Results 581-600 of 3,682 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (5 Mar 2020)

Ciarán Cannon: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade administers and maintains a roster of suitably skilled individuals who are available to deploy on international election observation missions organised, in the main, by the European Union (EU) and the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE-ODIHR). A new roster was put in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (5 Mar 2020)

Ciarán Cannon: The Agreement reached between Turkey and the EU in March 2016 represented a landmark effort to respond to the migration crisis and the loss of many hundreds of lives in the Aegean Sea. A key element of the EU-Turkey Deal was the establishment of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey.  The aim of this Facility is to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees in Turkey and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid Provision (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: As I said, we have seen the sixth annual increase in our ODA budget, with the largest ever increase last year. I would argue that is a strong indication of the Government's intent in this area. As I said, we have absolute consensus that this is the direction we need to go in. Let us assume and hope that, in the context of a post-Brexit scenario, where a little bit of certainty is restored...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid Provision (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Government allocated almost €838 million for ODA in budget 2020. This represents an increase of almost €21 million on the 2019 allocation and the sixth consecutive year in which allocations to ODA have increased. Based on the Department of Finance budget day forecast for GNI in 2020, we expect the ODA-GNI percentage to be in the region of 0.31%. The Government is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid Provision (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Both the Tánaiste and I are anxious to see a roadmap put in place. There is no question about that. We have made several references to it in the past. Thankfully, when one speaks about this subject at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, there is absolute consensus among all members that this is the direction in which we need to go. Last year's increase to the ODA budget...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Improving the quality and availability of health services with a strong focus on maternal and child health has been a longstanding component of Ireland’s international development programme. Access to health services, including access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, is transforming women’s lives. For example, women's life expectancy in Mozambique was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Government’s new Policy for International Development, A Better World, makes a commitment to contribute at least €250 million to improve global education between 2019 and 2023 with a specific focus on education in emergencies and girls’ education. The Government is delivering on this commitment through bilateral and multilateral partnerships, selecting modalities and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not provide funding to organisations for the promotion or provision of termination of pregnancy.  The Government's policy for international development, A Better World, published last February continues Ireland’s longstanding focus on improving the health of women and girls, as part of Ireland’s contribution to achieving the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Ireland’s development cooperation programme is an integral part of our foreign policy and an important statement of our global citizenship. The programme gives Ireland a significant global presence and footprint – including in fragile states and conflict-affected contexts. The 2018 Annual Report on Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA), published in October,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) assesses the extent to which aid is tied to trade. In 2018, the most recent year for which data is available, they reported that of the approximately US$106 billion in total bilateral commitments, US$13.2 billion was tied with a further US$2.6 billion partially untied, giving an overall total of partially untied and tied aid of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Data (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: My Department reports each year on the delivery of the Government's official development assistance programme, Irish Aid. These reports are available on my Department's website www.irishaid.ie. The reports show the breadth of Ireland's work, and the impact that it is having across more than 130 countries. The annual report is a flagship for our accountability, transparency and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The past decade has seen a sharp increase in the level of humanitarian need globally, a response to an upsurge in conflict and climate change related natural disasters. The UN estimate that almost 168 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.  Given the scale of need, donors have increased their level of humanitarian assistance in recent years. Total global humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Ireland has put in place strong legislative, administrative and operational measures, including a multi-agency approach, to combat and prevent human trafficking.  Ireland is party to the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings which aims to prevent trafficking, protect the human rights of victimsand prosecute traffickers.  We are party...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The recruitment and use of child soldiers remains a serious problem with tens of thousands of children recruited and used as soldiers in conflicts around the world. Since 2002, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has issued an annual report on children and armed conflict, listing violations committed against children during armed conflict. The most recent report, published in July...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (17 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Climate change is a key priority articulated in the Government’s policy for international development, A Better World.  My Department has been proactively involved in Ireland’s preparation and contribution to 25th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP25), including active engagement in discussions on adaptation to climate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (17 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Ireland has warmly welcomed the power sharing agreement reached on 17 August and the subsequent establishment of a civilian-led transitional Government, led by Prime Minister Hamdok. This followed months of protest.  I commend the African Union for its robust leadership and facilitation of the agreement, with Ethiopia playing an important part in mediating the talks.   As an...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Draft Committee Report on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 (12 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Tánaiste broadly welcomes the Bill and recommends that it proceed to Committee Stage.

Scouting Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (11 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Zappone, I thank the Deputies for their contributions. The Minister regrets she is not available to be here in person. I take the opportunity to respond to a number of issues that have been raised, both last week by Deputy Rabbitte and again today by her and many others. With regard to Ian Elliott's review of historical abuse, Mr. Elliott is a very...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (11 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank the Deputies for their statements. The Taoiseach has already outlined his expectations for the discussions on climate change, the multi-annual financial framework, Brexit and proposals on the future of Europe at this week's meeting of the European Council. The Taoiseach has also set out the issues of primary focus for leaders at the Euro summit taking place on Friday. I will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport Eligibility (11 Dec 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: On behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Halligan, I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Before I address the specific issues raised, I shall provide a quick outline of the extent of the school transport service. School transport, as the Minister of State has already outlined, is a very significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on...