Results 8,421-8,440 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (22 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international election observation missions organised in the main by the European Union and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (22 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: The provision of effective humanitarian assistance is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland. Ireland’s humanitarian assistance is targeted where needs are greatest and we ensure a focus on crises and conflicts that are sometimes ignored in the media. In 2016, Ireland provided over €165 million in humanitarian funding, to provide assistance to people affected by crisis and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: I am extremely concerned about the political, economic and humanitarian situation in South Sudan, particularly in light of the declaration of famine this week in parts of the country. The United Nations has estimated that 100,000 South Sudanese people are already facing starvation, with a further one million on the brink of famine. Following the resumption of the civil war in July 2016, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: I remain deeply concerned by the activities of all terrorist groups and the impact that these groups have on the stability and security of States across the Middle East and West and North Africa. The activities of Boko Haram continue to pose a threat to the people of Nigeria, and the wider Lake Chad region. They involve the clear and persistent abuse of human rights, especially of women and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (22 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Since 2012, the Government has provided a total of €67.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region, in Ireland’s largest response to any humanitarian crisis. We provided €25 million in 2016 alone, €19 million of which was delivered through the Irish Aid programme, managed by my Department, and €6 million through the Department of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Deputy Grealish mentioned the cultural centre in Boston and I had the pleasure of being there last year. There were many Connemara people there.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: They were all asking for the Deputy. It is a fantastic facility as it is but it is an ambitious group and it wants to go forward. The Deputy is aware of the plans.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Last year, €2.3 million went to welfare organisations through our emigrant support programme, which was 70% of the overall programme funding that went to the United States. In San Francisco, there are ambitious plans for remodelling the centre there. We will stay in touch with our consulate and I have asked the group in Boston to stay in touch with the consulate there and ourselves...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Today is the second time that Deputy Grealish has raised this issue. My officials are in contact with the officials in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on this issue. In order to make more progress, I am prepared to set up a meeting where both Deputies, myself and officials from both Departments are in attendance. Ultimately, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the opportunity to present the 2017 Revised Estimate for Vote 27, international co-operation, as well as to briefly outline our plans for the current year. Last May I was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora and international development and have greatly valued the work and advice of this committee in the period since. Vote 27 funds about 80% of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Yes; that is why we are going there. Since 2012 Ireland has provided over €67 million in response to the Syrian crisis, including €25 million last year alone. We are monitoring closely the difficult situation across the Horn of Africa and responding. I am particularly concerned about near-famine conditions in several countries, including Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria. I...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: The only way we can work towards achieving the 0.7% target is collectively. I am on record already in that regard. In regard to the sustainable development goals and the 2030 plan I do not think it is good enough to say that in 14 years we will achieve the 0.7% target. If we want to hit that target we need to put in place a mechanism to do so and the only way we can do that is working...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (16 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to do that and there is also an invitation to the Seanad. Perhaps it could be co-ordinated.

US Executive Order on Immigration: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Ba mhaith liom i dtús báire buíochas a ghabháil leis na daoine thar lear i Meiriceá atá ag obair ar son daoine Éireannacha, go háirithe iad siúd atá gan aitheantas. I wish to address the House on the matter of the executive order signed by Presided Donald J. Trump on 27 January 2017. As Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Our Embassy in Abuja follows developments in Nigeria closely, including in relation to inter-ethnic tensions in parts of the country. These include tensions in southern Kaduna, between members of the Fulani people, a predominantly nomadic group dispersed across the Sahel region and West Africa, and other communities. They have given rise to clashes over land access and use, including acts...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (7 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: On 23 January, the US President signed an Executive Order reinstating the so-called ‘Mexico City Policy’. Ireland shares the concern of many partner countries in terms of the potential negative impact on organisations which provide a range of maternal health services and reproductive health care including basic family planning services in developing countries. In relation...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Broadcasting Service Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Go raibh maith agat a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an gceist tábhachtach seo a chur faoin tseirbhís thar a bheith tábhachtach ar son muintir na hÉireann sa Bhreatain. By way of background on this matter, in September 2014, RTE announced plans to shut down its long wave 252 service, which enables RTE Radio 1 to be broadcast into...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Broadcasting Service Provision (2 Feb 2017)

Joe McHugh: Out of respect to the Senator's global reach, which is not just confined to the UK, I wish to state for the record that there is an intensive effort going in to continuing the dialogue and conversation with all our front-line services in America. It also continues at a political level in the US Senate and House of Representatives. The Senator is involved in that effort. He took part in a...

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

Joe McHugh: International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international election observation missions, organised in the main by the Organisation for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reports (31 Jan 2017)

Joe McHugh: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade commissioned an independent evaluation of the Irish Aid Uganda Country Strategy 2010-2014, in line with standard practice. Such independent evaluations play an essential role in assessing the impact of the Irish Aid programme, identifying ways to improve on its delivery, and providing accountability for public funds spent. The Uganda evaluation...