Results 1,241-1,260 of 3,084 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland is committed to universal and fair access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. This is essential for our health at home as well in low income countries where the impact of the pandemic is reversing hard won gains and deepening social and economic inequalities. Currently just over 55% of the global adult population is vaccinated, but this falls to rates as low as 1.3% in some of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Access (14 Dec 2021)

Colm Brophy: The humanitarian situation in Somalia is worsening, exacerbated by a three year long drought which has affected more than 2.8 million people in 66 out of the 74 districts in Somalia. An estimated 133,000 people, mostly in central and southern areas have been displaced. There are fears that the situation could continue to worsen into 2022. The Somalia government declared a state of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

Colm Brophy: Universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and treatments is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19. My colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, leads on trade and World Trade Organisation matters (WTO), including on the current discussion on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Dec 2021)

Colm Brophy: The ongoing crisis in Ethiopia, including the recent escalation in military operations and declaration of a state of emergency, is having a devastating humanitarian impact on people across Ethiopia including and in particular Tigray. Through our bilateral engagements, as well as within the European Union and at the UN Security Council, Ireland continues to advocate for urgent and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (2 Dec 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply disappointed by the Government of Ethiopia’s decision to restrict the size of our Embassy in Addis Ababa, requiring the majority of our diplomatic staff to leave the country.  Our Ambassador and one other diplomat have been permitted to stay.   The Embassy remains open, with a particular emphasis on critical consular assistance to Irish citizens. The...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Acting Chairperson. I am very pleased today to contribute to this important debate. Ireland has a proud history of supporting the protection of human rights around the world. We are a small country but we are an independent voice on the international stage, prioritising the most vulnerable and marginalised. We are committed to the universality, indivisibility and...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (1 Dec 2021)

Colm Brophy: To conclude, I thank Senators for their contributions thus far and look forward to hearing further contributions from them.

Employment Support Services: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important matter. The Minister, unfortunately, has had to leave, but she was in attendance, as Deputies would acknowledge, for the vast majority of the debate. She spoke comprehensively on the Government's approach to the expansion of employment service provision and the extensive engagement with the sector. I commend the quality of the employment...

Employment Support Services: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: Nor is there an exemption that would remove the State's obligation. The Minister spoke earlier about the extensive engagement with the sector, as I mentioned, including visits to every provider and engagement with representatives from the sector. Those engagements have been critical in the approach taken to expand an integrated, high-quality employment service model, while meeting the need...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: After almost 30 years of military dictatorship, the 2019 people’s revolution put Sudan on the path to democratic civilian government. The military coup, which began on 24/25 October, represents a major setback to this transition. The military leadership’s violent crackdown on the country’s civilian and civil society leadership, mass detention of protestors, attacks on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (24 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: The deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel generally, and in Burkina Faso specifically, is of significant concern. Burkina Faso faces internal and external threats, with internal non-state armed actors frequently linked to extremists in neighbouring countries. The deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso has many complex and interwoven drivers provoking...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: After almost 30 years of military dictatorship, the 2019 people’s revolution put Sudan on the path to democratic civilian government. The military coup, which began on 24/25 October, represents a major setback to this transition. The military leadership’s violent crackdown on the country’s civilian and civil society leadership, mass detention of protestors, attacks on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vaccination Programme (23 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland is committed to universal and fair access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. This is essential for our health at home as well in low income countries where the impact of the pandemic is reversing hard won gains and deepening social and economic inequalities. The WHO has set a global vaccination target of 70% by the middle of next year. Currently just over 40% of the global adult...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am keenly aware of the food insecurity crisis in Madagascar, especially the dire situation in the south of the country where over 1.13 million people are facing acute food insecurity. This includes some 14,000 people facing famine-like conditions, and 500,000 children, aged 6 to 59 months suffering from acute malnutrition. Ireland has so far provided €500,000 to the UN's World...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am gravely concerned by the worsening situation in Tigray and other parts of Ethiopia, including the recent escalation in military operations and declaration of a state of emergency, all of which are magnifying the ongoing humanitarian crisis. These developments are deeply worrying for the people of Ethiopia, and raise questions regarding the stability of the Horn of Africa region as a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (23 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: Amnesty International Ireland is the Irish branch of the international non-Governmental organisation, Amnesty International. Amnesty International Ireland uses human rights education to encourage the development of skills and attitudes that will promote equality, dignity, and respect, both in the community and internationally. The Department of Foreign Affairs has provided funding to Amnesty...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (18 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 45, 47 and 53 together. I am gravely concerned by the worsening situation in Tigray and other parts of Ethiopia, including the recent escalation in military operations and declaration of a state of emergency which are magnifying the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Through our bilateral engagements, as well as within the European Union and at the UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (18 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA), is directed through multilateral and bilateral channels, to countries and people who are in greatest need. There is a specific emphasis across our work on addressing hunger and ensuring human rights are met. This is reflected in A Better World, Ireland's international development policy, which identifies food as a key area for intervention, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (18 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 55 and 56 together. Last month’s military coup was a major setback to Sudan’s hard-won democratic transition. The military leadership’s violent crackdown on the country’s civilian and civil society leadership, mass detention of protestors and methodical dismantling of transitional institutions are unacceptable. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Negotiations (18 Nov 2021)

Colm Brophy: My Department was actively involved in both the preparations for, and the discussions at, COP26 in Glasgow this year. Both Minister Coveney and I each attended in Glasgow for one day, participating in stakeholder events and also having bilateral meetings. Ahead of COP26, my Department worked closely with officials in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which...