Latest news with #Keown
The Journal
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Politicians ask questions about services and the Occupied Territories Bill but get few answers
POLITICIANS QUIZZED OFFICIALS from the Department of Foreign Affairs today about the government's draft bill to ban goods from Israeli settlements, but the pending legal advice from the Attorney General regarding the inclusion of services hung over much of the discussions. The Department's political director Gerard Keown and legal advisor Declan Smyth appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and fielded questions from TDs and Senators looking for clarity on the bill and what it entails. But it was an area not covered by the draft legislation that featured most often in the queries put to the two civil servants. Most questions related to the decision not to include services alongside goods in the bill, but politicians made little ground on the topic as Smyth repeatedly said he would not pre-empt advice from the Attorney General (AG), which both he and Keown said would be delivered to the Department 'as soon as possible'. Numerous members of the Committee requested that the two officials pass the message onto the Department and the AG that time was of the essence, while also noting that the advice would be needed to inform their work on pre-legislative scrutiny. Fianna Fáil TD Shay Brennan was one of the members who raised concerns about the 'tight timeline'. He said that waiting on the AG advice was 'not going to work' while Sinn Féin's Donnachach Ó Laoghaire was also critical of the fact that the Committee was considering the bill without it. Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl also described the situation as 'very frustrating'. 'The attorney is very well aware of the time pressures and of the political priority attached to this bill,' Smyth said. The AG already provided legal advice about the inclusion of services in the original draft of the Occupied Territories Bill, but Smyth said that because the government is moving ahead with its own version, new advice had been sought. Advertisement The reason why services were not included in this new bill was that there is a regulation at EU level that allows member states to make unilateral decisions on the importation of goods from outside the single market, but there is no corresponding one for services. This, he said, had led to a 'two-track approach' whereby the government is seeking to deal with goods as an individual state and services through diplomacy at the EU level. US pressure One question asked by Shay Brennan concerned pressure applied by other countries in response to the government's plans to pass the original Occupied Territories Bill. Keown said that there was 'contact at official level' from the US government when Joe Biden was president, but he also noted that Tánaiste Simon Harris recently said there has been no such correspondence with the current administration. Later in the hearing, Senator Garret Ahern asked Keown if that correspondence could be provided to the Committee. 'I'll have to take that back to the Tánaiste,' Keown replied. The Ditch reported last year that the US ambassador at the time, Claire Cronin, had emailed government leaders expressing concern about the bill's impact on US companies and warning of 'consequences' if the bill was passed as it was. A few days later, then-Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was 'not surprised' that the US had concerns. Keown also told the Committee today that the Department is currently analysing the potential economic consequences for Ireland if the bill passes. This, he said, is because there are a number of states who do not agree with Ireland on the issue. He also told the Committee that a number of EU member states and countries outside the bloc have been in touch to ask questions about the proposed legislation. Keown said the hope is that other countries follow Ireland's lead and adopt similar legislation. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Metro
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Martin Keown tells Man Utd to replace Ruben Amorim with Liverpool legend
Martin Keown doubts Ruben Amorim will turn Manchester United around and says the Old Trafford club should look to replace him with a Liverpool legend. United look set to stick by Amorim despite an embarrassing 2024-25 campaign in which the club finished just 15th in the Premier League. The Red Devils were expected to climb up the table when Amorim left Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon to replace Erik ten Hag but United ended up slipping further down the pecking order. Any hopes United's dismal season would be salvaged by a major trophy were ended when they were beaten by Tottenham in a drab Europa League final. While Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to give Amorim more time to turn things around at Manchester United, Keown doubts he is the man to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. The Arsenal legend and ex-England defender even urged United to tempt Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp back to the Premier League. Klopp took over a faltering Liverpool team to turn the Reds into Premier League and European champions during his nine-year spell at Anfield. The German, 57, resigned at the end of last season and has suggested he will avoid anymore coaching roles, especially in club football. 'I'm still concerned that maybe this isn't the right manager for Manchester United,' Keown said on talkSPORT. 'Just look at the number of games they've lost. 'It's going to be a very interesting start to next season for them but they could do a lot worse than go and get Jurgen Klopp to manage their football club. 'I'm not trying to sensationalise. I believe he could do an incredible job there and I believe they need somebody with more experience than the current manager.' Asked to clarify his shock suggestion that Manchester United could turn to a Liverpool legend to save them, Keown added: 'Why not? He's done a rebuilding job before [at Liverpool].' Manchester United's dismal Europa League final defeat to Spurs led to more scrutiny over Amorim's future at the Theatre of Dreams. But club legend Rio Ferdinand believes he needs more time to prove his worth as a manager and says it would be a mistake to sack him after just six months. 'I think he needs to be afforded a window,' Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. 'You can't invest in a manager and not give him the ability to shuffle the pack and get some players in that fit the profile of players that he requires to implement his philosophy. 'His way of playing, compared to the past regime, is very, very different [in] formation, and in terms of what he wants them to do in the output. 'It's not like he's a manager who's come in and had to tweak a couple of things because his philosophy and identity was similar to the past regime. 'I think he needs more time. He hasn't had a pre-season. He hasn't had time on the training pitch to coach these players as much as he'd like, I'm sure. More Trending 'I think he needs a couple of those things and a recruitment window to then give him real judgement and be as harsh as you want to be. 'There's no doubt, and I think he's said it himself, it's been terrible season. It's been a disaster of a season domestically. 'And then not winning this, after putting all your eggs in this basket, this a disaster as well in this sense. 'Rather than be emotional about it – and there will be a lot of people out there that are, and they're entitled to that – but in the cold light of day, I think he needs some time.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Bryan Mbeumo next club odds: Man Utd not favourites to land Brentford star MORE: Chelsea open to selling 15 players including surprise £30m England star MORE: Chelsea in advanced talks to sell Joao Felix just one year after £45m transfer
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Keown wins in Botswana to qualify for Champion of Champions
Keown wins in Botswana to qualify for Champion of Champions Rynfield golfer Keown Botha clinched the U9 title at the third Delta Botswana Junior Championships in Gaborone on April 26 and 27. Keown ignited the Stanbic Bank Gaborone Golf Club green, finishing ahead of Pule JJ Lesenyego and Ben Bester, second and third, respectively. The Laerskool Northmead learner's talent, determination and hard work earned him a spot at the Champion of Champions tournament in Northern Ireland in July. The two-day tournament is a product of the Delta Sports Institute and one of the biggest junior golf tournaments in Africa. Some 200 athletes from seven countries participated in the competition, which was a qualifier for the Champion of Champions World Championship at the Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, from July 29 to 31. Also Read: Keown bags SA Open Also Read: Keown (7) wins Venice Open At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arsenal: 'Big' signings coming as Gunners told why they lost to PSG
Martin Keown bemoaned Arsenal's lack of clinical edge as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, but insisted big signings were on the way this summer. The Gunners threw everything at their comeback bid in Wednesday night's huge semi-final second-leg showdown in France, starting fast but quickly running out of gas as they fell to a one-goal deficit at half-time. Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi scored either side of the break to put the tie out of reach before Bukayo Saka's late consolation strike. Speaking after the match, former Arsenal defender Keown, working as a pundit for TNT Sports, lauded their bold approach but lamented a failure to finish chances after they were crucially unable to capitalise on an early period of dominance. He said: 'I don't think the fans would have been surprised. In front of goal, it has been tricky since February, when you lost [Kai] Havertz and [Gabriel] Jesus was already injured. 'I think it was a gallant performance, you can be proud of that, but it is about being more clinical in front of goal, whether that is another player or they find another way to score goals. That is an area where we were sadly lacking when it really came down to it.' Shortly after giving Arsenal a lifeline, Saka smashed a late chance over the crossbar which would have pulled them within one and set up a grandstand finish. 'The second chance came shortly after [Saka's goal], and if you can put that away, we have a very different tie,' Keown said. 'It was painful and it will hurt Saka. He won't be sleeping for two or three nights, he can be proud of what he offered tonight. 'He caused major problems for [Nuno] Mendes with the early booking, and we didn't see much of him attacking because Saka was on the pitch.' Keown also said he was sure that Arsenal would address their costly lack of firepower in the summer, having crucially failed to do so during the January transfer window. 'We didn't have the same weapons to hurt them with,' he said. 'I think that's where the change will come. Big recruitment will come in the summer.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Keown questions how PSG can be beaten as Arsenal exit Europe
Keown questions how PSG can be beaten as Arsenal exit Europe Keown questions how PSG can be beaten as Arsenal exit Europe Martin Keown has questioned how Paris Saint-Germain can be beaten after the French champions eliminated Arsenal from the Champions League. PSG won 2-1 on the night to seal a 3-1 aggregate success over Arsenal in their semi-final, with Luis Enrique's side set to face Inter Milan in the final. The Ligue 1 giants have never won the Champions League before but will start as favourites in Munich later this month. PSG have eliminated three Premier League teams during the knockout stages and were the better side across both legs against Arsenal. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Gunners had chances, notably from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, while Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action with some superb saves. However, Arsenal struggled to deal with the attacking threat of the Parisians as goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi sealed a famous win. Reflecting at full-time, former Arsenal defender Keown called PSG a 'complete side' and questioned whether any side in Europe can stop their bid for a maiden Champions League crown. 'You have to hold your hands up to PSG. Hakimi, what a player he is,' Keown said to TNT Sports. 'Arsenal can be proud of what they have done this season in our second year back in the Champions League. But it has caught up with us that we don't have a proper centre-forward, two of them are out tonight. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement 'For PSG they have no Neymar, no Messi, no Mbappe, all out the door, but now they are a complete side. I've not see forward players working so hard. 'How do you beat them? They have to be hot favourites to win this now. You have to give them credit.' Read – When is the 2025 Champions League final? Date and venue for PSG vs Inter See more – The best Champions League semi-finals of all time Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
