Results 1,521-1,540 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: He announced that he has symptoms of Covid - he had a negative test.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus le baill an choiste atá sa seomra coiste agus ar líne freisin. I have the pleasure to introduce this motion, which has been referred by the Dáil to this committee, on the approval of the EU-Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Deepening our engagement and our presence in the Asia Pacific region is a key strategic...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I am not in a position to speak to the ICS but I will get Deputy Brady an answer on the trade agreement. That trade agreement is in force and I have not heard of any difficulties with it or of any corporations being able to change Irish laws because of that. It has unquestionably been good that we have had increased free trade with Singapore. Maybe when we are discussing the possibilities...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: Let me give the example of the partnership co-operation agreement with the Philippines with which we have some human rights concerns. There is a sub-committee on human rights there that we can deal with. There is also a joint committee, although it is not identical to the UK-EU joint committee, but there is a similar arrangement there between both sides where all of these issues can be...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: That is a matter for the Dáil.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: In general, referring items to committee, and the clerk to the committee can correct me, is just for the convenience of the Dáil that will, ultimately, decide this. Technically, the Dáil could have a debate on this matter but there would not be enough time. The Dáil refers these matters to a committee and I am happy to talk at any committee. Issues such as Singapore and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: There was a partnership and co-operation agreement with Brunei but that was suspended due to the imposition of Sharia law. I give that as one example of where we said "No". In addition, one could not discuss those issues and it was time to go. We hope to have agreements with Malaysia and Thailand as well. The agreement with the Philippines is a good example. The agreement was signed in...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputies for their engagement. As I understand it, there is no particular issue about member states ratifying it and this has not arisen as a huge political issue around European capitals. For example, CETA has arisen as a big political issue, I would say, in a minority of EU states and, although there were obviously strong voices in the European Parliament, it has not always been...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: We share many of the concerns raised today and they will continue to be raised by our diplomats and the European Union in the context of this agreement but more generally as well.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I said I am in the hands of the Dáil. The motion is passed in the Dáil and we just come to do whatever we are asked to do.

Seanad: Interim Report of the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Motion (30 Sep 2021)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as an bhfáilte a chur sé romham filleadh ar an seomra álainn seo, seomra inar shuigh mé ar feadh cúig bliana, idir 2011 agus 2016. Tá áthas orm a bheith ar ais leis an Seanadóir Daly agus é ina Chathaoirleach. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an roghchoiste maidir leis an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cross-Border Co-operation (5 Jul 2021)

Thomas Byrne: My best wishes to the Acting Chair, Senator Flynn, not just in the role this morning, which is significant, but I hope for her and her community that it will become routine and part of the normal fabric of our society. This is very important. I thank the Acting Chair for all the work she is doing. I thank Senator McGreehan for taking a patriotic approach to the island rather than an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cross-Border Co-operation (5 Jul 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I will bring the exact proposal to the attention of the Taoiseach and he will be watching this closely today. I will also bring it to the shared island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. Expanding the North-South school exchange programme is a crucial part of the programme for government commitments on a shared island. We need to bring young people together. The Senator mentioned...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Radon Gas Levels (5 Jul 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I must say that it is an issue about which I am most concerned. We often hear scaremongering when new technologies or particular products are developed that they may pose a health risk. While that always is debatable, in this case, it is not. Radon poses a clear risk to health, as the Senator has mentioned. It is something of which we all need...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Radon Gas Levels (5 Jul 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Senator for raising the matter. There is information available and there are things going on. I will bring the Senator's concerns to the attention of the Minister. Progress on the implementation of the radon strategy is reported to Government regularly. This discussion has been very useful and I have a strong interest in the issue as well. I will bring the Senator's concerns...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (30 Jun 2021)

Thomas Byrne: Sorry, I will happily answer the question on vaccine passports. I am not aware of any discussions in 2017 on this. I was not at the meeting of the General Affairs Council of the European Council but the passports were certainly discussed at the European Council last week. To be clear, the digital Covid certificate is an instrument for travel but if member states want to use it for domestic...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (30 Jun 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I want to be absolutely clear on the nonsense that is being peddled by Deputy Mattie McGrath that somehow we were late. Some member states have yet to submit their plans. The indicative timeline was the end of April and our application was submitted, with the agreement of the Commission, in May. There was some media speculation at the time about the discussions that were ongoing with the...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (30 Jun 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I will begin by making a brief comment on the announcement today by Vice-President Šefčovič extending the grace period for the importing of chilled and non-frozen meats to Northern Ireland from Britain. This follows a formal request by the UK Government to the EU. There were some other announcements today, one of which is on the very important issue of green insurance...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (30 Jun 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I am sorry, gabh mo leithscéal.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (30 Jun 2021)

Thomas Byrne: Regarding the vaccines, I already mentioned what the EU is doing with the WTO. More importantly, and Deputy Brady asked about this aspect, I refer to supporting manufacturing capacity in Africa and putting significant resources into that endeavour, apart from what our own manufacturing capacity is doing. Turning to the issue of Israel and Palestine, it is fair to say that the motion from...