Results 8,341-8,360 of 9,844 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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

Thomas Byrne: The Minister, Deputy Coveney, will undoubtedly be here next week to be accountable and to answer questions or reply to a Topical Issue debate on his visit. He will be more than happy to go through the issues in detail. While he is there, it would not be a good idea for me to answer questions on these issues any further than I already have. I suggest that the Minister do so next week. The...

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

Thomas Byrne: I will take the opportunity to answer on the issue of fisheries, which was raised by a number of Deputies here today. It is welcome that they did so. The European Commissioner who is responsible for fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, visited Ireland for two days in September. He went to Donegal with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and met the Taoiseach. He has been left in no...

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

Thomas Byrne: The reason I raised the Malmö declaration is that the Deputy asked why it was printed under three stars. The reason, of course, is the great seriousness of that issue, which occurs across the globe and is not related to any specific conflict. The matter of Israel's decision was not on the agenda for the European Council meeting but the Minister, Deputy Coveney, is in the region today....

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

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Paul Murphy raised an issue in respect of Sudan, which is very important. The Government shares the Deputy's concerns with regard to recent developments there. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, spoke about that. It is important that the United Nations and the African Union collaborate urgently to respond to developments including by strengthening peacekeeping measures. Ireland is, of...

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...

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...

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...

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

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an t-ábhar seo a ardú inniu. We believe the offices of the UN special rapporteurs receive adequate funding to allow them to implement their important mandates fully and in an independent manner. As the Senator will be well aware, respect for human rights and the promotion of human rights is, and will continue to be, a...

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.