Results 1,501-1,520 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: The stormy clock. I have a mere five minutes which is always something I complain about. After a referendum on European treaty's, we were given a firm commitment that we would debate in advance of and afterwards European Council meetings. I do not wish to use up my time, but we really need better than this. I wish to deal with a few of the agenda items that the Taoiseach is facing. I...

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I, too, will try to be brief. This is important and timely legislation. Members may not be aware of it, but today, 8 December, is the 20th anniversary of the finding of a container in Wexford, my home town, wherein Kurds and Turkish men, women and children were entombed, five of whom died. There was a memorial service this morning, at which the chairman of Wexford County Council laid a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: 87. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension claim by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60607/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (7 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: 508. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the long waiting list for neurology patients at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin; if his attention has been further drawn to the acute shortage of neurology nurse specialists at the hospital; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59928/21]

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: How many prosecutions failed on that basis?

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: It is an defence, not an exemption.

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: This is Committee Stage of the Bill, and we have as much time as we need to tease out what we need to in exactly the same way as a committee.

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: No, but the net issues are very clear, in my judgment. Deputy Durkan made an important point. People say Europe has done this or that but it is member states which are taking the actions. When we had what was described as a migrant crisis in 2015, when 1 million people were moving across Europe, member states, one after another, under pressure from their own populations, built barriers. I...

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome the opportunity to return to this issue. We were stuck for time on the last occasion. To precis the issue as I see it, maybe the Minister of State will just focus on the net issue, because there are very few people if any, probably no Members in this House, who oppose the principles of this Bill. To ensure that in the context of the dreadful, vile and awful trade with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Apologies have been received from the Chair, Deputy McHugh, Deputy Calleary and Senator Keogan. In accordance with current guidelines, all documentation for the meeting has been circulated to members using the Microsoft Teams platform. I remind members that our work this morning will be in two separate sessions and we will subsequently have a private session briefly to discuss internal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Mr. Lepassaar for that contribution. I now open the meeting to members who may wish to pose questions. I call Deputy Ó Murchú.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: A question, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I must tell Mr. Lepassaar that what the Deputy asked is an example of a short question from him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I see Senator Richmond is content with the answer. I call Senator Chambers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Mr. Lepassaar. If I may, I would like to pose a couple of questions. We are looking at the impact of the cyberattack on our health system, which literally not only cost enormous sums of money, but cost lives, and at how we can make ourselves more resilient. I am taken by Mr. Lepassaar's observation that Germany has a legal obligation on some actors to invest a percentage of its IT...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I have one supplementary question. Is there such a thing as safe operating areas for cyber attackers? To be specific, should we be doing more to address that net issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Geography.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Mr. Lepassaar for that response. The Minister of State is waiting outside. I will move on to the next session unless anybody has another urgent question to put to Mr. Lepassaar? I call Deputy Ó Murchú.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Mr. Lepassaar has the floor.