Results 981-1,000 of 2,771 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Nigeria. Conflict poses a serious challenge to the country’s stability, and impacts on the wider region. The particular acts of violence referred to are between nomadic herders and settled farmers. While in Nigeria the vast majority of herders are Muslim and many of the farmers are Christian, conflict arises from differences of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (22 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions No. 304, 305 and 311 of 26 May 2021, Parliamentary Questions No. 303 and 310 of 26 May 2021 and Parliamentary Question No. 777 of 24 March 2021 on international election observation. The Department of Foreign Affairs facilitates an Election Observation Roster of suitably skilled and vetted volunteers who are available to participate at short...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I represented Ireland at the 13 September High Level Meeting on Afghanistan called by the UN Secretary General. The purpose of that meeting was to raise awareness and support for the deteriorating humanitarian situation there. I set out Ireland’s response to date and our intention to continue to support evolving needs, noting that Ireland has so far this year provided €2...

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: It would be easy to give a litany of what Sinn Féin Members actually do, what their real intentions and practices are compared to the petty stunts they pull when sitting in this House. I do not want to do that tonight. I want to talk about a colleague-----

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: Believe me, there will be plenty of time to talk about what they do. Tonight I want to talk about a colleague I work with in the Department of Foreign Affairs, a person who has more integrity than most of them will ever know or understand and who does more to serve this country in a day or a week than most of them have ever done. Indeed, most of them have a good track record in damaging our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (9 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: My Department has supported the UNESCO programme, Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) since 2017, providing €1,850,000 in funding to-date. As part of the programme, which is the largest comprehensive sexuality education programme in Africa, funding from Ireland supports the empowerment, health and resilience of adolescents and young people in Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (9 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Nigeria.  Conflict poses a serious challenge to that country’s stability, and impact on the wider region. The particular acts of violence referred to are between nomadic herders and settled farmers.  While in Nigeria the vast majority of herders are Muslim and many of the farmers are Christian, conflict arises from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (9 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: Officials at the Irish Embassy in question are aware of the case and have been in contact with the individual concerned.  As part of ongoing Government efforts to tackle the Covid-19, short stay visa applications were not accepted since 21 March 2020, unless the application meets certain emergency or priority criteria. Unfortunately, this particular case did not fall under the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Communities Abroad (13 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: Since its establishment in 2004, Ireland's Emigrant Support Programme has provided over €190 million in support to Irish communities across the world. Last year alone ESP grants totalling around €13 million assisted over 400 projects run by nearly 300 different organisations, the vast majority grassroots-based. These range in scale from large-scale welfare support programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned by the recent tensions and civil unrest in Eswatini, and at reports of the deaths of civilians and the destruction of property. It is vital that all sides take immediate action to deescalate the current situation, and to allow for dialogue to take place. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Access (6 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland is 'co-penholder' with Norway on the UN Security Council Syria Humanitarian file, strongly advocating for humanitarian aid to reach all those in need, including and in particular north-west Syria. In order that the extensive humanitarian needs in Syria continue to be met, Ireland, with Norway, is working towards the renewal of the mandate enabling cross border operations later...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: On 8 May, the Government of Nepal made a request for emergency assistance to the EU through the EU Emergency Response Mechanism. In response, Irish officials made an assessment of medical equipment available in the HSE's stockpile of medical supplies. On June 16, Ireland donated the following equipment to Nepal: 72 oxygen concentrators; 42 ventilators; 12 bipap machines; 400 oximeters;...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (30 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I hear the Deputy very clearly on that. The Minister is hopeful that the outstanding matters can be resolved between the two authorities in the coming weeks. Therefore, while a review to determine the overall success of the boundary extension may be considered in the future, at this stage of the implementation it would be premature to look at that. It is considered beneficial to wait until...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (30 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for her comments and will pass her remarks on to the Minister with regard to when the strategic railway review will conclude. It will commence shortly. The Deputy will be aware that a procurement process related to the review is under way. The review will examine the network across the island of Ireland with regard to improving sustainable connectivity between major...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (30 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and providing an opportunity to update the House. The Cork boundary alteration is the most significant of its kind undertaken in the State and represents a major reorganisation of local government in Cork. The main aim of the boundary extension was to allow the potential for further development within a new Cork City Council area, while also...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (30 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I thank Deputy Murphy for giving me the opportunity to discuss this issue in the House today. As many Members will be aware, rail services on this particular line ceased operation in 2010 under an agreement between the National Transport Authority, NTA, and Iarnród Éireann. A number of improvements were made to bus services in the area at the time to ensure continued public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (29 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together. Ireland has a longstanding relationship with Ethiopia, our largest bilateral development partner, built over time and characterised by close working relationships with its people and Government. Over the past 5 years alone, Ireland invested approximately €200m to support Ethiopia’s development and growth, with a focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: The UN Security Council is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security and it is in this context that it addresses climate change. I am deeply concerned about the security impacts of climate change. It is no coincidence that of the 15 countries most susceptible to climate risks, 8 host a UN peacekeeping operation or a special political mission. As a result, we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned at the plight of the people of Gaza. Recent hostilities have caused severe damage to infrastructure and the humanitarian consequences have been devastating for a community already enduring both a blockade and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to local authorities, more than 2000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and essential services, including water, sanitation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Oireachtas Committees (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I have welcomed the March 2021 report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the Distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to Developing Countries. I firmly believe that universal and equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable diagnostics, treatments and vaccines is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19.  I am determined that Ireland, in particular...