Results 1,661-1,680 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Seanad: Abduction of Nigerian Children: Motion (13 May 2014)

Joe Costello: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members. I welcome the opportunity of speaking to the House today about the ongoing disturbing situation in Nigeria. I note the cross-party motion on the abduction of the schoolgirls in Nigeria and the quality and quantity of the contributions, which indicate clearly the deep interest among all Senators in this despicable activity. I reiterate that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (13 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Despite oil revenues and high economic growth rates, Angola continues to experience drought-related humanitarian emergencies. The aftermath of a severe drought during the 2012-2013 agricultural cycle continues to have an impact on the country’s southern provinces. It is estimated that 1.8 million people in six provinces were affected by this drought. The effects on food supplies and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 35 together. Tearfund Ireland is a faith-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), which was established in Ireland in 2008 and works to provide relief and long-term development assistance in sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia. Its aim is to transform the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalised by working with local civil society organisations,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Partnership is the cornerstone of Irish Aid’s civil society policy. In line with international best practice and the principles of sustainability and ownership for development, Irish Aid values partnership with government and multilateral organizations and with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Participation and collaboration with local organisations is critical in designing and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2014)

Joe Costello: I can confirm that I have received the correspondence referred to and have replied to the group of secondary school students involved. I warmly welcome their commitment to Ireland’s aid programme, to the role of education in fight against poverty and to the plight of child labourers. I also acknowledge their concerns about any reductions in the overall aid budget. The Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (7 May 2014)

Joe Costello: The second Millennium Development Goal aims for the achievement of universal primary education by the year 2015. Since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration at the UN in 2000, the world has made remarkable progress on investing in education. Between 1999 and 2009, the global school-aged population increased by 25% and primary school enrolment increased by 59%. However progress has not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (6 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Ethiopia has been a priority country for Ireland’s aid programme since 1994. Through the programme, we have made a significant contribution to development and the fight against poverty and hunger in Ethiopia. In the past decade, the country has recorded remarkable improvements in human development as measured by the UN Human Development Index. This progress is an example of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (6 May 2014)

Joe Costello: The Government remains deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and in particular the increasingly difficult situation in the east of the country. Together with our EU partners, we have emphasised the importance of a negotiated political settlement. We strongly support the agreement reached in Geneva on 17 April between the EU, Russia, Ukraine and the US. It sets out concrete...

Topical Issue Debate: Human Rights Issues (1 May 2014)

Joe Costello: Ireland co-sponsored a cross-regional statement on the human rights situation in Egypt at the United Nations Human Rights Council in March this year. That was the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council. It concluded before any of the trials under discussion had taken place. We will have to examine carefully the situation in Egypt in the June session in terms of what has transpired...

Topical Issue Debate: Human Rights Issues (1 May 2014)

Joe Costello: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue which has justifiably elicited much concern in Ireland and internationally. Ireland is strongly opposed to capital punishment under all circumstances and we continue to seek its universal and permanent abolition. Ireland has consistently called on all states to immediately adopt a moratorium on executions, with a view to eventual...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (30 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities surpasses an estimated 150,000 people, there are now over 9.3 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a further 2.7 million Syrian refugees requiring...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (17 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 51 together. The political and humanitarian situation in South Sudan was most recently raised at the EU Foreign Affairs Council which the Tánaiste attended last month. At that meeting, the European Union expressed its deep concern about the ongoing conflict in South Sudan and the grave human suffering it is causing for ordinary civilians caught...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (17 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities surpasses an estimated 140,000 people, there are now over 9 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a further 2.6 million Syrian refugees requiring assistance...

Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: Paddy who?

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Food Security (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: The fight against global hunger and under-nutrition is a central priority for Ireland's development programme, and an integral element of our foreign policy. Addressing last week’s EU-Africa summit in Brussels, I emphasised how agriculture, and in particular, small holder agriculture, should contribute to achieving food and nutrition security and inclusive economic growth in Africa. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (3 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 48 and 49 together. As Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland's Official Development Assistance, I am acutely aware of the need to ensure that our development assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries and makes a real difference in the lives of the world's poorest people. Ireland's aid programme has always had a strong poverty focus and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve the scale and effectiveness of the response of the international community to major disasters and humanitarian crises. Many lessons have been learned from previous crises such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Under the leadership of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN...

Report on the Contribution of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to Economic Recovery: Statements (28 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: In conclusion, there is a huge amount that could be said. I did not get around to talking about the Africa strategy and the work that is being done in that respect. The work that has been carried out on the international front on international trade and investment has been tremendous and I compliment the Department and all the officials who have been involved in it, and all the staff in...

Report on the Contribution of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to Economic Recovery: Statements (28 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak about the report on the contribution of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to economic recovery. I congratulate the Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Pat Breen, and all members of the committee on producing a very fine report. It is important that reports of this nature produced by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (25 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: The Government is very strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The aid programme is regarded internationally as one of the most effective in delivering results in the fight against poverty and hunger. Our commitment to development cooperation is clear in the Programme for Government and has been strongly reiterated...