Results 8,461-8,480 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (13 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 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 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (13 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions 359 to 361, inclusive, together. The current Election Observation Roster maintained and administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was established in May 2013 for a period of five years. This followed a review of the previous roster and a public call for applications. Following the independent appraisal and ranking of the 263 eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the world’s poorest countries. It has experienced decades of violence since gaining independence in 1962. Violence in 2012 plunged the country into further instability and widespread conflict, and a major humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian situation across the country remains extremely serious. 2.3 million people, out of a population...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (8 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: I am very concerned at the increasingly serious drought situation in Somalia, and its impact on vulnerable communities across the country. I discussed the political and humanitarian situation in Somalia during my visit to Kenya last week. Five million people are now food insecure throughout the country, with over a million facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. This is a 20%...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (8 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: Ireland’s strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment is reflected both in the Government’s policy on international development, One World, One Future and in the review of Ireland’s foreign policy, The Global Island. This is recognised internationally. In 2014, a comprehensive review by the OECD Development Assistance Committee of Ireland’s...

Topical Issues Debate: EU Issues (6 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle fá choinne an tseans labhairt fá dtaobh den reifreann san Iodáil agus ráiteas gairid a dhéanamh air don Teach. I am pleased to have this opportunity to make a short statement to the House on the recent referendum in Italy. Italy is a leading member of the European Union. It is a founder member and the third...

Topical Issues Debate: EU Issues (6 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: It is important that we avail of this House to have these conversations. In regard to referenda, we all have anecdotal examples of why people vote in particular ways, from which we can draw our own conclusions. Following the children's referendum when I asked a man why he had voted "No", he responded that he had done so because the "No" option was on the ballot paper, which shows his vote...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (6 Dec 2016)

Joe McHugh: The continuing conflict in Syria has generated the most serious humanitarian crisis in the world today. The Government is strongly committed to responding to the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people. Since 2012, Ireland has provided more than €62 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region. This is Ireland’s largest response to any humanitarian crisis...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (29 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 to 387, inclusive, together. Ireland provided a total €138.2 million in financial contributions to the UN Agencies and Funds in 2015. Of this, €129.4 million was in voluntary contributions and €8.8 million in assessed contribution. It is not the Government’s policy to donate goods in kind to the UN in lieu of part payment of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: Tá áthas orm bheith i gcomhluadar an Chathaoirligh agus baill an choiste chun Meastúcháin Breise teicniúla i gcóir Vóta 28 don Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála a phlé. I am pleased to be here this afternoon for the committee's consideration of a technical Supplementary Estimate in 2016 for Vote 28 for the Department of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I thank Deputy Grealish for his remarks. I concur with him on the level of efficiency and professionalism among the staff of the Passport Office in cases where, for example, someone is under pressure to obtain a passport in order to travel to a job interview or to university or for more personal or challenging reasons relating to a bereavement. I agree with the Deputy not just on the level...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: On the increase in the number of applications for Irish passports and to tie-in with Deputy McLoughlin's point about the statistical impact of Brexit, there has been a 70% increase in the number of applications from people in Northern Ireland. However, I assure Deputy Grealish that all passport applications are carefully vetted. Deputy Grealish also mentioned the recent election in the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I have visited the consulate office in Edinburgh, the embassy in London and the consulates in Boston and San Francisco. The staff there do great work. They have to give advice in respect of that to which people are entitled. It is a very good service. I agree that the Irish Army members serving in Lebanon are doing great work. One in three, more than 30% of the population in Lebanon...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: They are from all over. I do not want to be parochial either but I had the opportunity to meet young lads from Ramelton in my county at a ceremony. They are doing great work In response to Deputy McLoughlin's question on Brexit, from my time spent in Edinburgh and Glasgow a few weeks ago, I am aware that business carries on and there is a great positivity regarding Irish and Scottish...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: To take Deputy Barrett first, I acknowledge the service and agree with him about it. The entitlement to a passport is based on citizenship in the first instance and determined by law. There are two automatic categories. If one is born in Ireland or one's parents were born here, that is automatic. Then, one has the grandparent facility, but that is after registration. As such, there is a...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I have no problem doing that.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: Additional staff have been recruited. While the current staff complement are managing, additional staff are always welcome. I acknowledge the Chairman's reference to the situation in Nigeria, in respect of which I put my views on record yesterday. We will have an opportunity next week to talk about it further.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (24 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I thank the committee for this engagement. My officials are happy to be of assistance to it. I congratulate the committee on its work to date and if there are issues on which the Department can do better, we are happy to hear about them.

Other Questions: Humanitarian Aid (23 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I am seriously concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis in north-eastern Nigeria, following seven years of Boko Haram violence. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that 14 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, as the Deputy correctly pointed out. More than 4.4 million people are in urgent need of food assistance and up to 400,000...

Other Questions: Humanitarian Aid (23 Nov 2016)

Joe McHugh: I agree and I am glad the Deputy has raised the issue because there are many forgotten crises. In recent days along the Lake Chad border there has been an eruption of violence. When we consider that in Chad alone, 9 million of the global displaced population of 65 million, are displaced it gives an indication. The efforts at EU level and whatever collaborative approaches need to be carried...