Results 721-740 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Professor Rolston for his opening remarks. I neglected to say that because we have until 11 a.m. for this session of the meeting, the rotation will be Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, SDLP, Independents and so on. As people identify themselves online as they come in, we will give names to that rotation. I understand Mr. Finucane is the first speaker for Sinn...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: To make it clear, there is a minute left for this section. We have 15 minutes left overall. We gave everybody the same amount of time. If somebody does not take up their time, we can get other people back in a second time. Does Mr. Finucane want to come back in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: If they do, they can maybe come back in later. Unfortunately, the committee set up two back-to-back sessions for today. That is the reason we have time pressure. Normally, we do not. Senator Blaney was on the line earlier. If he is not there, I will move on. He is not there right now, so we are on to the Fine Gael slot. I will not take too long. I commend the work that is being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: If it is helpful in that regard, our committee unanimously wrote to and called on the Government to take that interstate case. Clearly, there is a due process within government. I recognise the fact Mr. Finucane spoke about the date in November and the Government statement. The timeline is very short. We would be very happy, if the committee agrees following this meeting, to urge the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I hear Professor Rolston. That is why I raised the question. It is why it is important that those of us who are in political parties or different organisations, such as Professor Rolston, renew the presentation of our views and opinions to people in opposition, or who might be in government in the UK in future. That is the only point I wished to make. I will make another point. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: No, of course it does not. However, our discussion today should put pressure on people on all sides to come clean about things that have happened in the past. It is important that we, and certainly I, articulate the views of the McVeigh family today. I feel very strongly about that. Nothing has been said by Relatives for Justice that I do not agree with, and I fully support it, but I do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome that and I agree with Ms Hackett. To not have a body to bring home is entirely evil. Anybody who knows anything about this should come forward. They can do it in a way in which they are not open to prosecution. I feel very strongly about this. I accept and acknowledge the total concern and commitment to this principle of the witnesses.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how he intends on making eco-friendly products such as laundry products more affordable and accessible in Ireland over the coming years, considering that many people currently accessing such products are ordering from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54369/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am happy to take Ms Oliega Aiesta. It is no problem. Our problem is to ensure the number of members who want to speak can get in. I will let Ms Oliega Aiesta in; she does not need to worry about that. Sinn Féin is next. I just wanted to get the order right. Deputy Tóibín is after that. Is that okay? Is everybody happy with that? I just want to make sure everybody...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, but I will take this lady first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Sorry. My apologies to Ms Oliega Aiesta.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: We already agreed that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand. We are with the Deputy all the way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would not disagree with that analysis. I think we have had a very good engagement. Are any of the Sinn Féin MPs there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Mr. Molloy does not wish to comment further. We have had a very interesting debate. I met Mr. Thompson in Washington DC where we met a person called Martin Galvin and other representatives of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Mr. Finucane was with us there as well. The AOH organisation is taking this whole debate today online, so we send our good wishes to all the AOH people in America who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Feighan cannot attend the meeting and sends his apologies. On behalf of the committee I welcome Pádraig Ó Muirigh, solictor, to discuss the UK's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. I know Mr. Ó Muirigh was very busy earlier today so we are very thankful that he could take the time to attend. The evidence of witnesses physically present or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr.Ó Muirigh for a very intensive analysis of the issues there which were succinctly and well put. I inform our guest speakers that our committee has written to the Taoiseach and the Government fully supporting that it would take such an action in the European Court, and today we have already unanimously agreed and will be drafting a letter to our members, who all will sign off...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank all the contributors so far. I thank Mr. Ó Muirigh for his analysis. I am really impressed by the way he makes his arguments. I am also impressed by the logic and the certainty of them. I assure him and anybody who might be listening in that this committee is of the exact same mind as to what the Government should do as regards the European Convention on Human Rights and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Ó Muirigh. Does Mr. Brady wish to speak?