Results 661-680 of 1,687 for speaker:Eric Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: 114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify a situation regarding special needs assistants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32433/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I welcome Ms McManus. We shared the same side of the table for many years. We are on different sides this time - me as the parliamentarian and her as the former Minister of State - but life goes on. I downloaded the document. It is fascinating reading, but I did not complete it, as it was just too bulky. The two women who wrote the report did a spectacular job. Having said that, it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Bear with me. I want to tease out this important document.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: It has important aims. We are funding agencies in many programme countries, and not just in conflict areas where women are considered "comfort women", as the Japanese delegation outrageously called it when appearing before the committee a few weeks ago. The new nationalism of Japan seems to indicate that women should be used for the comfort of soldiers in war-like situations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: In the context of cultures and religion, how do our guests address women's issues?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Events in Egypt are a very interesting example. We speak of the Security Council resolution of the United Nations on the violations of women's human rights, but a Muslim man would like to know how the United Nations interprets the woman's human rights. I do not know to what extent this international United Nations policy document on the specific issue of violations of women's human rights...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: It would be hard not to applaud the Tánaiste and the Government from the Taoiseach down on the wonderful job they did in handling the Presidency. In that I include the officials. The COSAC meeting that we attended was mentioned. The praise we received would be embarrassing if it was not deserved. An astonishing number of international politicians and administrators praised this...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: In the past, the American military, Israeli assassins and possibly Russian assassins used Irish passports. Are the new biometric passports foolproof to the greatest possible extent? Is the Tánaiste satisfied that the biometric passports produced from these new machines will be practically impossible to forge? Has there been any incidence in the last few years of people managing to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Does the cost of the Irish Chief of Staff in Somalia come out of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade budget or that of the Department of Defence? Does funding for the OSCE and the Council of Europe, which have other bodies called the parliamentary assembly, come from a separate budget? Do they play a complementary or divisive role? For example, the OSCE has a parliamentary body...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (3 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I commend the Minister of State and his officials on the programme which is exciting, worthwhile and well considered. I suggest that the rapid response initiative and those who engage in rapid response work should be applauded as unofficial ambassadors and heroes who are seldom praised. In Africa, the gender issue and the development of women's status are significant issues. A former...

Business of Dáil (5 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Correct.

Business of Dáil (5 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: It was a point of disorder.

Business of Dáil (5 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Where are the other members of Fianna Fáil?

Business of Dáil (5 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Apologise.

Business of Dáil (5 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Deputy Dooley is digging a hole for himself and his party.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (9 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: 243. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 26 June 2013 if he will outline the number of State-owned sites and buildings in the Dublin City Council area; their area and size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33061/13]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (9 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: 244. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 26 June 2013 to set out the number of vacant State-owned sites and buildings in the Dublin City Council area, their area and size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33129/13]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (9 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: 251. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views regarding pay cuts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33064/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I thank the witnesses. I have been briefed by them on a previous occasion. Each time I hear statistics, I think that if even a fraction of them are correct it is a frightening scenario. That 65,000 people were murdered for their organs is mind-boggling, to say the least. The delegates are representing the Falun Gong. However, my human rights stance is that prisoners have rights, whether...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Unethical Organ Harvesting in China: Discussion (10 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I do not know if a formal seconder is required, but I second the motion. I thank Senator Norris for allowing the word "forced" to be added to the motion, because it is the practice in some places for governments to harvest organs for transplant for medical purposes. Therefore, it is important to say we are against forced harvesting. Now that we have lobbied so intensively and successfully...