Results 1,941-1,960 of 5,534 for speaker:Maureen O'Sullivan

UN Paris Agreement on Climate Change: Motion (27 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: We had very passionate speeches at the Paris conference. I think we can all agree climate change is extremely dangerous for our generation and also for future generations, which are facing a grim reality. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tells us that, if we continue as we are, 50 million more people will be at risk of hunger by 2050. The World Bank tells us that, in 15 years...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (27 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 36. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on calls by animal welfare groups to decrease, if not cease, financing the greyhound industry, which is seeing significant decreasing public interest, and instead invest in industries which do not support cruel treatment of animals in the name of sport. [32206/16]

Finance Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Cinnte go bhfuil an buiséad seo níos dearfa ná na buiséid a bhí againn ar na blianta deireanacha. It is obvious that we are emerging from very difficult budgets of recent years. I would first like to make some general points on the Bill. The attempt to spread the positivity widely was an opportunity lost to have a constructive impact on a particular section of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (26 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: My question relates to islands in particular. While I totally accept what the Minister said about the need for rural broadband in order to halt rural decline, the islands are in a particularly precarious position. We can drive anywhere for classes and education but if people are living on an offshore island, they do not have that access and they are also very dependent on the weather for...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (26 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I hope the Minister will take the advice of the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, and start with the islands and work from there because they are in a particularly vulnerable position. We have lost the island community on the Blaskets and there is a danger of losing the community on Tory Island. We do not want to lose any more. In addition to the advantages for residents of the islands,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (26 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress to date of the national broadband plan, with specific reference to the offshore island communities; and his views on the continued difficulties these communities face regarding education, employment and viability without high-speed Internet access. [32338/16]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (26 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 42. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to tackle reliance on fossil fuels following the ratification of the Paris agreement on climate change; and his further plans to develop programmes utilising renewable energy sources, which, in the case of wind and sea turbines, are in abundance in view of Ireland's geographic location. [32059/16]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Economic Data (26 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 63. To ask the Minister for Finance the nominal GNP numbers for 2015-2021 that underpin budget 2017; the reason he excluded these figures from the budget documentation published on budget day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32287/16]

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 28. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any engagements with his Turkish counterpart or the Turkish ambassador regarding the repression of teachers and third level educators following the attempted coup in July 2016; and his views on whether the current administration is potentially in breach of human rights standards. [30280/16]

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: I am interested in hearing from the Minister about the extent of his engagement with the Turkish Foreign Minister and the Turkish ambassador regarding the repression of teachers and educators following the attempted coup in July this year and his views on whether the current administration is potentially or actually in breach of human rights standards.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Regardless of the motivations of the coup, it was an attack on democracy in Turkey. The aftermath was anything but democratic. The words "purge" and "cull" have been used. It was a purge and a cull of civil society and the public sector, particularly educators, judges, journalists and academics, all under the umbrella of national security, which is reminiscent of what we are being told...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: A number of Turkish intellectuals have also been imprisoned, in particular Ahmet and Mehmet Altan. There was no substantial evidence to back-up the charges of their involvement in the coup. They were accused of participating in the plot by giving subliminal or subconscious messages in a TV talk show before the coup. One of them has been released under judicial supervision, probably because...

Other Questions: Human Rights (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: As the Minister knows, a group of us have been visiting Maghaberry Prison regularly. The most recent visit was at the end of September. We know the reasons why the prisoners engaged with the authorities and, most recently, with the ICRC, as well as the various agreements, such as Stocktake. It was disappointing when we were there at the end of September to learn the issues are still...

Other Questions: Human Rights (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: It is extremely disappointing there has not been progress. Even after the Stocktake report, the prisoners took part in another process and it now looks like another one. They are not seeing anything from the good will they are showing. They assure us that their only interest is in a conflict-free environment but yet these issues persist. There are alternatives to full body searching....

Other Questions: Human Rights (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 26. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his engagement with the authorities in Northern Ireland and Britain on the outstanding issues faced by prisoners in Maghaberry Prison, especially in view of the lack of progress on the agreements reached between the prisoners and the authorities. [30282/16]

Other Questions: Human Rights (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Will the Minister outline the engagement he has had with the authorities in Northern Ireland and Britain on the outstanding issues faced by prisoners in Maghaberry Prison in view of the lack of progress on the agreements reached between the prisoners and the authorities?

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Resolutions (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 42. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland can take in engaging with the US to cease its blockade of Cuba, which is having an extremely serious impact on the people of Cuba with the possibility of a humanitarian crisis emerging in the near future, particularly in view of the UN Resolution on the necessity of ending the blockade. [30283/16]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 60. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way he has made his concerns known to the Russian and Iranian ambassadors here in view of the escalation in the conflict in Syria, particularly the escalation in bombings of civilians, aid convoys, water and electricity supplies; if he has called them to a meeting on these matters; and, if not, when he will do so. [30279/16]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Security Co-operation (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 59. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on media reports that Ireland has an agreement with its UK counterparts to allow RAF jets access Irish airspace for defence and counter-terrorism purposes in the scenario of airspace intrusion; and his further views on the fact that having a possible defence arrangement with a NATO member is eroding Ireland's status of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (25 Oct 2016)

Maureen O'Sullivan: 531. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Turf Club incurred legal costs that were paid for by his Department; the amount of these legal costs; when covering these legal costs ceased; and the reasons for ceasing. [32107/16]