Results 7,901-7,920 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: I highlighted this point before Deputy Ryan came in. This document was finalised in the first week in November. On 13 November we had a Council meeting. I brought it to Government on Tuesday, 21 November and now we are bringing it to the Dáil. The Deputy asked why we have to decide to join up by Friday. The PESCO notification was published in mid-November, as I have highlighted, and...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: What I have stated is that after 11 December, all decisions concerning PESCO, the Permanent Structured Co-operation Agreement, including projects, can only be taken by those member states that joined PESCO.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: I did not interrupt either of the questioners. If we defer our decision on joining, we are outside of PESCO and cannot influence its development. We have secured language in the final document, which I have highlighted, that we were able to influence within the closing days of the document being finalised. The notification restates the EU's commitment to multilateralism within the UN at...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: Deputy Chambers is one of the Deputies who questioned me on numerous occasions about this, through oral and written parliamentary questions, since the beginning of my appointment in May or June of 2016. I would like to thank her and her party for their support in this. She is right in what she states about defence policy. Defence policy is not about me. Defence policy concerns the...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: No, it is not the case that we could join next year.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: We can join, but we-----
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: I will go back to Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: On 9 November in The Irish Timesthere was a good article on PESCO.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: It was written by Mr. Patrick Smyth. I can give the Deputy a copy. To say this was not in the ether or that we were holding onto it and not letting anyone know about it is not correct. Deputy Lisa Chambers was right when she stated she was aware of it and had been questioned on it. It is not something we have been cooking up in small private smoke-filled rooms. Before I leave I will give...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: What was the question?
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: The commitment we are making is to increase spending. We increase our spending year on year. That is provided for. The Deputy spoke about NATO standards. Of course, we always work to them. If we are sending troops abroad, of course, they will have to be fully trained and equipped. There have to be standards when sending troops going abroad to participate in peacekeeping missions....
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: It does. The arrangement respects the constitutional rights and provisions of every member state. That applies when we join up to PESCO.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: It does.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: I am glad that Deputy Ó Snodaigh has that quote because I will be quoting from that article.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: We do not need to come back looking for permission to participate in any of the projects in which we want to participate. As I have said previously, we are not legally compelled to adhere to any of the commitments within the document. The targets are collective and not specific to any individual member state. We can opt in or opt out on whatever basis we wish to participate in any of the...
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: Like what?
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: I ask the Deputy to slow down.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: Based on the legal advice I have and the contents of the final document, PESCO does not undermine our traditional policy of neutrality.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: The Deputy might not like the answers.
- Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (6 Dec 2017)
Paul Kehoe: It was Tuesday, 21 November.