Results 1,401-1,420 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an gcoiste as an-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas le baill an choiste as an gcuireadh teacht anseo chun comhrá ginearálta a bheith againn agus chun na nithe a thagann amach as Comhairle na hEorpa maidir leis an bhfreagracht atá ag an Aontas Eorpach as an gcogadh san Úcráin a phlé. Tosóidh mé an plé leis an suíomh mar atá sé maidir leis an Úcráin agus...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: As for the impact of sanctions, the Government's position has always been that Ireland supports the widest possible sanctions on Russia, and indeed on Belarus, including sanctions on energy. There is now a wide commitment to eliminate our dependence on certain energy sources, particularly oil. Sanctions in that case have been implemented really quickly. The first few rounds of sanctions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for his questions. I will answer them in reverse order. The Deputy is correct that we have given support to agencies that are working in Moldova. There is a genuine interest from the Government in helping Moldova more generally. There is comprehensive support from Government. Before Christmas, I met the Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I do not get the question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I am not going to get into the neutrality debate because that is a matter for the Irish people. It is fair to say, however, that the context for such debate has completely changed. When it was a case of wars consisting of cavalry battles in Crimea and Ukraine in earlier times, we could stand back and be neutral about such battles on the field. The reality now, though, is that this war is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Russia has been opposed to the EU for a long time-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: -----and it has nothing to do with militarism. It is because we are democracies and concerned with freedom, human rights, economic progress and people doing well. Those are things which Russia does not want or care about for its citizens, but Ukraine does want them. We must have no illusions. Russia has been trying to undermine the EU probably in every member state at various times, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: We have seen it happen in this country too, but we have seen particular examples abroad. I will not name them here. We should be firm and stand up for the EU. It has, effectively, been the greatest peace project ever undertaken, and I am not going to attribute descriptions of it as being a military alliance. Clearly, countries want to defend themselves. When I meet my colleagues from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I will respond later with an answer on that point. What I will say is that the list is really a list of companies, entities and individuals that are sanctioned. It is an extremely long list of those covered by all the various sanctions packages, and it will have changed week by week as those sanctions have been put in place. The International Financial Services Centre is not exempt from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Absolutely. The truth is the majority of businesses, whether banks, law firms or whatever, cannot do business with sanctioned companies because there could be consequences for them professionally. They have been trying to extricate themselves over the last while from doing business with any Russian entity that might be sanctioned. They will not risk that. People are not seeking to get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: We saw in Belarus where Lukashenko was moving people as well. That was effectively a new one. In our discussion on neutrality and common defence, addressing the cyber threat will have to play a big role. We will have to get real about that. We could probably achieve a lot more by co-operating with other countries. We could learn form them and work together but that will all have to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: On the strategic compass, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, was mianly dealing with that and it was agreed by the leaders last week. Work on the strategic compass has been ongoing for a number of years and, to be fair, Ireland has had a big impact on drafting it and getting involved in the discussion. To be clear, it is not a common European defence policy. It is just to enable the EU to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Aontaím go hiomlán leis an Teachta Calleary gurbh iad luachanna an Aontais Eorpaigh atá tábhachtach anseo agus gur féidir leis an duine vótáil sa mhodh is mian leis nó léi vótáil, gur féidir linn labhairt sa mhodh is mian linn, go bhfuil meas againn ar chearta daonna, agus go bhfuilimid anseo ag obair le chéile agus ag iarraidh...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I am not sure what the basis for dissent is. If people believe the diplomats should not be expelled, that is fine. They are being expelled because the evidence available to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Government was that they were not doing diplomatic work but were doing other work that was not compatible with the law. We had no option in those circumstances but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: The thing about the list is that there is a list of sanctions imposed on companies and entities, business cannot be done with them and they cannot do business here. Therefore, that is a strong list. Other companies, which are not sanctioned, have also decided to pull out of Russia. Many famous brand name companies, including Irish firms, have pulled out, even though they were not on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy asked me a security question at the start. That would be better addressed by the Minister for Justice or the Minister for Defence. I do not think they would answer him either, though.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: We have to let them do their job. On Hungary and Poland, we will continue our discussions with them. There is an election in Hungary on Sunday. We will let that happen. We do not want to interfere in that. As I understand it, the Hungary rule of law report is up for discussion at the next General Affairs Council in Luxembourg next month. We will be having that discussion very soon. On...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy would have to ask the Hungarians that question. To be fair to them, they have fully lined up with decisions that have been taken by the European Union which have required unanimity. They have done that. They have their own history with Russia and the USSR as well. I do not think we should underestimate that either, despite different commentaries. Hungary has an election this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Thomas Byrne: It is, yes. Bosnia is always under active discussion, particularly at the Foreign Affairs Council and European Council. I am meeting my Croatian counterpart in a couple of hours. This will be on the agenda as well. On gas, there is no proposal like the one the Deputy mentioned. There is possible joint purchasing, storage mechanisms and increased storage and other routes for supply such...