Results 781-800 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The number and complexity of humanitarian crises globally has increased in recent years, with the UN estimating that over 140 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. Conflict is the most significant driver of this increased need. Ireland prioritises the provision of needs based, principled humanitarian aid to high profile humanitarian crises such as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Horn of Africa is currently experiencing a period of tremendous political change and transition. Ireland, as a member of the EU, supports EU efforts to strengthen engagement in the region in order to ensure that the various transitions underway are positive. Ireland also supports efforts, including through the EU, to support greater regional integration. Since his appointment in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The recent political events and violence against protestors in Sudan follows over six months of demonstrations, triggered initially by spiralling costs of living. On 11 April, it was announced that President Omar al-Bashir had been removed from power and that a Transitional Military Council had assumed control in Sudan.  The Transitional Military Council announced its intention to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (29 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I refer the Deputy to the responses to the following Parliamentary Questions tabled during the months of February and March which provide further information on the election observation roster, including Questions No. 152 of 12 February 2019, No. 108 of 26 February 2019 and No. 74 of 6 March 2019. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of suitably...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (29 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade currently provides funding to UN Volunteers on an annual basis in line with our funding approach to other UN agencies. In 2017 and 2018 our funding was €500,000. Our current policy is to assign volunteers through UNV for a twelve month period. This ensures that as many applicants to what is a competitive selection process have the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation Provision (28 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank both of the Deputies for raising this issue. The Department's building unit works exceptionally hard, under incredible pressure, to deliver on probably the greatest school building programme that this country has ever undertaken. If it is considered that in the first quarter of 2011 we had the most births per capita in the history of this State, that demographic bubble is now...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation Provision (28 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to reply on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, who cannot, unfortunately, be here due to other commitments. I thank Deputies Burton and Jack Chambers for raising the matter and for giving me the opportunity to set out the position in relation to the accommodation needs of Pelletstown Educate Together national school. The school is currently in interim...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (21 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together. Ireland’s new international development policy, A Better World, was published in February, situating Irish interventions within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and, in particular, their injunction to reach the furthest behind first. Actions to promote gender equality are at the core of A Better...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (21 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Ireland’s new policy for international development, A Better World, was published in February. A Better World reaffirms the Government’s commitment, as outlined in Global Ireland 2025, to expand Ireland's official development assistance and make progress on delivering the United Nations target of allocating 0.7 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) for official development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: On 11 April it was announced that a transitional military council had assumed control in Sudan and that Omar al-Bashir, who had been President for three decades, was being held in a "safe place". The transitional military council has said it will govern Sudan for a two-year transitional period after which it promises presidential elections. Sudan's constitution has been suspended, its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (18 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: International election observation missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level on international election observation missions. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union or the Office for...

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

Ciarán Cannon: Kenyan law criminalises  male homosexual relations.  However, some interpretations suggest that it also prohibits female same sex relations.  Consequently both men and women in same sex relationships in Kenya fear the possibility of legal persecution. A petition seeking to decriminalise same sex relations is currently before the High Court of Kenya, arguing that two...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (18 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: All projects and programmes considered for Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) funding or support under the Reconciliation Fund grant scheme are rigorously appraised by Departmental staff using clear criteria, including efficiency in the use of resources, cost-effectiveness and intended impacts and outcomes.  Programmes in receipt of funding are subject to regular monitoring to ensure that...

Civil Liability and Courts (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, I thank Deputy Michael McGrath and other Members for their active participation in today's Second Stage debate. It is evident from the discussion that the issues of insurance costs and insurance fraud are of fundamental concern, while also being very difficult to tackle comprehensively. As is clear from the range of recommendations made by the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Archaeological Sites (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I am not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: On 11 April, it was announced that a transitional military council had assumed control in Sudan and that Omar al-Bashir, who had held the office of President for three decades, was being held in a safe place.  The transitional military council has said it will govern Sudan for a two-year transitional period after which it promises presidential elections.  Sudan’s constitution...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: We call on all involved to ensure that the protests remain peaceful and that the response to them remains proportionate. The Irish Embassy in Nairobi, which is accredited to Sudan, continues to monitor the political situation closely in co-operation with a delegation of the European Union in Khartoum. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade met with the Sudanese...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Government's position is that it should, and will, continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly in conjunction with our EU partners and the United Nations. Any actions that would be considered inflammatory in the context of an unstable political situation in Sudan should be avoided at all costs.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Procurement Regulations (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe. Public procurement is a key part of the Government's overall reform agenda. The public procurement process is governed by EU legislation and national rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Public Procurement Regulations (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I agree wholeheartedly with the Senator about requiring that every single contractor tendering for a project in Ireland, irrespective of from where the contractor emanates, is subject to the same set of terms and conditions and is required to comply with all of the regulatory regime underpinning the contracting process here in Ireland. The Senator referred to oversight. The Department of...