17 Jul 2012, 14:38
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, TD, will brief the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade ahead of the forthcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting at its meeting tomorrow, 18th July.
Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “Ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore, will appear before our Committee where we will discuss a number of major international issues, including the ongoing situation in Syria, the Middle East Peace Process, relations with the Ukraine, EU-Asia trade relations and the crisis arising from the conflict in Sudan/South Sudan.
The Committee is keen to discuss the EU position in relation to developments in countries undergoing transition in the Middle East and North Africa. The crisis in Syria has understandably been a focus of much attention at FAC meetings in recent months and, in particular, the escalating violence between parties to the conflict and the ensuing heavy loss of lives among civilians.
We are looking forward to engaging with the Tánaiste on a number of other key issues, including EU-Asia trade relations and the situation in Ukraine, in particular the imprisonment and conditions of detention of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as well as the prospects for the signing and ratification of the EU’s Association Agreement with Ukraine.
The lack of progress of the Middle East Peace Process, which is stalled on efforts to bring the two sides back to direct talks, is also an issue of concern, while the escalating conflict between Sudan and South Sudan and the deteriorating situation in Mali and the wider Sahel region will also be addressed at our meeting.”
This meeting will start in Committee Room 1, Leinster House at 5.30pm on Wednesday, 18th July 2012.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.