Results 881-900 of 1,687 for speaker:Eric Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Experience of the Irish Delegation to the Committee of the Regions (13 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: I welcome the delegation. It is my pleasure to speak to the experts. Senator Catherine Noone and I have just returned from a familiarisation visit to the European Union, the Parliament and the Commission. It is rather complicated so the witnesses will excuse me if I get the dot on the wrong "i"; they are the experts, having been there for five years ploughing their furrow. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Experience of the Irish Delegation to the Committee of the Regions (13 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: -----the EPP? It is meeting in Dublin to nominate its candidate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Experience of the Irish Delegation to the Committee of the Regions (13 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: They are more than welcome. Do the witnesses have a vote with their MEPs and the Christian Democratic parliamentarians in choosing the candidate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Experience of the Irish Delegation to the Committee of the Regions (13 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: Mr. Derek Dignan is a very active man who operates out of Brussels. The witnesses mentioned the permanent representatives. We have a wonderful ambassador and deputy ambassador but do they interact with the Committee of the Regions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Experience of the Irish Delegation to the Committee of the Regions (13 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: It is still a mystery. During my 30 years in local government, local government and regional government, as stated in the presentation, have been highly centralised. I am thinking of a country, such as Belgium, which did not have a government for more than 12 months but its regions were strong. In Spain, the regions are also strong, and presumably their representatives are better resourced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (18 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: 286. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify a situation regarding schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8201/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Local Employment Service Issues (18 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: 367. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will be obliged to put the provision of Local Employment Services and Jobs Clubs, currently provided by a range of community and voluntary organisations, out to public tender from 2015 onwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7587/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (19 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: 15. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the Swiss referendum result on limiting the free movement of citizens from the EU; the position Ireland will adopt at European Council level and proposals at EU level in response to the Swiss decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7999/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: 32. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on developments on the Haas proposals; and if the Irish and British Governments are considering intervention to advance progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8000/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Housing in Developing Countries: Habitat for Humanity (19 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: I welcome our visitors. I am somewhat familiar with Habitat for Humanity and I thank the deputation for remembering the day the President came out to open what was a fine old building that had been allowed to go into disrepair. In fact, I am keen go back and visit it along with some of the residents to see how they are settling in. The building was almost palatial in many ways, given the...

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: Repeat the allegation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Review of Foreign Policy and External Relations: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: I thank the delegations for their presentations, as we need assistance in formulating our new foreign policy. If I interpreted them correctly, they are saying that while Ireland is a small nation that does a phenomenal job for its size, we will need to do much more to survive. Several years ago three embassies were closed on the grounds of economic necessity, but now we have reopened one of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Review of Foreign Policy and External Relations: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: I am fascinated by Ms Cross’s understanding that the new embassies, as proposed by the Department, will be self-funding. Could she elaborate on how an embassy becomes a self-funding entity? I criticised the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade because I could not understand the economics of closing three embassies on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Review of Foreign Policy and External Relations: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: If I get the answer to that question I will not ask any more but the question of resources for the embassy network, whether it is international or whether it is concentrated in Europe, is relevant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Review of Foreign Policy and External Relations: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: The electricity and the pylons.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: 300. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding student grants. [9463/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Liaison Service (25 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: 541. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will designate a liaison person from the prison service who will liaise with Dublin City Council and local residents on the derelict site owned by them at the corner of SCR and Kilmanham Road; the position regarding the site, detailing planning permission, works carried out on the site, future plans with timelines and design/tender...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (25 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: 629. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9611/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Consumer Protection (26 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: 52. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify a situation regarding Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and its loan book, customers of this bank have been informed that the Bank of Scotland (Ireland) have sold off a portion of its loan book to an American Company, Apollo, in view of this fact the protection that will be afforded to Bank of Scotland (Ireland) mortgage holders here from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (26 Feb 2014)

Eric Byrne: I have a point on that if the correspondence is relevant.