Results 8,381-8,400 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (2 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: We are deeply concerned about the severe drought conditions in many parts of Somalia, as a result of poor and erratic rains over the last two years. The impact includes large-scale displacement in the worst affected areas, with almost 600,000 people forced to flee their homes over the last six month period alone. Over 6 million people in Somalia are now in need of urgent humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (2 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: Since 2012, Ireland has provided more than €76 million in assistance for the humanitarian crisis as a result of the devastating conflict in Syria. At the Supporting Syria and the Regionhigh-level conference in Brussels last month, I pledged that Ireland would provide at least a further €25 million in 2017. Ireland’s funding is channelled through a range of partners who...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (2 May 2017)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 651 to 655, inclusive, together. International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of individuals who are available to participate in election observation missions organised in the main by the OSCE and the EU. The election observation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (13 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government recognises the value of a strong, independent and inclusive civil society and has a long history, through Irish Aid, of supporting Irish civil society organisations in fighting poverty and hunger and responding to humanitarian crises. Irish Aid manages a range of civil society funding partnerships to implement these objectives. When I addressed the World Humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. In the Programme for Government we have set out our ambition to make progress towards the UN target as resources permit. I have consistently stated that progress needs to be made in a sustainable and manageable way, which continues to strengthen Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: Ireland continues to respond to the unprecedented levels of humanitarian need as a result of crises across the Middle East. We have provided a total of €76.5 million in humanitarian assistance for victims of the Syrian conflict since 2012 and a further €5.75 million for Iraq. Furthermore, through our contributions to the EU and to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of observers for election observation missions, organised in the main by the EU and OSCE. The current election observation roster was established in May 2013, following a review of the previous roster and a public call for applications. The Information Note for Applicants which accompanied the call, stated that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: There is no doubt that the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union presents unprecedented political, economic and diplomatic challenges for Ireland, extending right across the policy spectrum, including development cooperation. The UK is a major contributor to the EU’s aid budgets. Its share of the off-budget 2014-2020 European Development Fund is 14.68% or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government shares the deep concern internationally at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa and Yemen. Conflict, drought and loss of livelihoods are forcing people to flee their homes, and millions are suffering from acute hunger and are facing famine. The UN has called on the international community to step up efforts to avoid catastrophe. In 2016, Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: Ireland continues to respond to the unprecedented levels of humanitarian need resulting from ongoing conflict and violence in Syria and Iraq, including through support to neighbouring countries, which are hosting huge numbers of refugees. Since 2012, we have provided a total of €76.5 million in humanitarian assistance for the Syria crisis. At the conference co-chaired by the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: In 2016, Ireland provided over €190 million globally in humanitarian assistance to people affected by crisis and conflict, including in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria. The funding is directed towards the provision of life-saving assistance including food support, shelter, and the provision of basic services including health, education and water and sanitation. In 2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government has consistently condemned the human rights abuses being perpetrated by Al Shabaab and by Boko Haram, which remain a threat to the peace, stability and prosperity of Somalia and Nigeria respectively, and neighbouring countries. In Somalia, progress has been made in containing the threat of Al Shabaab. The Somali Government is supported by the African Union, and the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: I am deeply concerned by the human rights abuses being perpetrated by Boko Haram, including the taking hostage of women and girls. We, and the broader international community, have consistently called on all parties to ensure that abductions and kidnappings by Boko Haram and other groups cease and that all those who have been taken hostage are released. The UN estimates that,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The international community is currently challenged by the unprecedented scale of humanitarian crises globally, as a result of war and conflict, drought and famine and the devastation caused by natural disasters. Over 128 million people in 33 countries around the world are now in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The UN has identified the emergencies, in Syria, Iraq and Yemen as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (12 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The provision of effective humanitarian assistance is a key foreign policy priority for the Government. Ireland provided over €190 million in humanitarian funding in 2016 to assist people affected by crisis and conflict around the world, including refugees from war zones. In addition, Ireland also contributes to the European Commission’s humanitarian action outside the EU,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (4 Apr 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. In the Programme for Government we have set out our ambition to make progress towards the UN target of providing 0.7% of GNP to Official Development Assistance (ODA) as resources permit. Over the past two years we have managed to increase funding...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Referendum Campaigns (29 Mar 2017)

Joe McHugh: Go raibh maith agat a Chathaoirligh. Tá brón orm fadúda an brú.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Referendum Campaigns (29 Mar 2017)

Joe McHugh: Bhí mé ag smaoineamh fadúda uimhir a ceathair ach tá sé socraithe anois. Tá mé anseo. Cuirim buíochas roimh an Seanadóir faoi choinne na ceiste fosta. Is ceist tábhachtach í. I thank Senator Lawless for his own individual campaigning and as a representative of many groups down the years which have campaigned on this issue. No doubt...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Referendum Campaigns (29 Mar 2017)

Joe McHugh: I agree with the Senator that we have a history of referendums. I will not talk about my own county because it has a consistent history in regard to them. I am not naive that this will be an easily won referendum. It will not be. There will be opportunities in both the Seanad and the Dáil prior to the referendum and proper, open and honest discourse, prior to the preferred option...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (23 Mar 2017)

Joe McHugh: I am deeply concerned by the situation of the more than 20 million people currently facing famine, or threat of famine, in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and north-east Nigeria. In 2016, Ireland provided a total of some €195 million in humanitarian assistance to people affected by crisis and conflict, including in the countries mentioned. This funding is directed towards the...