Results 101-120 of 4,707 for speaker:Neale Richmond

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

Neale Richmond: Ireland maintains diplomatic relations with Rwanda through our Ambassador in Uganda, who is also accredited to Rwanda, and in contacts with the Rwandan Ambassador in London, who is also accredited to Ireland. Our Ambassador in Kampala, and officials from the Embassy, travel regularly to Rwanda for a range of activities, including meetings with government officials, Irish community events,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains deeply concerned by the appalling humanitarian crisis in Sudan, one of the most severe worldwide. We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire. Since April 2023, over 11.5 million people have been displaced from their homes in the country, and a further 3.4 million have fled to neighbouring countries. The war has crippled Sudan's economy, leaving over 24 million...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains strongly committed to supporting Irish communities oversees all over the world, in line with its Global Ireland: Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025. Our new Programme for Government includes a number of priorities to further strengthen our engagement with the diaspora, in particular cultivating ties with newer generations. Supporting culturally...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: The new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes a number of commitments to further strengthen our engagement with the diaspora including reducing barriers faced by those who wish to return home. In 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will allocate €16.493 million to support the needs of our Irish community overseas. I will ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: 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 M23 militia commenced a major offensive in eastern DRC...

Programme for Government: Statements (6 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: If it is agreeable, I will share time with Deputy Geoghegan - half and half. May I make a personal embarrassing comment to say how brilliant it is to share time with Deputy Geoghegan? We have been personal friends for more than 20 years. To be sitting on the same Government bench as him is really good and really cool. What is seldom is wonderful but as the Ceann Comhairle knows, we are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: Ireland has provided over €62 million in support of the Palestinian people since the beginning of 2023. Of this, more than €50 million has been provided in assistance since October 2023. This includes €38 million in core support to UNRWA, as well as the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Food Programme and others. Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (6 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: Ireland has provided consistent humanitarian and development support to the people of Somalia through the Government's international development programme. Since 2018, in the face of multiple crises in the country, our assistance has amounted to a total of €58 million. We have worked with partners to assist Somalia in dealing with the combined impact of conflict, climate change and...

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: It is not.

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: No, you cannot do that.

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this extremely timely and important debate. Before I speak to the motion, I commend the Deputies present who made their maiden speeches, particularly Deputy Gibney, with whom I share a constituency. I thank the Deputies for the heartfelt issues and genuine concerns raised by all Deputies. Regardless of whether they agree with the Government or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. The Government has welcomed the long-awaited agreement on a hostage release and ceasefire deal for Gaza. This has led to an immediate increase in the volume of critically needed humanitarian assistance entering Gaza. However, the scale of need remains enormous and the level of destruction from the conflict is so severe that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: We remain very concerned about the fragile security situation in southern Lebanon. Humanitarian needs remain are particularly high, and all parties need to meet their commitments under the extended ceasefire agreement. The UN estimates that over 800,000 people who were internally displaced in Lebanon during the 14-month conflict have now returned to their home places, while over 100,000...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (5 Feb 2025)

Neale Richmond: The ongoing conflict in Sudan is causing one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Over 11.5 million people have been displaced form their homes in the country, and a further 3.4 million have fled to neighbouring countries. In late 2024, offensives by the two main armed groups involved in the civil war were marked by atrocities, including massacres in Gezira State in the...

Credit Review Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I wish to start off by thanking all Deputies who contributed to this debate. I particularly thank my dear friend, Deputy Griffin, for his contribution not only this afternoon but over the last decade and a half for the people of Kerry at a local and national level. To say he has done the State some service is an understatement. I wish him, Róisín and the boys all the best. I am...

Credit Review Bill 2024: Referral to Select Committee (7 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Credit Review Bill 2024: Second Stage (7 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Credit Review is a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance. It was established by the Minister for Finance in 2010 under section 210 of the NAMA Act 2009, with the objective of facilitating access to bank credit for viable businesses. In the years since its establishment, Credit Review has proved an invaluable source of support...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate. In the time available, I will try to touch on as many of the points that have been raised as possible. On Committee Stage the Minister Deputy Chambers or I will be able to go into a bit more detail, particularly on some of the issues raised on the Opposition side of the House. I will begin with Senator Maria Byrne's comments on the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: Everything we will be saying in the coming general election-----

Seanad: Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (6 Nov 2024)

Neale Richmond: We were not in coalition with them either. Perhaps it was Independents who were in coalition on the previous occasion.