Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2007 > Committee on Foreign Affairs > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2007

Appendix 5

Minutes of the Proceedings of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Proceedings of the Joint Committee

Thursday 18^th January 2007

1.The Joint Committee met in Public Session at 11.35 a.m. in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Deputies Michael Woods (in the Chair), Pat Carey, Noel Davern, Tony Dempsey, Bernard Durkan, Michael D. Higgins and Michael Mulcahy

Senators Paschal Mooney and David Norris

Senator Kieran Phelan attended in substitution for Senator Michael Kitt

Senator Paul Coghlan attended in substitution for Senator Paul Bradford.

Senator Terry Leyden attended in substitution for Senator Mary O’Rourke

Senator Mary White was also in attendance

3.Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the meeting of 19^th December were agreed.

4.Motion from Deputy Higgins

Deputy Higgins requested that the motion he submitted regarding the proposed US-India Agreement be placed on the agenda of the next meeting.

5.Discussion with officials from the Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs on the current situation on Irish Emigrants abroad.

The Chairman welcomed from the Department of Foreign Affairs;

Mr. Ray Bassett - Assistant Secretary, Head of Passport & Consular Division,

Mr. Jim Carroll - Counsellor, Irish Abroad Unit,

Ms. Síle Maguire - First Secretary, Irish Abroad Unit,

Ms. Caroline Delahunt - Third Secretary, Irish Abroad Unit and invited Mr. Bassett to give an update on the current position of Irish Emigrants Abroad.

Mr. Bassett made a presentation to the Committee regarding this issue and both he and Mr. Carroll answered members’ queries.

In conclusion the Chairman thanked the witness for attending.

The Committee met in Private Session at 1.25 p.m.

There been no other business the Committee adjourned at 1.47 p.m.

___________________

Dr. Michael Woods T.D

Chairman

30^th January 2007.

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Proceedings of the Joint Committee

Tuesday 30th January, 2007

1.The Joint Committee met in Public Session at 2.35 p.m. in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Deputies Michael Woods (in the Chair), Pat Carey, Tony Dempsey, Bernard Durkan, Michael D. Higgins and Michael Mulcahy

Senators Paschal Mooney and David Norris

Senator Kieran Phelan attended in substitution for Senator Michael Kitt

Senator Paul Coghlan attended in substitution for Senator Paul Bradford.

Senator Camillus Glynn attended in part-substitution for Senator Paschal Mooney

Senator Terry Leyden attended in substitution for Senator Mary O’Rourke

3.Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the meeting of 18^th January were agreed.

4.Discussion with Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS on the Global Response to the HIV-AIDS Epidemic.

The chairman welcomed:

Dr. Piot — Executive Director UNAIDS

Mr. Morten Ussing — Personal Assistant

Ms. Nicola Brennan - Department of Foreign Affairs

Dr. Vincent O’Neill - Irish Aid

to the one hundredth meeting of the Joint Committee of this the 29th Dáil and invited Dr. Piot to proceed with his presentation.

Dr. Piot made a presentation to the Committee regarding this issue and then answered members’ queries.

In conclusion the Chairman thanked the witness for attending.

Public Session was suspended at 3.38 p.m. to allow Dr. Piot to leave.

The Committee resumed in Public Session at 3.40 p.m.

5.Motions from Deputy Michael D. Higgins

Deputy Higgins moved two motions.

(a)Related to the Denial of the Holocaust

and

(b)Related to the proposed US/India nuclear agreement.

The first motion was as follows:-

“That the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs:

-In expressing its abhorrence of the views of those who deny the Holocaust which took place in Europe before and during the Second World War

-Conscious of the recent conference held in Iran which sought to discuss the supposed veracity of the Holocaust

-Noting that the European Commissioner on Justice and Home Affairs Franco Frattini has condemned Iran for hosting a “conference of Holocaust deniers”, saying it constituted “an unacceptable affront” to victims of the World War II genocide,

-Noting further the EU’s firm “condemnation of any attempt to deny, trivialize or minimize the Shoah, war crimes and crimes against humanity”,

Calls on the Irish government to make explicit, and if necessary repeat as appropriate, its support of Commissioner Frattini’s views on this recent conference; stresses the need to remember the millions of persons slaughtered across Europe as part of the Holocaust; and to condemn any attempt, such as was attempted in Iran in this fashion, to understate or indeed deny these horrific events.”

Following discussion, the Joint Committee unanimously agreed the motion

The second motion was as follows:-

“That the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs:

-Recognising the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty- of which it was an author at the United Nations- as an important instrument in efforts to secure world peace and disarmament

-Affirming its support for the Treaty

-Restating its support also for renewed efforts at universalising the Treaty; calls for appropriate resources for such efforts,

Further calls on the Irish government to resist any erosion of the Treaty by opposing and not supporting or facilitating such proposals as may be made at forthcoming meetings of the Nuclear Suppliers Group- of which Ireland is a member- as would, on any basis, exceptional or general, enable the proposed US/India Agreement in relation to nuclear supply to come into effect, thus enabling a non-signatory to the Treaty to operate nuclear facilities for, among other purposes, military uses, without submitting to the Treaty or other international disciplines.”

Following discussion, it was agreed to amend the motion by deleting the words “on any basis, exceptional or general”, and the amended motion was unanimously agreed.

The Committee met in Private Session at 4.47 p.m.

There being no other business the Committee adjourned at 4.55 p.m.

_____________________

Dr. Michael Woods T.D.

Chairman.

13^th February 2007.

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Proceedings of the Joint Committee

Tuesday 13th February, 2007

1.The Joint Committee met in Public Session at 2.11 p.m. in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Deputies Michael Woods (in the Chair), Pat Carey, Bernard Durkan, Tony Gregory, and Michael D. Higgins.

Senators Michael Kitt, Paschal Mooney and David Norris

Senator Terry Leyden attended in substitution for Senator Mary O’Rourke

3.Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the meeting of 30^th January were agreed.

4.EU Scrutiny

Re: Correspondence from the Sub-Committee on EU Scrutiny concerning decisions taken at their meetings of 24th January and 8th February 2007.

One proposal referred to amending the Financial Regulation applicable to the 9th European Development Fund, so it was proposed to refer this matter to the Sub-Committee on Development Co-operation for consideration at their next meeting.

It was also proposed to note the other items in this correspondence.

5.Discussion with Irish Aid and CONCERN on Ireland’s Aid Programme in Mozambique.

The chairman welcomed:

Ms. Bernadette Crawford, Desk Officer with CONCERN and

Mr. Noel White, Ms. Marcella Smyth and Mr. George Hegarty from Irish Aid and

Ms. Iseult Fitzgerald from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Also welcomed in the Public Gallery were Mr. Seamus Collins of Trocaire and Mr. Fran Flood of Skillshare International Ireland.

Mr. Noel White from Irish Aid and Ms. Bernadette Crawford from CONCERN both made presentations.

After questions and answers the Chairman thanked the witnesses for attending.

The Committee met in Private Session at 3.38 p.m.

There being no other business the Committee adjourned at 3.51 p.m.

___________________

Dr. Michael Woods T.D.

Chairman.

6^th March 2007.

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Proceedings of the Joint Committee

Tuesday 6^th March, 2007

1.The Joint Committee met in Public Session at 3.10 p.m. in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Deputies Michael Woods (in the Chair), Joe Costello, Noel Davern, Tony Gregory, and Michael D. Higgins.

Senator Terry Leyden and Senator Paul Coughlan attended in part-substitution for Senator Mary O’Rourke

Apologies were received from Deputies Liz O’Donnell and Bernard Allen and Senators Paul Bradford, Pascal Mooney, Michael Kitt and David Norris

3.Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the meeting of 27^th February were agreed.

4.Discussion with Ms. Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo.

The Committee met in Private Session at 3.52 p.m.

There being no other business the Committee adjourned at 4.02 p.m.

___________________

Dr. Michael Woods T.D.

Chairman.

20^th March 2007.

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Proceedings of the Joint Committee

Tuesday 20^th March, 2007

1.The Joint Committee met in Public Session at 3.00 p.m. in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Deputies Michael Woods (in the Chair), Bernard Allen, Pat Carey, Noel Davern, Tony Dempsey, Bernard J Durkan, Tony Gregory, and Michael D. Higgins.

Senators Michael Kitt, Paschal Mooney and David Norris were also present.

Senator Terry Leyden attended in substitution for Senator Mary O’Rourke

Apologies were received from Deputies Liz O’Donnell.

Also in attendance were Deputy Jim Glennon and Senator Mary Henry.

3.Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the meeting of 6^th March were agreed.

4.EU Scrutiny

Correspondence from the Sub-Committee on EU Scrutiny concerning

decisions taken at its meeting of 8th March was noted.

5.Discussion with Dr. Vinand Nantulya, FIND, on low cost medical diagnostics.

The Chairman welcomed Dr. Nantulya to the meeting.

Dr. Nantulya made a presentation on low cost medical diagnostics to the Committee and answered questions from members.

In conclusion the Chairman thanked Dr. Nantulya for attending.

The meeting suspended at 3:37 to allow Dr. Nantulya and Ms. Dykes to leave.

The meeting resumed in Public Session at 3.39 p.m.

6.Discussion with Mr. David Konneh, Director of Don Bosco Homes in Liberia, on the role played by Irish troops in Liberia and the concerns felt at their removal.

The Chairman welcomed Mr. Konneh to the meeting.

Mr. Konneh made a presentation on the role of Irish troops in Liberia.

In conclusion the Chairman thanked Mr. Konneh for attending.

The Committee met in Private Session at 4.13 p.m.

7.Discussed in Private session

8.Discussed in Private session

There being no other business the Committee adjourned at 4.17 p.m.

___________________

Dr. Michael Woods T.D.

Chairman.

3^rd April 2007.

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Proceedings of the Joint Committee

Tuesday 3^rd April, 2007

1.The Joint Committee met in Public Session at 4.21 p.m. in Committee Room 2, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Deputies Michael Woods (in the Chair), Bernard Allen, Pat Carey, Bernard J Durkan, Tony Gregory and Michael D. Higgins.

Senators Michael Kitt, Paschal Mooney and David Norris were also present.

Apologies were received from Deputy Liz O’Donnell.

3.Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the meeting of 20^th March were agreed.

4.Discussion with Ms. Adi Roche, Executive Director of the Chernobyl’s Children Project — “Chernobyl 21 years on”

The Chairman welcomed Ms Adi Roche, Executive Director of the Chernobyl Children’s Project, Mr. Eoin Dinan & Mr. Michael Roden (members of the Project’s Board) to the meeting. Also welcomed were Ms. Miriam Forde, Ms. Tara O’Connor, Ms. Mary Aherne, Mr. Pat McDonagh, Mr. Noel Kelly and Mr. Pat Flynn from the Chernobyl’s Children’s Project.

In conclusion the Chairman thanked Ms Roche for attending.

The meeting suspended at 5.10 to allow Ms. Roche to leave.

The meeting resumed in Public Session at 5.30 p.m.

5.Discussion with Baha’i faith living in Ireland — “Repression of the Baha’i Community in Iran”.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Brendan McNamara, Chairman, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Republic of Ireland and Mrs. Alison Wortley and Mrs. Sabrina Nagle who are both members of the National Spiritual Assembly to the meeting.

Mr. McNamara made a presentation on the plight of Iran’s Bahá’í community

In conclusion the Chairman thanked Mr. McNamara for attending.

The Committee met in Private Session at 5.54 p.m.

6.Discussed in Private session

7.Discussed in Private session

There being no other business the Committee adjourned at 6.00 p.m.

___________________

Dr. Michael Woods T.D.

Chairman.

17^th April 2007.

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Proceedings of the Joint Committee

Tuesday 17^th April, 2007

1.The Joint Committee met in private session at 2:33 p.m. in Committee Room 1, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Deputies Dr. Michael Woods (in the Chair), Pat Carey, Bernard J. Durkan, Michael D. Higgins, Michael Mulcahy and Senator Brendan Ryan.

Senator Paddy Burke attended in substitution for Senator Paul Bradford.

Senator Paul Coghlan attended in substitution for Senator David Norris.

Senator Terry Leyden attended in substitution for Senator Mary O’Rourke.

Senator Geraldine Feeney and Senator Camillus Glynn attended in part-substitution for Senator Paschal Mooney.

Senator John Hanafin also attended the meeting.

Apologies were received from Deputy Noel Davern and Senators Paul Bradford, Michael Kitt, Paschal Mooney, David Norris and Mary O’Rourke.

3.Minutes of previous meetings

The minutes of the meeting of 3^rd April were agreed.

4.Discussed in Private Session

5.Discussed in Private Session

6.Discussed in Private Session

7.Discussed in Private Session

There being no further business, the Committee adjourned at 3.26 p.m.

___________________

Dr. Michael Woods T.D

Chairman

24^th April 2007

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Sub-Committee on Development Co-Operation

Proceedings of the Sub-Committee

Thursday 29^th March 2007

1.The Sub-Committee met in public session at 12.15 p.m. in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Deputies Tony Dempsey and Michael D. Higgins.

Senators Michael Kitt (in the Chair) and Brendan Ryan were also present.

Deputy Noel O’Flynn attended as substitute for Deputy Michael Mulcahy.

Senators Terry Leyden and Paschal Mooney also attended.

Apologies were received from Deputy Liz O’Donnell

3.Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 7^th December 2006 were agreed.

4.Discussion with the International Mental Health Collaborating Network.

The Chairman welcomed Ms. Margaret Fleming, Mr. Damien Murray, Mr. Brian Clerkin and Mr. John Jenkins of the IMHCN to the meeting. The delegation was before the Sub-Committee to discuss the issue of the IMHCN proposal for a mental health project in Palestine.

Following the presentation the Chairman opened the discussion and invited questions from Members. The Chairman thanked the delegation.

5.Any other Business

As there was no other business the meeting was adjourned at 12.57 p.m. sine die.

_________________

Senator Michael Kitt

Chairman

24^th April 2007

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Sub-Committee on Human Rights

Proceedings of the Sub-Committee

Wednesday 31^st January 2007

1.The Sub-Committee met at 12.07 p.m. in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Senator Paul Bradford (in the Chair), Deputies Noel Davern and Pat Carey and Senator Paschal Mooney.

PUBLIC SESSION

3.Minutes of meeting of 20 December 2006.

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 December were agreed.

4.Meeting with Mr. Billy Colbert.

The Chairman welcomed back Mr. Colbert to Leinster House to update the Sub-Committee on the issues surrounding the case of Mr. Roger Collins, a prisoner who has been on death row in Georgia, U.S.A. since 1977. (Mr. Colbert’s colleague, Mr. Aidan O’Leary who attended the Sub-Committee meeting on 19 May 2005 was unable to attend due to a family illness).

Following some introductory remarks the witness made his presentation in which he outlined details of their most recent visit to see Mr. Collins in early January 2007 and the ongoing attempts by his legal team to have the case re-examined.

Following the presentation the Chairman opened the discussion to other Members.

The Chairman suggested to Mr. Colbert that the Sub-Committee could write again to the Governor of Georgia requesting clemency in the case and to the U.S. Ambassador seeking his support, but Mr. Colbert felt that, due to the legal sensibilities in the case at present, it would not be advisable at this time.

In conclusion the Chairman thanked Mr. Colbert for his presentation.

The Committee met in Private Session at 12.38 p.m.

5.Discussed in Private Session

6.Discussed in Private Session

7.Discussed in Private Session

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 12.42 p.m. sine die.

___________________

Senator Paul Bradford

Chairman

28th February 2007

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs

Sub-Committee on Human Rights

Proceedings of the Sub-Committee

28th February 2007

1.The Sub-Committee met in public session at 12.05 p.m. in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

Senator Paul Bradford (in the Chair), Deputies Noel Davern and Pat Carey.

Deputy Catherine Murphy attended in substitution for Deputy Tony Gregory.

Deputy Michael D Higgins was also in attendance.

Apologies were received from Senator Paschal Mooney.

3.Minutes.

Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January were agreed.

4.Meeting with Mr. Gerald O’Connor of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and Mr. David Matas on his co-revised report (with Mr. David Kilgour) entitled “Bloody Harvest” regarding Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China.

The Chairman welcomed Mr O’Connor and Mr Matas and invited them to talk about the Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China and in particular to update the Sub-Committee on the issues that were raised at the presentation given to the Joint Committee meeting on 23 November 2006 by Mr. Matas and Mr. David Kilgour.

Following the presentation the Chairman opened the discussion to other Members.

In conclusion the Chairman thanked Mr. O’Connor and Mr. Matas for their presentations.

The Committee met in Private Session at 13.03 p.m.

5.Discussed in Private Session

6.Discussed in Private Session

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 13.09 p.m. sine die.

___________________

Senator Paul Bradford

Chairman

24^th April 2007