Results 161-180 of 3,353 for speaker:Joe Costello in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (17 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 51 together. The political and humanitarian situation in South Sudan was most recently raised at the EU Foreign Affairs Council which the Tánaiste attended last month. At that meeting, the European Union expressed its deep concern about the ongoing conflict in South Sudan and the grave human suffering it is causing for ordinary civilians caught...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (17 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities surpasses an estimated 140,000 people, there are now over 9 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a further 2.6 million Syrian refugees requiring assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Food Security (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: The fight against global hunger and under-nutrition is a central priority for Ireland's development programme, and an integral element of our foreign policy. Addressing last week’s EU-Africa summit in Brussels, I emphasised how agriculture, and in particular, small holder agriculture, should contribute to achieving food and nutrition security and inclusive economic growth in Africa. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (3 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 48 and 49 together. As Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland's Official Development Assistance, I am acutely aware of the need to ensure that our development assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries and makes a real difference in the lives of the world's poorest people. Ireland's aid programme has always had a strong poverty focus and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Apr 2014)

Joe Costello: Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve the scale and effectiveness of the response of the international community to major disasters and humanitarian crises. Many lessons have been learned from previous crises such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Under the leadership of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (25 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: The Government is very strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The aid programme is regarded internationally as one of the most effective in delivering results in the fight against poverty and hunger. Our commitment to development cooperation is clear in the Programme for Government and has been strongly reiterated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (25 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 182 together. The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities reaches an estimated 140,000 people, there are now over 9 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (25 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, hit the Philippines on 8 November. It is estimated that the Typhoon affected more than 14 million people, with almost 4 million remaining displaced, including some 1.5 million children. Over 6,000 lives have been lost to date and almost 1800 people are still missing. Ireland was among the first to respond to this disaster,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (11 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions 50 and 53 together. The Government is very strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The aid programme has the reputation of being one of the best in the world. Our commitment to development cooperation is clear in the Programme for Government and has been further enhanced by the launch...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: The Government has condemned the unprovoked violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Russian Federation. We have participated actively in the development of a strong EU response to Russia’s military mobilisation while commending the measured response shown so far by the new Ukrainian government. In relation to the Presidential election scheduled for May,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (6 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: I am seriously concerned about the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill by the Ugandan Parliament and its subsequent signing into law by President Museveni. Ireland had urged the President to ensure the Bill was not enacted. I have made it clear that the enactment of this draconian legislation will affect our valued relationship with Uganda. During my visit to Uganda in December 2013, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (6 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together. The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of Irish foreign policy. This commitment was made clear in our Programme for Government and underscored last year in our new policy for international development - One World One Future -which set out our vision for a sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (4 Mar 2014)

Joe Costello: Further to my replies to two Parliamentary Questions on this matter last month, I can confirm that Ireland nominated observers for eight OSCE monitoring missions between 1 January 2013 and 28 February 2014. The missions were to Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. As set out in a previous reply, English is the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Joe Costello: The Government consistently supports the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and is strongly committed to combating all human rights violations committed against individuals on such or any other basis. When I addressed the UN General Assembly on 28 September 2013, I pledged Ireland’s full support to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Feb 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 37 together. I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached last month in South Sudan and I would echo the statement on 23 January by High Representative Ashton, on behalf of the EU, calling on all parties to implement the agreement in good faith. It is essential now that South Sudan turn away from violence and to a renewed political dialogue, without...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Natural Resources (19 Feb 2014)

Joe Costello: The discovery of substantial new natural resources in Africa in recent years, especially oil and gas, brings both opportunities and risks. These resources, if used well, can help to reduce poverty significantly on the continent. Because of the development challenges many of the resource-rich African countries still face, it is vital to ensure that these non-renewable resources are extracted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Feb 2014)

Joe Costello: I share the concern about the violence during the recent protests by garment workers in Cambodia. We are continuing to follow the situation through our Ambassador in Hanoi, who is accredited to Cambodia, who has been in regular contact with EU colleagues and other partners in Phnom Penh to monitor developments. Successive Irish Governments have actively promoted the protection of human...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (19 Feb 2014)

Joe Costello: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 62 together. The protracted crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities reaches an estimated 130,000 people, there are now over nine million people in need of immediate life-saving support. More than 6.5 million people are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (19 Feb 2014)

Joe Costello: The human rights situation in the Horn of Africa remains a matter of concern. It has been is severely affected by the consequences of the humanitarian crisis in large parts of the region. Ireland, together with our EU Partners, pursues a strategic and comprehensive approach to the Horn of Africa through the EU Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa. This approach encompasses political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (19 Feb 2014)

Joe Costello: Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve the scale and effectiveness of the response of the international community to major disasters and humanitarian crises. Many lessons have been learned from previous crises such as the 2004 tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Under the leadership of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), clear...