Results 81-100 of 4,707 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Seanad: The Diaspora: Statements (5 Mar 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Cathaoirleach. From the outset, I did not say this in my opening because the Cathaoirleach was not present, I wish to make a personal commendation and pay credit to the Cathaoirleach as a person, as a Senator, as a Cathaoirleach and, indeed, previously as a Leas-Chathaoirleach for his work in this area, albeit not just in terms of developing initial strategies and his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Mar 2025)

Neale Richmond: An Expropriation Bill (Act 13 of 2024) was signed into South African law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 23 January 2025. The Act repeals an earlier Expropriation Act (1975) and seeks to align the process of expropriation of property with the principles outlined in the 1996 South African Constitution, which recognises the right of the state to expropriate property for public purposes or in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (4 Mar 2025)

Neale Richmond: Ireland's Embassy in Pretoria opened in 1994, and it currently manages a bilateral development programme focused on reducing inequality, tackling the spread of HIV/AIDS, and reducing gender-based violence. Ireland’s total Official Development Assistance (ODA) directed to South Africa over the four years 2020 2023 amounted to a total of €16,294,000, as outlined in the table...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (4 Mar 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Government's international development cooperation programme, Irish Aid, is responsible for working with and supporting partners to tackle poverty and reduce humanitarian need in low-income countries and in crisis settings. The international development programme does not have a role in policy development or in regard to the promotion or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (4 Mar 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains firmly committed to Ireland’s international development assistance programme and its overriding priority, to reach the furthest behind first. Ireland has worked with the US Administration and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on several global?and country?programmes that support sustainable development and humanitarian response....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (4 Mar 2025)

Neale Richmond: Four years since the military coup in Myanmar, the Government remains seriously concerned at the situation in the country. Almost 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Myanmar. This includes more than 3.5 million displaced internally. Some 15.2 million are facing acute food insecurity, including 2.3 million with high levels of acute malnutrition . The situation...

Third Anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine: Statements (26 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I greatly appreciate the opportunity to close this very important debate today. I also welcome our Ukrainian friends who are here in the Gallery, especially their truly excellent ambassador. I thank them for their continued advocacy. There was a sheer breadth of contributions over this period, from all parties and none, from such a range of Deputies. It is a rare time we see such...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (26 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains firmly committed to Ireland’s international development assistance programme and its overriding priority, to reach the furthest behind first. Ireland has worked with the US Administration and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on several global?and country?programmes that support sustainable development and humanitarian response,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (26 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026. Preparations for the Presidency are being led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, in close co-operation with the Department of the Taoiseach and with input from all Departments across Government. We have been actively following significant policy developments at EU level, which will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (26 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: Ireland has been a consistent champion of the global fight against HIV and AIDS and is supportive of the goals of the Global Partnership for Action to eliminate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. While Ireland has not taken a decision on formally joining the partnership, addressing stigma and discrimination and ensuring equitable access to HIV prevention, testing and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (25 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains firmly committed to Ireland’s international development?assistance programme and to its overriding priority, to reach the furthest behind first. Ireland has worked with the US Administration and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on several global and country programmes that support sustainable development and humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (19 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together. The Government remains firmly committed to Ireland’s international development assistance programme and to its overriding priority, to reach the furthest behind first. Ireland has worked with the US Administration and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on several global and country...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (18 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government of Ireland does not receive funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). However, the Department of Foreign Affairs and USAID have had a longstanding collaboration in the fight against poverty and inequality around the world. Since 2022, Ireland has collaborated with USAID on areas of work that were identified as being of mutual interest and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defence Forces (13 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I take this debate on behalf of the Tánaiste as his Minister of State. If it is appropriate, I will pay credit to the Deputy for his time in the Chair and for his mentoring and guidance of new TDs the first time they rose in a debate like this. My first Topical Issue was during the height of the first lockdown of the Covid pandemic. These are far more comfortable surroundings for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defence Forces (13 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for his supplementary contribution. For the information of the House, as the Minister with responsibility for defence, the Tánaiste is the custodian and guardian of the Curragh lands pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961. Under that Act, the Curragh Plains are recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces...

Protection of Tenants' Deposits Bill 2025: First Stage (13 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: No.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (13 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I would like to acknowledge the important role played by the Irish organisation, The Gaza Paediatric Care Initiative (GPCI), in cooperation with the Irish Red Cross (IRC), on the recent arrival for treatment in Ireland of 8 children, and their family members from Gaza. With the assistance of the Government, they were evacuated from Gaza to Ireland, via Egypt, under the EU Civil Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: Almost two years of conflict has plunged Sudan into a catastrophic crisis of hunger and displacement. Over 11.5 million people have been displaced from their homes, and a further 3.4 million have fled to neighbouring countries. The war has crippled Sudan's economy, leaving over 24 million people in acute food insecurity, with some facing famine. We are gravely concerned by the scale of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 88 and 89 together. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced conflict over many decades, with increasing insecurity and violence in the mineral-rich areas of the east of the country. In July 2024, the Africa-led Luanda process resulted in a ceasefire which significantly reduced the level of armed conflict. However, in January 2025 the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (12 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together. The Government remains firmly committed to Ireland’s international development assistance programme and to reaching the furthest behind first. Ireland has worked with the US Administration and the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) on several global and country programmes that support sustainable...