Results 13,441-13,460 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 Nov 2018)

Helen McEntee: Deputy Mattie McGrath should speak to the amendment.

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 Nov 2018)

Helen McEntee: It is completely inappropriate.

Seanad: Brexit: Motion (22 Nov 2018)

Helen McEntee: Last week EU and UK negotiators completed work on a draft agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, including the draft protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. This was followed by approval by Prime Minister May and her Cabinet of the draft agreement as an acceptable basis on which to proceed. On Sunday the Taoiseach will join other EU 27 leaders at a...

Seanad: Brexit: Motion (22 Nov 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for their contributions. We often discuss the solidarity of the 26 member states and how important that has been throughout the negotiations, but the solidarity in this House, the Lower House and throughout Ireland has been particularly important in addressing the Brexit challenge and that has been clearly demonstrated in today’s contributions. The Government has...

Brexit: Motion (21 Nov 2018)

Helen McEntee: The path to this important juncture in the negotiation process has not been easy. As the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and many people in this House have stated, there is still a lot of work ahead. The solidarity and support of our EU partners have been hallmarks of this process and have been unwavering and consistent throughout all the twists and turns that have occurred so far. I have...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2018)

Helen McEntee: This issue has been raised on a number of occasions in the European Council and at the General Affairs Council, specifically after the death of the Maltese journalist. It has been raised in a number of formats with regard to freedom of speech and the right to freedom of dissemination of information and in terms of human rights violations and regulations. In any of these cases we encourage...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank Members for their contributions and questions. On approaches to migration and its root causes, the Taoiseach addressed this in his speech today and when he presented to his European colleagues at the Council meeting last week. Africa has come under the heading of external relations as well as migration. We need to acknowledge that our relationship with Africa should not be...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (23 Oct 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Vice Chair and members for giving me the opportunity to discuss the motion referred to the select committee for consideration. The motion Dáil Éireann has been asked to approve reads:That Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (23 Oct 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Chairman and members for their comments and questions. I will respond first to the comments made by Deputy Barrett. I agree with him that we need to look further afield. If anything, Brexit highlights that sometimes we rely on our neighbours more than we thought we did. Certainly, while our closest neighbours within the EU will continue to be our largest market, providing us...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (23 Oct 2018)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely. To answer the question about whether supports have ever been stopped, I am not aware of that happening. There are sanctions on Turkey and Russia, but even with sanctions in place we have always continued to engage with countries. The EU was established and developed on the basis of dialogue. It is underpinned by the key fundamentals of democracy, human rights, freedom of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (26 Sep 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Chairman and committee members for their invitation to this meeting. It is important that we meet every few months because it give us an opportunity to engage on the relevant issues. I join the Chairman in acknowledging the importance of languages. Having spent the past year engaging with students, universities and with our European colleagues, I recognise that the development...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (26 Sep 2018)

Helen McEntee: I will reply to the questions in reverse order and respond to those who are present. In response to what Senator Craughwell said about a hard Brexit, we are doing everything in our power to avoid that. It is the last scenario we want to happen. In terms of contingency planning, we are planning and we have started recruitment. Last week the Cabinet gave approval to begin recruiting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (26 Sep 2018)

Helen McEntee: It is an issue that has been raised continuously. While we cannot deal with some future relationships, we can discuss the challenges, of which the land bridge is particularly notable. The European Commission, the United Kingdom and member states are well aware of it and trying to address it. On the overall budget, with our colleagues in Belgium, we have referred to the need for...

Brexit Negotiations: Statements (25 Sep 2018)

Helen McEntee: I will conclude by reiterating a couple of points and by trying to address the many points raised by many of the Deputies. Time is running short. We have all agreed on that and acknowledged it. The efforts in the negotiations will, however, be redoubled and intensified in the coming weeks. We need to see the successful completion of negotiations by the end of the period. The October...

Brexit Negotiations: Statements (25 Sep 2018)

Helen McEntee: The UK's departure from the EU poses a unique and unprecedented challenge for Ireland. The depth and strength of the ties between our islands, across so many areas, means that our relationship is unique. This relationship has only been enhanced and deepened by both countries' membership of the European Union. The complexity of the UK's departure and the scale of the challenge it presents...

Implications of Brexit for Irish Ports: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Jul 2018)

Helen McEntee: On behalf of the Government I thank the Deputies for their contributions on Ireland's transport network and the importance of maintaining and enhancing our connectivity with the rest of Europe, especially in the context of the UK departure from the European Union and Brexit. While I share the Sinn Féin concern about Brexit implicit in its countermotion, the Government will not on...

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his comments and questions. First, in terms of enlargement, Ireland has been consistently a supporter of the enlargement process, something which would have transcended Governments, given how it has transformed itself significantly through membership of the European Union over the past 45 years. There are three states, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro in...

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for their questions. I might comment on a couple of issues raised throughout the debate.

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Helen McEntee: I have been told I cannot do a wrap up as part of this. There is another Minister doing the wrap up while I am taking the questions. I might have to come back to Deputy O'Sullivan on the Cuba question, if that is okay.

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Helen McEntee: I apologise. Syria was not discussed at the most recent European Council but was discussed at the February Council. Ireland is extremely concerned by what is happening and has continued to provide aid to support those affected in Syria. We have provided €110 million since the conflict started albeit we would like to do more. We are working with our European counterparts. We regret...