Results 21-40 of 1,293 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on Current Situation in Ukraine: H.E. Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland (14 Oct 2025)

Garret Ahearn: The rebuilding is happening as the war continues. That seems abnormal, but it is happening. Ms Gerasko spoke about Ireland's role as part of the EU in helping to rebuild Ukraine. Ms Aliona Shkrum, is involved in the rebuilding of Ukraine as a new minister. She was speaking about the EU countries. She said that ten of the 27 had appointed envoys to Ukraine on behalf of their countries. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Update on Current Situation in Ukraine: H.E. Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland (14 Oct 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Almost the only issue that seems to resonate with the President of America is displaced children who have been lost during the war. Returning those children seems to be the only issue on which the President is constantly supportive. What role can Ireland, as part of the EU, play in bringing back those children? They number more than 20,000 at this stage.

Seanad: Support for Ukraine: Motion (14 Oct 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber, his old home. I thank my Fianna Fáil colleagues for tabling this very important motion. Obviously, we in Fine Gael support it. As Senator O’Loughlin mentioned, we had a very good and productive meeting with the Ukrainian ambassador here in Ireland that finished about an hour ago. I welcome her and thank her for all of the work...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Opening up new markets across the world was mentioned in the budget statements yesterday, and one aspect of that is getting direct flights between different countries. I ask that we have a debate with the Minister for Transport about that. Obviously, relationships with America are unstable - that is probably the best way to put it - and we need to diversify our markets. Tokyo and Japan are...

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank him for being here for this very important debate. I thank my Fianna Fáil colleagues for putting forward this motion today. As has been said, it is important to acknowledge that what happened on 7 October was wrong. It was outrageous. More than 2,000 people were murdered.Hostages were taken and that was all done by a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Engagement with UNRWA Deputy Director John Whyte (23 Sep 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Mr. Whyte is very welcome. As everyone else has, I acknowledge the good work that he and his colleagues do. I have heard what he and his team have gone through. One must be a special person and unique individual to be able to give that service to the Palestinians and the world in general. Few people have the capabilities to be able to do that. I acknowledge what UNRWA is doing. Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Engagement with UNRWA Deputy Director John Whyte (23 Sep 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Why are they hesitant in the Middle East?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Engagement with UNRWA Deputy Director John Whyte (23 Sep 2025)

Garret Ahearn: -----to 2.1 million people. Israel is talking about how it is delivering aid. It is obviously doing almost nothing but it cannot be doing absolutely nothing if it is claiming it is doing something. On the ground, what is Israel doing? I do not think anyone knows. Mr. Whyte mentioned that 2.1 million people are now living in 18% of the Gaza Strip. This might be a silly question, but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Engagement with UNRWA Deputy Director John Whyte (23 Sep 2025)

Garret Ahearn: It is almost like a room closing in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Engagement with UNRWA Deputy Director John Whyte (23 Sep 2025)

Garret Ahearn: What about Israel's claim that it is providing aid to the Palestinian people?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Engagement with UNRWA Deputy Director John Whyte (23 Sep 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Mr. Whyte said the humanitarian aid that UNRWA gives is one element of its work. Being witnesses on the ground is another element. He said that since 2 March, UNRWA has not been able to give humanitarian aid to Gaza. He said UNRWA has three months of food supplies that it could give-----

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: As it is 1.15 p.m., according to the order of the House, progress must be reported.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I thank Mr. O'Brien for coming this evening. It is important to clarify that we have had a lot of committee meetings on legal issues and civil society groups coming in from a humanitarian perspective. The reason Mr. O'Brien is here is to give us a broad overview of what impact this could have on businesses. It is nothing to do with personal views or anything like that. It is just so we as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Is that response similar to the response we have seen politically from the United States? Is that happening within business?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Could that change following the statements from the EU last week with regard to countries having a unilateral decision on the occupied territories?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I understand the concerns businesses have. I remember they were there when the war in Ukraine started in terms of sanctions against Russia. We had a big company in Limerick run by a Russian oligarch. There were concerns that business would go and things like that. From past experience, when Mr. O'Brien sees things like this happen or political decisions being made where there are concerns...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: We heard from representatives of the Department of foreign affairs that lobbying was taking place in the political sphere and within the Department. Is that happening from a business perspective? Are big businesses lobbying IBEC or other organisations to try to influence a change in the Government's position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Just so I understand, will Mr. O'Brien explain what he said about significant costs to businesses if services are included? We were briefed previously that trade coming into Ireland from the occupied territories is 30% goods and 70% services. The goods were worth €685,000. As Mr. O'Brien has said, that is miniscule in the grand scheme of things. That is 30% of it so it seems the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I have one final question. I thank Mr. O'Brien for his comments. When the war happened in Ukraine, companies made a decision not to trade with Russia. There was a domino effect that continued with company after company. Is Mr. O'Brien aware of companies that have decided not to trade with Israel any more? If so, is the number of companies that have decided not to trade significant?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: ACT Smartphone App: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: To follow on from what Senator Kennelly said, we have loads of people coming to committees who never answer questions at all or cannot even answer questions but you are well able to answer questions you do not expect. Like everyone said, you are ridiculously impressive and talented. You have a very bright future. As a father of two young kids, I know parents are nearly hoping one of their...