Results 12,561-12,580 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Senator Walsh makes his case very well. We do not have a drafted amendment to the Bill so there is nothing we can do specifically on this point but I will find out the reasons and I will communicate directly with Senator Walsh.

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senators for their contributions. As always, this House has a very good reputation for engaging very productively in legislation. This is an example of Ireland subscribing to international obligations and showing leadership in the area.

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Second Stage (8 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senators who participated in the debate for their support for the Bill. As Senator Jim Walsh said, it was drafted during the term of office of the previous Government and supported by the then Opposition. I very much welcome the fact there is again cross-party support for the legislation. There is no evidence to suggest there is terrorist activity of this kind, but it is...

Seanad: Biological Weapons Bill 2010: Second Stage (8 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am very pleased to be back in the Seanad after several years. The principal purpose of this Bill is to make further provision in domestic law for the State's obligations under the 1925 Geneva Protocol and the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, BTWC, as well as relevant elements of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 of 2004. The Geneva Protocol, to which Ireland acceded in 1930,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The practice of female genital mutilation is a clear violation of the human rights of women and girls. It also infringes on children's rights to special protection. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 100 million and 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of female genital mutilation. In Africa alone, it is estimated that three...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 25, 26 and 50 together. This year marks thirty years of the global AIDS epidemic. Addressing HIV and AIDS, which has destroyed the lives of millions of men, women and children, is of fundamental importance to the reduction of global poverty. AIDS remains a leading cause of death in many developing countries. Over 22 million people in sub Saharan Africa...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government attaches great importance to the continuing development of Ireland's relations with Africa as a whole, and with individual African countries. My Department manages a significant development cooperation programme, Irish Aid, which is strongly focused on sub-Saharan Africa. Our broader relations with Africa are managed through our Embassy network across that continent, as well...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 51 together. The Government's aid programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, is sharply focused on efforts to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger. In its most recent peer review of the programme, in 2009, the OECD stated that Irish Aid's concentration in a limited number of poor African countries is one of...

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I agree with the Deputy Mac Lochlainn that Ireland has consistently supported the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. A meeting is scheduled for next week with Mr. Christopher Ross in New York. Ireland will continue, through the dialogue the Deputy described, to support the ongoing process. There is a blockage at present with regard to a referendum on...

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are in tune with the Irish people when we defend the Irish Aid programme. When the US President, Mr. Obama, was here, he said we are very much known for what we do through our development programmes, which are supported on all sides of the House. I am planning to go to Africa, namely Malawi and Mozambique.

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Minister for Foreign Affairs has been engaging with the United States with regard to various international issues. We certainly intend to be strong in our work on this matter. I acknowledge all previous Governments have played a very strong role in regard to aid. Ireland's record is really excellent and its aid programme has been assessed as being the fifth most effective in the world.

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: There will be some members of the press travelling with us and we intend to get the message to the people of Ireland. I acknowledge strongly the support of Members throughout the House on these issues. I agree the aid programme will constitute a key part of Ireland's regaining its international reputation.

Diplomatic Representation (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Following a Government decision on 24 May, the transfer of trade promotion functions from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to the Department of Foreign Affairs took place yesterday. The transfer gives my Department the lead role in trade promotion. The transfer of functions will, on a practical level, give my Department responsibility for the management of the export trade...

Diplomatic Representation (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the Deputy's support. There will be more trade missions and they will be announced as they arise. I assure the Deputy there will be an export trade council under the aegis of my Department and it will be chaired by the Minister. It will have some of the characteristics of the foreign trade council that was under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation. The...

Diplomatic Representation (2 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: There will be close co-operation between the two Departments. There will be a service level agreement with Enterprise Ireland and my Department will have a working relationship with all the agencies. The EU Commission has competency for multilateral negotiations and, therefore, the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation will engage in that aspect of the trade brief. Promotion will...

Passport Applications (31 May 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising the issue. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Gilmore. I hope I will be able to assure the Deputy that we are taking action in the Department. There are currently 51,628 passport applications in the system being processed across the Passport Offices in Molesworth Street, Balbriggan, Cork and London. The...

Passport Applications (31 May 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will certainly pass on that suggestion to the Minister.

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 May 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Ireland is playing a strong role in international development, building on the efforts and contributions of individual Irish people and organisations and the effectiveness of the Government's aid programme. The Government is committed to the target of spending 0.7% of GNP on Official Development Assistance (ODA), and to seeking to achieve this by 2015. We recognise that ODA alone cannot...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 May 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Question relates to superannuation arrangements for a person who volunteered overseas with an Irish non-governmental organisation (NGO) for two periods in the 1980s. The person involved has discussed the situation with officials in my Department who contacted the NGO on her behalf to clarify the position. The organisation concerned has informed my Department that it has no records to...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (17 May 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government of Malawi expelled the British High Commissioner to Malawi on 26 April 2011, following the alleged leaking of a diplomatic report. We have condemned this decision along with our EU partners, as have Churches and Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi. Malawi has been a priority country for Ireland's aid programme since 2006, with a commitment to long-term strategic...