Results 281-300 of 6,965 for speaker:John Brady

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (5 Dec 2023)

John Brady: 638. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide details of the amount of funding available in the Ireland for Ukraine fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53437/23]

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: I welcome our guests. I want to ask some specific questions on the National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. Mr. Hogan is probably aware of a Bill that was recently brought forward in the Dáil, the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023. I want to focus specifically on that and the investments ISIF has made in business entities...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: I introduced it.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: I want to ask some specific questions on the portfolio and the investments. How many businesses do we have shares in that appear on that UN database that was published by the UN Human Rights Council?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: I am aware-----

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: I was at that meeting. I am just asking, for the public record, if Mr. Hogan can give details of how many companies that we, as taxpayers, have invested in through ISIF that appear on that database?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: I will get to all of that. I am just conscious of the time and I want to establish the facts.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: The overall investment is €4.2 million, which is €4.2 million too much to be invested in businesses that are on a UN database for operating illegally in illegal settlements. That is the crux of the issue. With regard to engagement with the Minister, has the Minister at this point met with the NTMA on those investments?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: Okay, so there is a piece of work ongoing there at the moment, which is welcome. That is only lately that piece of work has been embarked upon on foot of the legislation that was introduced. Were concerns around those investments highlighted to the Department prior to the introduction of that legislation?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: Had concerns been raised with the Department prior to the introduction of the legislation? Had there been engagement with any NGOs citing serious concerns about the investments in these companies?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: To my knowledge, there have been engagements going back a number of years with NGOs raising serious concerns about the portfolio and the investments. It would be safe to say that nothing was moved upon on foot of those engagements. It was only when the legislation was introduced that there seemed to be a bit of a scatter in trying to get the house in order. Would I be right in saying that?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: Yes, and that all has to be welcomed.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: On those investments, Mr. Hogan says it is a relatively small amount of money. I would say it is €4.2 million too much to be invested in illegal settlements. Four of those companies are Israeli banks, and we know how instrumental they are in the expansion of those illegal settlements. Would Mr. Hogan have any information regarding the return on those investments? How much of a...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: I would be grateful if Mr. Hogan could get that.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: Absolutely, but Mr. Hogan takes the point that it is a stated Government position that the settlements are illegal. That is the position of the UN also. It is a hypocritical position that we as a State and taxpayers have been made shareholders in the illegal enterprise that is the expansion of the illegal settlements. That is the point I am making. Irrespective of the overall view and...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: It would be useful to have the annual returns and the dividends the State gets through ISIF, and information on how long - how many years - those investments have been in place. On a broader question, I am conscious the Department of Foreign Affairs has engaged in a new public consultation process on business and human rights and the national plan. With regard to engagement between...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 7 - Office of the Minister for Finance
Finance Accounts 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 1 – Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2022
Chapter 2 – Reporting Ireland’s EU Transactions
Chapter 24 – Performance of the Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Chapter 25 – Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (30 Nov 2023)

John Brady: Okay. I am aware we are looking at a new national plan on business and human rights. There was an existing plan from 2017. I think it was up to 2020. If Mr. Hogan is correct in what he is saying, there is ongoing engagement with regard to compliance with those guidelines. I would say there has been a distinct failure to comply with those. If we still have, which we do, shareholdings in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

John Brady: Today marks the UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Solidarity is needed more now than ever before in light of the unchecked slaughter being visited upon the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank by the Israel Defense Forces and illegal settlers. It also comes at a time when Israel is poised to vote on budget plans to further expand the illegal settlements...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

John Brady: That was not the question.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

John Brady: That was not the question.