Results 201-220 of 1,752 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (25 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 119, inclusive, together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade administers and maintains a roster of suitably skilled individuals who are available to deploy on international election observation missions organised, in the main, by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). A new roster was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ebola Virus Outbreak (19 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and now Uganda, is a matter of grave concern. To date, 2,014 people have been infected, of whom 1,411 have died. The fact that the epicentre of the outbreak is in a conflict zone makes this an extremely difficult crisis to resolve. So far, Ireland has provided over €2.6 million to UN and NGO partners both for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (18 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Ireland's new development policy, A Better World, sets out the clear commitment of the Government to reach the furthest behind first. One of the core aspects of this policy is reducing humanitarian need, focused on providing vital humanitarian assistance to those in greatest need around the world. A recent study by the ODI, a leading development think-tank, highlighted Ireland as the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (18 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I remain deeply concerned by the threat to peace and security represented by armed groups such as Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. The Government consistently condemns their brutal attacks on civilian populations, and particularly the targeting of women and girls. Communities across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon live fearing that they will be Boko Haram's next targets, people in Somalia, Kenya...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The number and complexity of humanitarian crises globally has increased in recent years, with the UN estimating that over 140 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. Conflict is the most significant driver of this increased need. Ireland prioritises the provision of needs based, principled humanitarian aid to high profile humanitarian crises such as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Horn of Africa is currently experiencing a period of tremendous political change and transition. Ireland, as a member of the EU, supports EU efforts to strengthen engagement in the region in order to ensure that the various transitions underway are positive. Ireland also supports efforts, including through the EU, to support greater regional integration. Since his appointment in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jun 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The recent political events and violence against protestors in Sudan follows over six months of demonstrations, triggered initially by spiralling costs of living. On 11 April, it was announced that President Omar al-Bashir had been removed from power and that a Transitional Military Council had assumed control in Sudan.  The Transitional Military Council announced its intention to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (29 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I refer the Deputy to the responses to the following Parliamentary Questions tabled during the months of February and March which provide further information on the election observation roster, including Questions No. 152 of 12 February 2019, No. 108 of 26 February 2019 and No. 74 of 6 March 2019. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of suitably...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (29 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade currently provides funding to UN Volunteers on an annual basis in line with our funding approach to other UN agencies. In 2017 and 2018 our funding was €500,000. Our current policy is to assign volunteers through UNV for a twelve month period. This ensures that as many applicants to what is a competitive selection process have the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (21 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together. Ireland’s new international development policy, A Better World, was published in February, situating Irish interventions within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and, in particular, their injunction to reach the furthest behind first. Actions to promote gender equality are at the core of A Better...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (21 May 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Ireland’s new policy for international development, A Better World, was published in February. A Better World reaffirms the Government’s commitment, as outlined in Global Ireland 2025, to expand Ireland's official development assistance and make progress on delivering the United Nations target of allocating 0.7 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) for official development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: On 11 April it was announced that a transitional military council had assumed control in Sudan and that Omar al-Bashir, who had been President for three decades, was being held in a "safe place". The transitional military council has said it will govern Sudan for a two-year transitional period after which it promises presidential elections. Sudan's constitution has been suspended, its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (18 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: International election observation missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level on international election observation missions. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union or the Office for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Kenyan law criminalises  male homosexual relations.  However, some interpretations suggest that it also prohibits female same sex relations.  Consequently both men and women in same sex relationships in Kenya fear the possibility of legal persecution. A petition seeking to decriminalise same sex relations is currently before the High Court of Kenya, arguing that two...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (18 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: All projects and programmes considered for Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) funding or support under the Reconciliation Fund grant scheme are rigorously appraised by Departmental staff using clear criteria, including efficiency in the use of resources, cost-effectiveness and intended impacts and outcomes.  Programmes in receipt of funding are subject to regular monitoring to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Female Genital Mutilation (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting is a fundamental violation of the human rights of women and girls. It is nearly always carried out on minors.  Approximately 3.6 million girls are at risk of being subjected to FGM in any given year.  According to a recent World Health Organisation report, there are 200 million girls and women in 30 countries affected by FGM. While there has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Cyclone Idai has had a devastating effect across Southern Africa, with over 1,000 people killed, and over three million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Mozambique has been particularly badly affected, with an estimated 1.85m people affected. Ireland has to date directly allocated over €2.3 million to the crisis response across the region, including contributions to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Ireland plays an active role in seeking to address the underlying causes of instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Great Lakes sub-Region. The Embassy of Ireland in Dar Es Salaam is accredited to the DRC, and actively monitors developments there, including through regular engagement with the EU, UN and bilateral partners.  These engagements provide a forum to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The number and complexity of humanitarian crises globally has increased in recent years, with the UN estimating that over 135 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and protection.  Conflict is the most significant driver of this increased need.  Ireland prioritises the provision of needs based, principled humanitarian aid to high profile humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (16 Apr 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I refer the Deputy to the response to Parliamentary Questions Number 68 of 12 March 2019 and Number 157 of 26 March 2019. The mustering in question has now been finalised.  A detailed information note at the link accompanies this response.