Results 1,261-1,280 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Nov 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Read it and the Deputy will know.

Water Policy: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I want to offer some praise. People are making complaints about their constituencies, which is only right. There are areas of my constituency where there are issues with Irish Water. I came into the Dáil in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and made those complaints on behalf of my constituents, in particular those served by the Staleen water supply, which goes all the way from Staleen on the River...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (Resumed) (19 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Unfortunately, many questions have been asked but the format does not give me the opportunity to respond to all of them but I will try to respond to some of them. I am obliged to respond, however, to the specific issues that the Taoiseach indicated that he would ask me to respond to and it is important that I do that. I will deal with the comments by Sinn Féin on two fronts. One...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (Resumed) (19 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: On humanitarian assistance, Ireland has done almost more than any other country. I have quoted the Deputy exactly. I thank Deputies for their statements and it is very important that we engage in these debates before and after the European Council meeting. The agenda was discussed and this was the main item yesterday in Luxembourg where I attended the General Affairs Council of the EU...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: It is not on the agenda.

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na Comhaltaí go léir sa Seanad. Tá áthas orm an deis seo a bheith agam chun díospóireacht a dhéanamh ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo agus chun míniú a thabhairt ar an stádas reatha i seirbhís na bpasanna sa tír seo. As we all know, the passport service was the subject of...

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: We have all had experience of that, unfortunately for the people involved. We reckon that Passport Online is available to all Irish citizens on this island and 97% of Irish citizens around the world. There are some countries where people cannot apply online. Passport Online has been extremely successful. Some 90% of applicants use it. This has reduced massively the number of people who...

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I think we can consider that.

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: North and south.

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: It is more.

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Do not send them.

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to address the specific point on paper applications. People should not submit paper applications; they should apply online. All applications are being processed on time at the moment.

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: We can help them. I have I have done that. All applications are being processed on time and are not expedited for anybody except in an emergency situation. I am subject to the same provisions as any Member of the Oireachtas.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na comhaltaí as ucht cuireadh a thabhairt dom teacht os comhair an choiste ar maidin. Tá mé an-sásta teacht os a chomhair agus na hábhair is tábhachtaí atá os ár gcomhair go léir a phlé, go háirithe an Chomhdháil ar Thodhchaí na hEorpa agus an obair a dhéanaim ar...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I join Deputy Haughey in expressing my deepest sympathy to the parents and siblings of Rory Mason from Dunboyne. He was a constituent of mine. I read what his dad said - it was lovely. The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance. The family has asked for privacy, so I had better leave it at that. They are going through a difficult period and they have my deepest...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Regarding the conference, the Commission and the Council have published a list of conclusions and how they can be implemented. I assume that their documents are publicly available. They go issue by issue and set out how the recommendations can be implemented. For some people, it is always someone else's responsibility, but it is all of our responsibility to highlight the good things that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I have said a good deal on the Conference on the Future of Europe. People do talk about Hungary, but we have achieved a lot with which Hungary has agreed. It vetoed the taxation proposal that came up at OECD level, for example, but the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has said he is confident we will be able to resolve that issue. Even with unanimity being a requirement, we can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: On the question about something really desirable that was not achieved because of a veto, it does sometimes happen that at the Foreign Affairs Council, there might be a statement on human rights violations in particular countries that is vetoed by one country. What happens is that they do not hold a vote; they merely withdraw the proposal. It just does not happen because one country has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: On a European affairs officer, I believe it should be a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and individual local authorities. Some local authorities already have a European affairs officer and I think such a post would be very useful because there are funding opportunities available through various sources. One of the things we are very keen is that at every...