the Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: It might be better if the Senator did so. Are the minutes of the meeting of 3 July agreed? Agreed. I welcome a new member of the team, Mr. John Deady, who is joining us as an adviser from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has huge experience in foreign affairs and trade and has served as an ambassador in a number of countries. Since Ms Olive Hempenstall left we have not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: I remind witnesses, members and those in the gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference even on silent mode with the recording equipment in the committee rooms. From time to time members leave their telephones on and they cause interference, so I appeal to everyone to ensure they are switched off...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: 197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the provision of special needs assistants services in school in County Clare; if the level of service will be maintained for the 2013/14 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32948/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (9 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: 453. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33187/13]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (4 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: 239. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding an application for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32786/13]

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank the Tánaiste and the Minister for State for their attendance and for dealing so thoroughly with the matters raised by Deputies. I also thank the officials who accompanied them, namely, Mr. David Donoghue, Mr. Barrie Robinson, Mr. David Cooney, the Secretary General of the Department, Mr. Brendan Rogers, the director general of Irish Aid, Mr. Colm Ó Floinn, Ms Anne...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Message to Dáil (3 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: In accordance with Standing Order 87, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has completed its consideration of the following Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2013: Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised), and Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised).

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: That completes programme D. We now move on to programme E, appropriations-in-aid. They are returned to the Exchequer and are not available to the Department. The level of fees in respect of, for example, passports and visas, which make up the vast bulk of the appropriations-in-aid, are set by statutory instrument. If there are no comments or questions I will proceed to Vote 27 -...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Pat Breen: I thank the Minister of State for his compliments.