Results 1-20 of 26 for israel speaker:Joe Costello

Palestine: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (10 Dec 2014)

Joe Costello: I welcome the Palestinian and Moroccan ambassadors to the House. I congratulate Sinn Féin on tabling this motion calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and recognising the state of Palestine. It is particularly interesting that a similar motion has already been passed in the Seanad unanimously. It would be quite unprecedented if in this House the motion were passed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (25 Nov 2014)

Joe Costello: 385. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the value of products imported into Ireland from Israel benefitting from the preferential tariff under the EU-Israel Association Agreement in 2011, 2012 and 2013; the sectors that have qualified for the preferential tariff under the EU-Israel Association Agreement in 2011, 2012 and 2013; the value of products imported into Ireland that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (22 Jan 2014)

Joe Costello: ...and it is not likely to be signed by the President. Much of this has been due to the hard work done on the ground by the Irish Embassy and other like-minded people in Uganda. Much good work is being done, although some of it may not appear out front. Israel, Colombia, Morocco and Western Sahara were mentioned. Free trade agreements signed by the European Union always contain a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (22 Jan 2014)

Joe Costello: ...and civil society organisations working to promote human rights and democratisation. In the coming year, Ireland will continue to support actively the search for a lasting and peaceful political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the wider region. The Government will continue to press, at both political and diplomatic levels, for an end to the blockade of Gaza....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (5 Dec 2013)

Joe Costello: ...situation in Gaza. I share the concerns expressed recently by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. James Rawley. Indeed I had the opportunity to discuss these issues with him during my visit. While Israeli restrictions have eased marginally in recent times, the overall situation in Gaza has worsened in recent months as Egypt has taken action against smuggling into Gaza, in response to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: Israel is not allowing access through the natural hinterland for Gaza through to Israel and the West Bank. As I said in my reply, we have constantly raised these issues with Israel. They are not security issues. Security measures can be put in place. These are restrictions on a population of 1.2 million, 800,000 of whom are reliant on American Near East Refugee Aid, ANERA, for essential...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: ...made in that area. Meanwhile we will continue to raise the issue at the levels we can, including the EU and our position on the Human Rights Council, and any fora we have on a bilateral basis with Israel.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Joe Costello: ...the Irish Aid programme in the occupied Palestinian territories to see what conditions were like on the ground. Subsequently, I made a report on the visit to the foreign affairs committee. While Israeli restrictions have eased marginally, clearly the overall situation in Gaza has deteriorated in recent months as Egypt has acted against smuggling into Gaza owing to its own security...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict: Discussion with Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (16 Oct 2013)

Joe Costello: .... Certainly, the Ministers and the Prime Minister were very strong on the need for reconciliation and talks. Hopefully, it will yield some success. Deputy Mitchell referred to the World Bank, Israel and the €3.4 billion which could be got in a single year. I got the chance to read most of the World Bank report on the aeroplane on the way back. It is just looking at area C,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict: Discussion with Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (16 Oct 2013)

Joe Costello: ...through to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The perception stated by the World Bank is the control of area C, not even the entire occupied territories but area C which is an area that is controlled by the Israelis, in itself, because it borders Jordan and takes in the Dead Sea, would be able to provide €3.4 billion per annum which would be of enormous benefit to the lives of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict: Discussion with Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (16 Oct 2013)

Joe Costello: ...had an opportunity to see for myself the conditions on the ground and how Ireland is contributing to meeting urgent, as well as ongoing, chronic needs. I met with a cross-section of civil society organisations, both Israeli and Palestinian, humanitarian actors from the UN and NGO fraternity, as well as local community representatives who told me about the real-life effects of the...

Situation in Libya: Statements (24 Mar 2011)

Joe Costello: ...States which is now leading the international force. It appears to be more than willing to abandon that leadership. I believe it should be ended as quickly as possible. No country other than Israel is so provocative to the Arab world. It is extremely important the United States is not seen to be to the forefront because its legacy in conflict resolution has not been a good one in all...

European Council: Statements (7 Jul 2010)

Joe Costello: ...stability in the markets of member states, which was appropriate because they are critical issues. Like Deputy Kenny, I was disappointed that the Taoiseach did not mention the Gaza conflict or the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, considering an Irish ship was hijacked and impounded in Ashdod by the Israeli authorities and nobody knows what has happened to its cargo. I thought the Taoiseach...

Official Engagements (2 Jun 2010)

Joe Costello: ...this issue to ensure that target is agreed? I agree with Deputies Kenny, Gilmore and Morgan that we should be taking the initiative at the June meeting in regard to the piracy on the high seas by Israel. This is almost the same as what has been happening on the Horn of Africa with Somalia. There should not be less than an international investigation into this matter. The incident...

Human Rights Issues. (29 Apr 2010)

Joe Costello: I am pleased to have an opportunity to raise this issue on the Adjournment. I understand the OECD is planning to confer member status on Israel at its next meeting on 10 May, and that our Government will be supporting this move. I already raised this matter with the Minister at the Joint Committee on European Affairs, and the committee, at my request, wrote yesterday to the Minister...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (29 Apr 2010)

Joe Costello: Question 201: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on upgrading EU-Israeli relations; if he will oppose Israel's accession application to membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17382/10]

Passport Controls. (25 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: ...disclosure that the passport identities of Australian citizens were stolen has resulted in the most forceful response to date. The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs immediately summoned the Israeli ambassador and the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, went on the national and international media and announced that if the use or forgery of Australian passports was demonstrated to have been...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: As the Taoiseach said, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, is in Gaza this week but he is not there by courtesy of the Israeli Government. I remind the Taoiseach the Israeli Government, on 9 December, flatly refused access to Gaza for the Minister. Will the Taoiseach raise this matter at the Council next month? Why, out of 27 member states, was Ireland refused access by Israel...

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: ...Ministers yesterday. I believe the Taoiseach should make it a major issue at the forthcoming meeting. If we are to have a preferential trading agreement and we are the largest trading entity with Israel, we should expect friendly countries to respond in kind. That being said, I would like to comment on the climate change issue. Copenhagen was disappointing. The Minister for the...

European Council Meetings. (25 Mar 2009)

Joe Costello: ...could also be quite complex. In view of this, there can be no question of a fait accompli that might take place in a legal drafting vacuum, where a package can be presented in June. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the United Nations report which was published a number of days ago called for an international investigation into the allegations of the abuses of human rights....