Results 1,881-1,900 of 4,188 for speaker:Sorca Clarke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I thank the Tánaiste for coming in today. I will be brief. I have four specific questions and I do not intend to go over ground covered by others. My first question goes back to comments the Tánaiste made about Palestine in response to previous questioners. He mentioned consistency, outspokenness, the ending of violence, the end of settler expansions, press statements, legal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I am referring to the conclusions on human rights adopted at the meeting of 20 February 2023, where member states were asked to keep human rights high on the agenda when interacting with third countries.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Yes, but please also include the meeting from yesterday. My final question is on the interaction between sustainable development goal, SDG, No. 5 from the UN and the EU Foreign Affairs Council, specifically around gender development. I want to hear about the role this may play in terms of Foreign Affairs Council meetings. The most recent statistics show there are 104.6 women for every 100...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I appreciate and understand the Tánaiste's response to the issue of cyberattacks. However, that cannot be at the expense of the issue of purposeful disinformation. A recent incident in Oxford resulted in a very uncomfortable and unwarranted situation because of the level of disinformation that had been put into the public domain pertaining to an urban planning initiative. Cyberattacks...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: And on the accountability issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: According to the Minister’s opening statement, we are currently providing €3 million to the International Criminal Court to support its work in relation to Ukraine specifically. In the Minister’s opinion, should Ireland be open to providing additional funding to that entity if it were the case that Palestine and Israel were to become involved in that same forum?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Priorities for 2023: Minister for Foreign Affairs (28 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: It is my understanding that the Israeli regime said it will not recognise the role of the ICC around complaints before it regarding its actions in Palestine. What is the Minister’s opinion on that?

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (21 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 497. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the reported issues previously highlighted in Middletown House, Castletown Geoghegan, County Westmeath when an expression of interest for accommodation for Ukrainian families was made; if these issues have been resolved; if a contract has been entered into by his Department in relation to...

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: This is a significant loss of personnel, which is concerning. In those intervening years, many areas have experienced a decline in numbers as the age profile of those involved increased and the number of newer or younger members remained static or fell. Many units operate out of substandard accommodation. While I acknowledge progress has been made in recent years, I am concerned that there...

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I wish to share time with Deputies O'Reilly and Ward.

Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I welcome the opportunity to debate the Bill. It is a piece of work identified in the White Paper on Defence to provide more modern aggregated legislation. Sinn Féin supports the Bill and the context in which the Bill is being brought forward. While the Bill does not propose any radical changes regarding the operation of the Civil Defence, we welcome the move to amend what is a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 101. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the temporary pause on post 1994 corporals and privates who have reached or are approaching mandatory retirement age for discharge remains in effect or if following any review, has been cancelled [7621/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (15 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: 194. To ask the Minister for Health if given the population, Athlone is being considered as a location for the provision of a hospital. [7622/23]

Cost-of-Living Supports: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I agree with the Minister on one thing; it is simply not right that people have to depend on food banks. I could not agree more, although, that is probably the point at which we diverge. I listened to what she said. I heard of pilot studies, future plans and everything that may or may not happen in the future, and therein lies the crux of the issue. What the Government is offering people...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: I welcome the Tánaiste. Hopefully, this is the start of many positive engagements with the committee in his new role. I want to start on Vote 36 - Defence. I have a number of specific questions. I will refer to the programme expenditure by subhead, if that is of any assistance. I also have a couple of general questions that I want to ask. Given the low level of investment in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: What portion of it is set aside for that? There is a very specific reason I am asking the question. Yesterday afternoon, I was standing in a closed barracks that is under the control of the Department of Defence that has gone to rack and ruin. These are very historic buildings. It would make me believe that there are other such instances around the country, and that the Department should...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: My question was what amount has been allocated to equipment, excluding aircraft and naval vessels.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Are Hikvision systems in operation by the Department of Defence?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: Is the Department reviewing the locations for potential use of Hikvision equipment?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (14 Feb 2023)

Sorca Clarke: One would be confident it does.