Results 1,901-1,920 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Joe Costello: Environment and climate change challenges are at the heart of Ireland's contribution, through our aid programme, to the fight to end extreme poverty and hunger in the world. Through Ireland's development assistance programme, managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we place a strong emphasis on building community resilience, reducing disaster risk and addressing...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: When listening to Deputies Michael McGrath and Dara Calleary, I noted the traditional political approach of dividing the coalition parties by saying the Labour Party had always made one point, while Fine Gael always made another, thereby implying they were totally divided on an issue. We are not divided; this legislation was agreed as part of the programme for Government and we agree that it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I thank members for their extensive and probing questions. I will address as many of them as I can. We have been doing our best to stabilise the overseas development aid budget, which decreased more than 30% from its high of 0.5% of GDP in 2008. In 2012 we were at 0.48% and the figures for 2013 will depend on the performance of the economy. We intend to maintain expenditure at close to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: It is slightly below 0.5%. We will not know with certainty the exact position for 2013 until we receive the final GDP figure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Affairs Council and Development Aid: Discussion with Minister of State (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: It is always good to be back. I would like to join with those expressing good wishes to Senator Norris. It is always a shock to hear about these things. I would also like to thank Martin Groves and welcome Brian Hickey to the committee. I welcome the opportunity today to brief the committee on the Government's new policy for international development, One World, One Future, and to debrief...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: The EU has been concerned about the situation in Mali for some time, notably following the army coup in March 2012 and the takeover at around the same time of much of the north of the country by a range of armed groups. Recognising that the crisis in Mali cannot be addressed through military means alone, the EU has implemented a comprehensive approach to the situation which encompasses...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I would be reasonably confident that the roadmap that has been put in place, which culminates in elections taking place on 28 July, will be achieved. The EU was very quick to respond to the situation. France intervened in January and at the informal meeting of the Development Ministers on 9-10 February in Dublin Castle, the first real discussion of the issue took place. It was decided at...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: With regard to the Green Paper on Defence, that question could be more usefully put to the relevant Minister, who I am sure will give him a thorough and comprehensive response.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: As of now, and on the best information, our neutrality remains intact.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: We have eight people involved in the EU Training Mission in Mali and they are there largely to train the existing force and to ensure the operations are based on human rights. There is also a request that member states make a contribution to the EU peacekeeping force, MINUSMA, which is due to come into place from the beginning of July. Whatever decision is made on that is another matter. ...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: That is the issue. The Tánaiste has been arguing that point much more than I have, for example at the Foreign Affairs Council when it considered whether it would be appropriate to lift the arms embargo to allow the opposition to acquire some weapons. While member states agreed to look for a solution, they could not agree fully on the way forward. It was eventually decided to lift the...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: On 27 May last, the Ministers agreed to extend the restrictive measures for 12 months but without the arms embargo, on which no further agreement could be reached. It was also agreed that the high representative will draw up a special report on political developments in advance of the Council meeting on 1 August next. That will give Ministers an opportunity to review the situation. It...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I am not sure of the extent to which consideration has been given to the western Balkans as a possible safe haven.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: The areas on the borders of Syria are safe havens, in effect.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: There is the Zaatari camp in Jordan, the camp in Turkey and the camp in Lebanon. A number of the neighbouring countries, most notably Jordan, have taken a large number of Syrian nationals into their communities. They have been located in people's homes, especially where there is a sort of racial connection. There has been a good response from the neighbouring countries that are under...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 31 and 64 together. With the death toll in the Syrian crisis now estimated at more than 93,000 and an unprecedented humanitarian emergency affecting Syria and its neighbours, it is more urgent than ever that everything possible be done to de-escalate the crisis and to promote a political settlement. That is why Ireland and its EU partners fully support...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: The European Union did not consider that no-fly zones necessarily offered a way forward. In many cases, such zones could only be created after specific authorisation by a resolution of the UN Security Council. As I have indicated earlier, given that the Security Council has been unable to agree on any resolution in respect of this matter, it is unlikely that it would agree on a proposal to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 18 together. As Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland’s Official Development Assistance, I am very conscious of the need to ensure that our development assistance is spent effectively, is fully accountable and that it makes a real difference to the lives of the world’s poorest people. The overarching objective of the aid...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000, focuses on the involvement of children in armed conflict in an effort to strengthen implementation of the Convention and increase the protection of children during armed conflicts. The Protocol became legally binding on 12 February 2002 and, to date, more than 100...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (26 Jun 2013)

Joe Costello: Sierra Leone’s protracted civil war, in which 50,000 people died, fostered widespread abuse of human rights. Women suffered the brunt of the conflict, and experienced some of the most horrific acts of violence during the war. While Sierra Leone has made considerable progress towards peace and sustainable development since the end of the war in 2002, the country continues to suffer from...