Results 161-180 of 34,369 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (30 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 201 and 227 together. Since the appalling Hamas violence on 7 October and the start of the Israeli military operation, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has continued to deteriorate. The UN has increased its flash appeal for aid to a total of $1.2 billion to provide assistance to 2.2 million people in Gaza and 500,000 in the West Bank. In response, on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Policy (30 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: International climate finance is an important priority for the Government. Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs led on a cross-governmental process to formulate Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap. It sets out how Ireland will deliver on the target of providing at least €225 million annually in international climate finance by 2025, a commitment made by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Food Security (30 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine exacerbated an existing global food and nutrition security crisis. Ireland has long championed efforts to combat hunger, famine and malnutrition – and we continue to scale up our response. We have been unequivocal in our support for the people and Government of Ukraine. We commend Ukraine’s efforts to ensure that countries most...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: I am deeply concerned by the severe humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan caused by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since the conflict began in April, over 6.2 million people have fled their homes and nearly 25 million people - half of the population - are in need of humanitarian aid and protection assistance. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (30 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has created a humanitarian crisis, which Ireland has responded to, from the start. So far, we have provided over €40 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and its neighbours. This humanitarian assistance is focused on those most vulnerable and hard to reach, such as women & children, displaced persons, those closest to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (29 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: 145. To ask the Minister for Health if the hospital bill that was issued in respect of a medical card patient (details supplied) for a stay in a hospital will be cancelled in view of the fact the bill should have been covered by their medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52633/23]

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: In particular, this is covered in Article 29 which establishes the framework within which Ireland conducts its international relations. Article 29.1 reads: "Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality." Article 29.2 confirms that Ireland adheres to the principle of the peaceful settlement of...

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: I am pleased to join Deputies for this important debate and I thank them for their contributions in the House. This is the third time in recent weeks that we are debating the issue of Irish neutrality and the outcome of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, realising one of the key aims of the forum, which was for us to have a more open and constructive debate on these...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: With the committee’s agreement, I will present for members' consideration the Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Foreign Affairs. These relate to Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs. In total, across both Votes, the request we are making is for a net increase of €71 million, comprising an increase of €25 million in Vote 27 and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy. It is a key point we consistently make. Major conflicts are ongoing in some areas and when something else arises in other regions, they go off the agenda. The situation in Sudan and for refugees in the region is particularly difficult. We are gravely concerned about the situation. Since the outbreak of the war in April, we have emphasised the need for the protection...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: Ethiopia. It was signed by the World Bank and by me on behalf of the Irish State two weeks ago with its finance minister. We were very pleased that the World Bank was sitting at the table with us. It will oversee supervision of the spending of the funds because we personally could not do it. Those countries need a strong mechanism, normally through an organisation like the World Bank, to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: To conclude on the Horn of Africa, last year we allocated and delivered more than €100 million on behalf of Ireland to that region. That is the scale of funding we are regularly providing to the region through UN bodies, or their EU counterparts, because sometimes our NGOs do not have the ability to deliver those types of projects on the ground. On Israel's actions, Ireland is one...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: The high number of civilian casualties is deeply shocking and needs to be criticised outright. We have been clear in that. Israel has a right to protect itself but that is not an unfettered right. It must do so in line with international humanitarian law. It is essential that it does that. We continually remind Israel of its international legal obligations. As people know, the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: The Government was extremely surprised by the Israeli reaction to the tweet the Deputy referenced. We have to say that. Our approach, including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and everybody else who has spoken on this issue, has been very firm. If the entire content of the overall statement that was issued is considered, as well as other statements we have consistently issued, we believe...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: No. That has not happened.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Supplementary)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Seán Fleming: At this point in time, we do not think there is a particular reason that specifically merits it. However, the one point I will make on all that is we-----