Results 61-80 of 1,270 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: It seems amazing that the Minister is still not convinced, even with all the conversations with the Arts Council, that this is even the end of it. The council has lost so much credibility that the Minister and the Department are still nervous about saying they are sure. I assume that last week the Minister found out at the same time as the Department the legal bill was double what the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Was the Minister surprised the council did not include the VAT figure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Does the Minister almost feel he has to drag the information out of the council? A number of colleagues here have spoken about simple accounting things within the Arts Council and you would think that when you were talking about a figure you would include VAT. There is the fact that had to be dragged out of the council representatives to correct the record from two weeks ago and we see all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: A bit like the €140 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I have a final question. The Department officials confirmed yesterday they have written to the Data Protection Commission about a significant breach of data. I assume the Minister is aware of it and supports the Department in that. What is his personal view of a breach by a former employee that happened very recently? How serious does he think it is that someone would do this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Update on Departmental Priorities and Legislation: Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I will address my question to the Minister of State as his roles have been defined since the Departments changed. He spoke about female participation in sport. There is probably no better example than Irish soccer over the past number of years. There has been a 27% increase in female participation, largely down to the performance of the women's soccer team in the World Cup in Australia and...

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: If everyone will bear with me, I have to read a declaration before I take the Chair. It takes a couple of seconds. I do solemnly declare that I will duly and faithfully, and to the best of my knowledge and ability, execute the office of Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade without fear or favour, apply the rules as laid down by the House in an...

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Thank you. The next speaker is Senator Joe O’Reilly.

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the witnesses for coming here this evening. They are incredibly impressive in their knowledge, delivery and how they try to convince people to do the right thing. I think Mr. O'Neill is particularly impressive. Mr. Liston and Mr. O'Neill both mentioned this. If the Government put forward and passed a Bill with services included in it and then were a court case to happen, which...

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: So while people on the other side might say that this could be very complex, problematic or would not look good, it is actually quite simple and could be done very quickly-----

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: -----almost before it was even on the news.

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: The ruling says "to prevent". I am now putting a counter-argument. Is there anywhere in the ruling where it says "to ban"?

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: When Mr. Liston read out the quote, questions were asked about our country abiding by the ICJ ruling. Mr. Liston quoted correctly in terms of it being "to prevent" but then afterwards he constantly talked about a ban. The text does not say "ban". We know how lawyers work, they can use different words for different meanings. I find it interesting that when Mr. Liston speaks without quoting...

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Can Mr. Liston see how other countries, that are sympathetic to Israel would say that the wording "to prevent" could mean, as members in the committee yesterday said, simply informing companies that they are not to do it and that is enough to prevent it? Can Mr. Liston see how other countries would make that argument? I do not agree with it, obviously, but can they see why other countries...

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Mr. Liston said that in his view, introducing this without services would not abide by the ICJ ruling. I hope we will include services but either way, is it his view that we are the country closest to abiding by the ICJ ruling?

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: My next question is for Senator Black. She and Mr. O'Neill have said numerous times that we should not make this political. Senator Black has acknowledged and knows that from the steps made behind the scenes in trying to build other countries' support and the domino effect of getting support from the bottom up. I am interested in her view on whether in this country it has become political....

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) (2 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Mr. Liston outlined the ICJ ruling and he read a quote from it regarding the prevention of dealing in any goods or services. I am sure Mr. Liston heard the contributions from the Department yesterday. The Department is aware that other countries see that wording differently and believe that they comply with the ruling in that "preventing goods and services" can mean different things. Is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I too support my party colleagues' comments on the messages from the Minister for higher education about increasing fees in the next budget. I have got hundreds of calls from parents who are absolutely terrified of the cost that college fees will impose on them come September if there is an increase of €1,000.We know a lot of families who have two, three and even four people going to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Arts Council Grant Management IT System: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I have been in and out of the meeting for votes in the Seanad and have missed things so if I ask a question that has been asked already, my apologies. Mr. Ó Coigligh said that he has confidence that things have changed within the Department, and that he was not satisfied when he came in first about the situation with the Arts Council. He said when he was in here with the Arts Council...