Results 1-20 of 1,262 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: As it is 1.15 p.m., according to the order of the House, progress must be reported.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I thank Mr. O'Brien for coming this evening. It is important to clarify that we have had a lot of committee meetings on legal issues and civil society groups coming in from a humanitarian perspective. The reason Mr. O'Brien is here is to give us a broad overview of what impact this could have on businesses. It is nothing to do with personal views or anything like that. It is just so we as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Is that response similar to the response we have seen politically from the United States? Is that happening within business?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Could that change following the statements from the EU last week with regard to countries having a unilateral decision on the occupied territories?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I understand the concerns businesses have. I remember they were there when the war in Ukraine started in terms of sanctions against Russia. We had a big company in Limerick run by a Russian oligarch. There were concerns that business would go and things like that. From past experience, when Mr. O'Brien sees things like this happen or political decisions being made where there are concerns...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: We heard from representatives of the Department of foreign affairs that lobbying was taking place in the political sphere and within the Department. Is that happening from a business perspective? Are big businesses lobbying IBEC or other organisations to try to influence a change in the Government's position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Just so I understand, will Mr. O'Brien explain what he said about significant costs to businesses if services are included? We were briefed previously that trade coming into Ireland from the occupied territories is 30% goods and 70% services. The goods were worth €685,000. As Mr. O'Brien has said, that is miniscule in the grand scheme of things. That is 30% of it so it seems the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I have one final question. I thank Mr. O'Brien for his comments. When the war happened in Ukraine, companies made a decision not to trade with Russia. There was a domino effect that continued with company after company. Is Mr. O'Brien aware of companies that have decided not to trade with Israel any more? If so, is the number of companies that have decided not to trade significant?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: ACT Smartphone App: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: To follow on from what Senator Kennelly said, we have loads of people coming to committees who never answer questions at all or cannot even answer questions but you are well able to answer questions you do not expect. Like everyone said, you are ridiculously impressive and talented. You have a very bright future. As a father of two young kids, I know parents are nearly hoping one of their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: ACT Smartphone App: Discussion (16 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I am sure they are immensely proud. As you know yourselves, many winners and participants in the Young Scientist went on to achieve great things. You have the potential to exceed any of them, and there are big names there. I wish you well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: When Mr. Meehan spoke about a two-state solution, I was thinking that the first thing to be done is to recognise there are two states. That is one element in which Ireland has played a key role. The point was made to Deputy Ó Laoghaire in the previous session that the Bill is only symbolic. In fact, that strengthens the case to do it, as outlined by Ms Crawley. There is a number of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Irish foster carers play a vital role throughout our country in terms of caring for children and the most vulnerable. There are 3,600 foster carers in the country. Unfortunately, this is a reduction from 4,800 five years ago and there are a number of reasons for this. These 3,600 foster carers look after and protect 5,800 children in care. That is approximately 87% of children who need...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I thank Professor Koutrakos and Professor Tridimas for their contributions. I now call on Ms Ní Ghrálaigh to give her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Senator Higgins is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: There is a minute left if anyone else would like to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: There are only Senators in the room and I am the only one who has not asked questions so I will take my seven minutes now and then, if everyone in the room agrees, we will do a second round of three minutes each. I hope the Deputies who have not spoken will then come back. I thank all the witnesses for being here and for giving their legal perspectives on the issue and on this very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Regarding the ICJ ruling and the advisory opinion, some of the lines from it refer to abstaining "from entering into economic or trade dealings". Can this be interpreted as abstaining from entering into new dealings in trade? When it refers to taking "steps to prevent", we often hear it said in this committee that the ruling was to ban trade, but the wording is "to take steps to prevent"....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: In her opening statement, Ms Ní Ghrálaigh talked about whether services are included and stated, "It would transform the Bill from what risks being little more than window dressing into a truly impactful, precedent-setting piece of legislation." Has any country gone any further in terms of legislation to prevent goods and services in the occupied territories?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Garret Ahearn: Would this legislation, therefore, be a precedent already, even if it just included goods? I know it is not what you are calling for, but would it not already be a precedent?