Results 3,321-3,340 of 6,541 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe. We are serious about Ireland's support for accession. We have all seen the benefits that the European Union has provided in this State, even in the positive role it has played in our peace process. We can all accept that in the changed world we are in the European Union, on some level, is the body that represents hope and democracy, while...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: On some level, China is taking the opportunities that are not there for European countries. That is a part that would be a lot easier if you were further along the road to accession.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: In these changed set of circumstances, I imagine the witnesses are happier that there is more of a real engagement from the European Union and a route map through. Obviously, nowhere suffered more than Bosnia and Herzegovina when Yugoslavia broke apart. On some level, probably in a surface knowledge-type scenario, we are all aware of the various ethnic divisions. The ambassador has spoken...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This is work the EU has to do to help Bosnia and Herzegovina along the road. We must all undertake considerations we never had to before. We are in a much-changed world, and we all accept that our interconnectivity and reliance on each other is greater than we previously believed. Short-term fixes for political expediency are not going to cut it. In fairness, I recognise from what both...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: In fairness, the ambassadors have been straightforward in terms of what they want to see from the European Union, which is that there should be no more obstacles and accession should be achieved as fast as possible. Equally, however, both ambassadors stated that their countries accept and want to meet the Copenhagen criteria and the specific 14 reforms to be undertaken in that regard. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This energy source breakdown also means that Albania has an element of control regarding the price of energy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Mr. Qirko is saying that Albania's engagement is from the perspective of trying to facilitate a solution to some of the difficulties that exist in certain EU countries.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Albania is looking at a best-in-class system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Mr. Filipovic said earlier that he was hopeful about how that election will turn out. Will he go into further detail on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That makes it easier to sell in the ambassador's country, being able to say Albania has the European Union as a partner. This was probably not the case in previous years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is brilliant stuff. We have dealt comprehensively with a considerable number of issues, which will feed into the work we are doing on accession in general. While there are a number of caveats and worries, there is a lot of hope. We all want to go in the same direction and play whatever small part we can. Before I finish, do members have any questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I too welcome both ambassadors. Tá fáilte mhór rompu. Maybe one day we will get to the point where we will have ambassadors in situin Ireland and the need to travel here would not be necessary.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Go raibh maith agaibh go léir and we will finish the meeting on those kind words.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I get it. We are in a world where there is not only the regular play of politics one would have had traditionally but also online platforms. Not only are we open to cyberattack, we have facilities that are very easily weaponised by state and non-state actors to push confrontational politics, which can make that worse. That is a particular worry we have. We had a meeting of the Joint...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Expansion: Discussion (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This is something we have to build into any conversation we have in the next while. It is part of the wider conversation of just how interconnected we are, but we all have to make this journey together. We have to get through this winter and eventually put ourselves in a better place. Does Albania have a timeline to deliver on the obligations required by the European Commission in order...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Road Safety Authority (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This has gone over and back a number of times, so I promise not to repeat what has been said, and then I will go ahead and repeat every point that has already been made. That is what sometimes happens here. Let us start with NCTs. We realise where we are. We know the situation as it stands. As the Chair stated, the timeframe that was mentioned is unacceptable. It will probably be the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Road Safety Authority (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I think my letter was late. We will not worry about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Road Safety Authority (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I got that. I could go through the process that everyone else mentioned about booking timeframes. It was due at some point in August that I cannot remember now. I did put myself on the cancellation list. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Road Safety Authority (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Is the promise that a person is generally called within 30 days? I rang up. I was not sure whether I went on the cancellation list. Given the fact that I was not asked for a payment I wanted to make sure that I had not messed up. I contacted the call centre-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Road Safety Authority (12 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Is that still the case?