Results 341-360 of 1,069 for speaker:Colm Brophy in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (3 Feb 2021)

Colm Brophy: Since 2012, Ireland has provided over €168 million in humanitarian aid, including over €25 million provided in 2020, to those affected by the conflict in Syria and the region.  This is our largest ever response to any single crisis. Funding is provided through implementing organisations including non-governmental organisations, UN organisations and the International...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Feb 2021)

Colm Brophy: The conflict in Yemen, which began in 2015, is the principal cause of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, affecting its capacity to address other serious problems such as flooding, cholera and COVID 19. Along with the UN and the EU, Ireland believes that the only way to bring about a long-term sustainable improvement in Yemen is through a negotiated end to the conflict. The UN has been warning...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (3 Feb 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland has a long history of engagement on Somalia, from our contribution to peacekeeping in the 1990s to today’s participation in EU civilian capacity building missions and support to humanitarian response. Over the next two years, Somalia will continue to undergo a fragile transition, and will face many peace and security challenges. Minister Coveney, along with officials from the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (3 Feb 2021)

Colm Brophy: My Department, through Irish Aid, oversees the Rapid Response Corps which is a central feature of Ireland’s humanitarian programme.  The most recent recruitment took place in 2018 and the Corps currently contains a large cohort of experienced personnel available to deploy at short notice in response to severe crises and emergencies.  In light of this, it is not envisaged that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (3 Feb 2021)

Colm Brophy: March 2021 will mark the tenth year of the Syrian conflict that has seen hundreds of thousands lose their lives, and over half the population flee their homes. More than 13 million people are in humanitarian need inside Syria and six million of these have been internally displaced. The war has also caused the biggest refugee movement from a single conflict in a generation, with almost seven...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (3 Feb 2021)

Colm Brophy: In Budget 2021 the Government allocated over €868 million for official development aid (ODA), an increase of four per cent on 2020. This also represents an increase in the proportion of GNI allocated to ODA, from 0.31 to 0.32% - a small but important progression towards the target of 0.7% by 2030.  This year the priority will be to ensure the effective use of the Irish Aid...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (28 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland’s Embassy in Pretoria maintains continuous communication with Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters and senior officials. In line with established Department of Foreign Affairs reporting procedures, the Ambassador and Embassy team provide regular political and economic reports with respect to South Africa and all countries of secondary accreditation – Botswana,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (28 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland's official development assistance (ODA) budget is €868 million, an increase of €30 million on last year. It is the seventh consecutive year of increase, as we continue to work toward our commitment of allocating 0.7% of GNI to development. The quality of our development programme remains world-class, as has been reiterated in a recent Peer Review of our development...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (28 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020, completed through extensive joint...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland's commitment to those in greatest need is well recognised. In 2020, for example, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) highlighted Ireland as "an excellent humanitarian partner", with its funding models "useful inspiration for other DAC donors", while respected international think-tank ODI found Ireland to be the most principled donor in its index, the second successive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland remains deeply concerned by the ongoing armed conflict between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the former regional authorities in Tigray, which began on 4 November. The conflict has had a devastating impact on the population of Tigray, and poses huge risks to the stability of the wider Horn of Africa region. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared the end of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together. Ireland strongly condemns the violence and terror perpetrated by Boko Haram and Al Shabaab, including kidnapping of, and violence against, women and children. 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. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (21 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland's budget allocation this year for Official Development Aid (ODA), also known as Irish Aid, is €868 million, an increase of €30 million on the 2020 allocation. Of this total, €571 million is allocated to the Department of Foreign Affairs. €159 million is accounted for by Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget. The remaining €138...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (21 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support our most vulnerable emigrants overseas, to strengthen Irish communities abroad and to facilitate the development of closer and more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The budget for the programme in 2020 was €12.595 million. 529 applications for funding were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (20 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes the Irish Aid Annual Report on Ireland's Official Development Assistance, which includes statistical annexes based on material provided by a number of Government Departments and the Revenue Commissioners, in addition to that generated by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Prior to publication, draft statistical returns are run by the relevant OECD...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (13 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: Ireland has welcomed the Covid-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP). Consultations are ongoing across relevant Government Departments which look forward to receiving additional information on the Technology Access Pool with a view to considering practical engagement. The European Commission, on behalf of Member States, is engaging with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to obtain the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (13 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: My Department, through Irish Aid, has responded to the devastation caused by the hurricanes in November in Nicaragua and across much of the Central American region. I would like to express my solidarity with all those affected. Ireland, though Irish Aid, contributes to the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), which provides immediate support to Caribbean countries...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (13 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: I refer the Deputy to the response to the Information Note on the Overseas Election Observation Roster prepared for the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade (JCFATD) and the Composite Note published on the election observation pages of the Irish Aid website, where the issues raised here have been comprehensively addressed and which are attached to this response. Matters pertaining to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (13 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: The Department has checked its records, which do not appear to indicate a person of that name put themselves forward for consideration for membership of the volunteer Election Observation Roster under the most recent mustering. My officials would be happy to follow up with the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Colm Brophy: The Covid-19 pandemic and the global search for a vaccine has demonstrated the importance of pooling resources, scientific information and knowledge in order to protect people, including in poorer countries. Any endeavour to enhance resources available, and share relevant knowledge, should be welcomed and supported. During this public health crisis, a well-functioning ecosystem for the...