Results 1,461-1,480 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator was a special rapporteur at the Council of Europe.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: It is a different forum but it is a similar matter.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: Absolutely.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator's position of special rapporteur is similar, albeit in a different context.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator was in that position with his own views and those of the organisations of which he is a member.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I am not saying they are directly comparable and I am not accusing the Senator of conflicts of interest. To be honest, the Senator in this House has accused people of a conflict of interest and I am not clear exactly what the conflict of interest is.I do not believe he has specified it. He has made allegations that people are in the pay of some organisations while also doing the work of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I heard the Senator mention the Soros foundation on a number of occasions.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I am very pleased and happy-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I reject any allegation that I have disrespected the House because I spoke only when it was my turn. I thank the Chair. I am in the hands of the Chair, of course, but I found the ruling difficult. People like the staff I mentioned are doing incredible work. They are representing our country. The person the Senator mentioned is extremely highly qualified. NGOs and private foundations can...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: We are providing funding to make sure that is possible.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I have not heard a specific allegation that somebody has had a conflict of interest. I have heard it stated but, as far as I can see, there has been nothing-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: United Nations (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: This year we provided €1.965 million in unearmarked funding to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Achieving the sustainable development goals in respect of protecting human rights requires collective action. To this end, we are a strong supporter of multilateralism and core flexible funding to enable our multilateral partners to plan and manage resources...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Senator Doherty for raising this issue and for all her work on it in her previous role. The cost of disability is the extra cost faced by people with a disability in their day-to-day lives that others in society do not face. This extra cost is a direct result of the person's disability and would not arise otherwise. Research conducted in Ireland and internationally over many years...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Senator for her comments. The Government is keen to address the concerns raised by the people who live the daily reality of disability and it will use the results of this research to inform measures to address the issue of cost. People with disabilities have widely differing needs and the extra costs of disability do not arise to the same extent in every case. Basic standard...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: The strong interest shown in this House at all times, including during these questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and me, will be of great encouragement to people in Belarus. We are deeply cognisant of the migrant crisis and are working on the humanitarian aspects of it, which are crucial. We have also shown complete solidarity with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia in terms of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I visited Lithuania on 27-28 October for a number of bilateral engagements. Ireland has a close relationship with Lithuania and I availed of the visit to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Lithuania. A number of issues were discussed during the visit, including the situation on the Lithuanian border with Belarus, the situation in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I have to be honest, my visit to the border was an unsettling experience. I could say the same for my Lithuanian colleagues as well. They are dealing with a new situation. They certainly are not used to this. I am very pleased that they are engaging with civil society, in particular the Red Cross. Ireland responded to the migrant crisis by providing €100,000 to the International...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I participated in the second Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe which was held on 23 October in Strasbourg as a hybrid event. My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, also participated as the second Government representative at the session. Also in attendance were the four Oireachtas representatives to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I attended the most recent meeting of the General Affairs Council which took place on 19 October 2021 in Luxembourg. The principal item for discussion at the Council was the preparation of the agenda for the European Council meeting, which took place on the 21stand 22ndof October. At that meeting, Leaders discussed energy prices and migration. There were also discussions on the Covid-19...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I have probably answered these questions insofar as I can. As Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, I do not deal with the Israel-Palestine situation on a daily basis. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is in that part of the world today doing great work on behalf of this country. He is following a long tradition among the governments of this country, going back to...