Results 221-240 of 1,092 for speaker:Colm Brophy in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (30 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: In response to the emerging famine in southern Madagascar, the consequence of three consecutive years of drought compounded by Covid-19, in July I approved a grant of €0.5m in Irish Aid funding to the World Food Programme's activities in Madagascar. This enables WFP to provide life-saving food rations and nutritional support to the most vulnerable and is in addition to the annual core...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (30 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: The most recent UN’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report shows that nearly one-tenth of the world’s population, or over 800 million people, are undernourished., and that this number is increasing.  Across 55 countries, over 75 million children under five are stunted (too short for their ages) and over 15 million wasted (too thin for their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland strongly condemns the continued violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. Ireland supports the EU, UN and other international efforts to reduce the influence of Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab, and to prevent their attacks, especially against civilians and humanitarian workers and facilities. Ireland continues to monitor the activities of these groups and to assist populations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (30 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: The Government is committed to achieving the UN Official Development Assistance target of 0.7% of GNI by 2030, as set out in A Better World, Ireland's International Development policy, and re-iterated in the Programme for Government.  Ireland's ODA allocation has increased in real terms for the last seven consecutive years. The budgeted ODA allocation for 2021 was €868...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Equality Issues (28 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 413 together. I remain deeply concerned by the human rights and humanitarian situation in Tigray, including the ongoing blockade of the region and attacks on humanitarian workers. As famine-like conditions are reported, there is an urgent need for full humanitarian access, a negotiated ceasefire, and the commencement of political dialogue to find a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned by the imprisonment of Christians in Eritrea on the basis of their religious belief. The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (more commonly referred to as freedom of religion and belief) is regarded as a fundamental freedom, provided for under Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Nigeria. Conflict poses a serious challenge to the country’s stability, and impacts on the wider region. The particular acts of violence referred to are between nomadic herders and settled farmers. While in Nigeria the vast majority of herders are Muslim and many of the farmers are Christian, conflict arises from differences of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (22 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions No. 304, 305 and 311 of 26 May 2021, Parliamentary Questions No. 303 and 310 of 26 May 2021 and Parliamentary Question No. 777 of 24 March 2021 on international election observation. The Department of Foreign Affairs facilitates an Election Observation Roster of suitably skilled and vetted volunteers who are available to participate at short...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I represented Ireland at the 13 September High Level Meeting on Afghanistan called by the UN Secretary General. The purpose of that meeting was to raise awareness and support for the deteriorating humanitarian situation there. I set out Ireland’s response to date and our intention to continue to support evolving needs, noting that Ireland has so far this year provided €2...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (9 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: My Department has supported the UNESCO programme, Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) since 2017, providing €1,850,000 in funding to-date. As part of the programme, which is the largest comprehensive sexuality education programme in Africa, funding from Ireland supports the empowerment, health and resilience of adolescents and young people in Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (9 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Nigeria.  Conflict poses a serious challenge to that country’s stability, and impact on the wider region. The particular acts of violence referred to are between nomadic herders and settled farmers.  While in Nigeria the vast majority of herders are Muslim and many of the farmers are Christian, conflict arises from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (9 Sep 2021)

Colm Brophy: Officials at the Irish Embassy in question are aware of the case and have been in contact with the individual concerned.  As part of ongoing Government efforts to tackle the Covid-19, short stay visa applications were not accepted since 21 March 2020, unless the application meets certain emergency or priority criteria. Unfortunately, this particular case did not fall under the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Communities Abroad (13 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: Since its establishment in 2004, Ireland's Emigrant Support Programme has provided over €190 million in support to Irish communities across the world. Last year alone ESP grants totalling around €13 million assisted over 400 projects run by nearly 300 different organisations, the vast majority grassroots-based. These range in scale from large-scale welfare support programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned by the recent tensions and civil unrest in Eswatini, and at reports of the deaths of civilians and the destruction of property. It is vital that all sides take immediate action to deescalate the current situation, and to allow for dialogue to take place. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Access (6 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland is 'co-penholder' with Norway on the UN Security Council Syria Humanitarian file, strongly advocating for humanitarian aid to reach all those in need, including and in particular north-west Syria. In order that the extensive humanitarian needs in Syria continue to be met, Ireland, with Norway, is working towards the renewal of the mandate enabling cross border operations later...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Jul 2021)

Colm Brophy: On 8 May, the Government of Nepal made a request for emergency assistance to the EU through the EU Emergency Response Mechanism. In response, Irish officials made an assessment of medical equipment available in the HSE's stockpile of medical supplies. On June 16, Ireland donated the following equipment to Nepal: 72 oxygen concentrators; 42 ventilators; 12 bipap machines; 400 oximeters;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (29 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together. Ireland has a longstanding relationship with Ethiopia, our largest bilateral development partner, built over time and characterised by close working relationships with its people and Government. Over the past 5 years alone, Ireland invested approximately €200m to support Ethiopia’s development and growth, with a focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: The UN Security Council is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security and it is in this context that it addresses climate change. I am deeply concerned about the security impacts of climate change. It is no coincidence that of the 15 countries most susceptible to climate risks, 8 host a UN peacekeeping operation or a special political mission. As a result, we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I am deeply concerned at the plight of the people of Gaza. Recent hostilities have caused severe damage to infrastructure and the humanitarian consequences have been devastating for a community already enduring both a blockade and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to local authorities, more than 2000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and essential services, including water, sanitation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Oireachtas Committees (24 Jun 2021)

Colm Brophy: I have welcomed the March 2021 report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the Distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to Developing Countries. I firmly believe that universal and equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable diagnostics, treatments and vaccines is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19.  I am determined that Ireland, in particular...