Results 61-80 of 1,631 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (22 Oct 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea has expressed concern over the curtailment of church activities in Eritrea and the arrest and detention of members of the Orthodox and Christian congregations. On 12 June 2019, the Eritrean authorities ordered the seizure of all health centres managed by the Catholic Church in Eritrea. The seizure is believed to be in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (22 Oct 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants made thirty recommendations, twenty of which  have been addressed. Of the remaining 10 areas, 8 have been partially addressed or are pending further policy development. Two recommendations were not accepted. Among the recommendations that have been addressed most recently is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Oct 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I am aware of the disturbing reports from Uganda regarding support for the re-tabling of a bill which would impose the death penalty on LGBTI individuals. A similar bill was rejected five years ago by the Constitutional Court of Uganda. ‘The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World’ states clearly that: “We are committed to promoting the rights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (8 Oct 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) is an essential element of our overall foreign policy and national presence overseas, enabling Ireland to respond to complex human needs and humanitarian crises around the world. Peer reviews by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have consistently stated that Ireland’s development cooperation programme...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (8 Oct 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad has been focussed on the implementation, where possible, of the recommendations contained in the Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants. Of the 30 recommendations, 20 have been addressed. Of the remaining 10 areas, 8 have been partially addressed or are pending further policy development. 2...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Millennium Development Goals (17 Sep 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I refer to my response to Parliamentary Question 62 of 18 June 2019, which sets out a possible path to reaching the 0.7% target by 2030. Ireland’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is an essential element of our overall foreign policy and national presence overseas, enabling Ireland to respond to complex human needs and humanitarian crises around the world. Peer reviews by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (17 Sep 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Government’s new policy for international development, A Better World, sets out the framework for delivering Ireland's development programme. That policy sets out how through that programme Ireland will help deliver on the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs require Ireland to help ensure that no one is left behind: this includes those with disabilities. To...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Sep 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The recent political events in Sudan followed many months of demonstrations, which began in December 2018 and were led by a diverse coalition of groups known as the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC). Demonstrations were triggered initially by spiralling costs of living and quickly developed into calls for ex-President al Bashir’s resignation, after 30 years in power. Control was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ebola Virus Outbreak (6 Sep 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I am concerned at the scale of the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is now the second largest recorded outbreak.  As of 20 August, 2,927 people were recorded as having been infected during this outbreak, of whom 1,961 died. Building on the experience of the 2014-16 West Africa Ebola outbreak, Ireland is supporting non-governmental...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rapid Response Initiative (6 Sep 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: A mustering  process refreshing the membership of the Rapid Response Roster was undertaken last year. Following completion of a training programme by successful applicants, the Irish Rapid Response Corps currently has over 120 experts who can be rostered to provide short notice surge capacity to our UN partner organisations.   As the envisaged lifespan of the current roster is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (11 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad has dedicated its work stream over the past year and a half to evaluating and, where possible, implementing the thirty recommendations contained in the Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants. Of the 30 recommendations, 20 have been addressed. Of the remaining 10 areas, 8...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Policy (11 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, along with the Secretary General from his Department, have been actively engaged in the preparation and development of Ireland’s national climate action plan. They have participated in and contributed to the relevant meetings and consultations organised by the Department for Communications, Climate Action and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (10 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 to 112, inclusive, together. The elections desk is based within the Development Cooperation and Africa Division of my Department. Staffing of the elections desk is proportionate to its budget and that of the Division as a whole, whose purpose is to deliver on the objectives set out in A Better World, the Government's policy for international development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (9 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 to 127, inclusive, and 138 together. I refer the Deputies to the response to Questions Nos. 67, 68, 78 and 81 of 18 June. Political developments in Sudan last week give cause for some cautious optimism, although the situation there remains fluid.  I welcome the work by those engaged in regional processes, led by the African Union, which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (4 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade administers and maintains a roster of suitably skilled individuals 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). The EU and the OSCE-ODHIR regularly issue calls for the nomination of observers to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (2 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: On the evening of 22 June, targeted attacks were carried out in Ethiopia against senior Government officials in Bahir Dar, the capital of the northern Amhara region, and the capital, Addis Ababa. The Amhara Regional President Ambachew Mekonnen and two of his advisors were killed, and the perpetrator has been identified as the Amhara Region security chief, Asaminew Tsige. Some hours later, a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (2 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: 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. I refer the Deputy to PQ 15083/19 which was answered on 2 April 2019 and note the position remains as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Funding (2 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: The European Union Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africais part of a comprehensive package of EU initiatives to support stability across North Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel/Lake Chad region. The Trust Fund contributes to tackling the root causes of instability, forced displacement and irregular...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (2 Jul 2019)

Ciarán Cannon: Budget 2019 saw the highest increase in funding available to Official Development Assistance (ODA) in over a decade, with the Government allocating just over €817 million for ODA. This represents an increase of approximately €110 million, or 16%, on the allocation announced in budget 2018. Sustained, managed increments in ODA will be required to deliver 0.7% of Gross National...

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...