Results 9,901-9,920 of 9,933 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Primary Care Services (8 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: We fully recognise the frustration of people in the Deputy's constituency with long waiting times for certain services. Much more needs to be done, particularly to fill vacancies, as he has said, to address waiting lists and to ensure consistent, equitable and timely access. As I said, we have a child psychology waiting list initiative alongside a joint Department and HSE programmatic...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil thar ceann an Aire leanaí, an Teachta Norma Foley, leis an Teachta McGuinness as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú ar maidin inniu. Is sprioc tábhachtach don Rialtas é rochtain a chur ar fáil do luathoideachas agus cúram leanaí. Tá maoiniú caipitil curtha ar fáil ag an Roinn faoin...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Early Childhood Care and Education (8 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: I dtosach báire, aontaím leis an Teachta go bhfuil tábhacht faoi leith ag baint leis an nGaeilge agus leis na naíonraí trí mheán na Gaeilge. D’fhreastail mé ar naíonra in 1980 agus tá mé fós anseo ag labhairt Gaeilge. Tá suirbhé foilsithe ag an Roinn, the annual early years sector profile. I gcomhthéacs...
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: This is just terrible stuff.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: This is terrible stuff. This is shocking.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: From this side.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: On vaccines.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: On vaccines.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: He did not say that. He never said that.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: There is always a bit of confusion about this slot. A range of questions have already been asked and I am more than happy to answer them now. However, the ruling from the Chair is that the questions should be fresh in coming forward. I am in the Chair's hands on this.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: It is always the way.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: The Deputy can ask me anything.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: It might be easier if I just quickly answer Deputy Ó Laoghaire's question because it is likely there will be several questions. On tariffs, there were discussions about tariffs and this particular debate on the margins of the European Council meeting. Discussions between the EU and the US are ongoing. As the Taoiseach already said, President von der Leyen spoke to him on Monday....
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: I will get the Deputy an exact answer on that. As I understand it, we are not part of that. The decision was taken by the Council, of which we are part, and our position is generally to facilitate what other member states want to do. As the Taoiseach has said, we are very clear that defence is a national competency. There is no EU army. If Deputy McDonald said what she said today in a...
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: We are working very closely with the Commission. The Council has taken its own decision and that is the position we have taken on the matter. I do not accept what the Deputy has said, which is that we are funding arms manufacturers and research on how best to kill people. That is not happening. There is a country called Russia. Deputy Seán Crowe criticised us and told us not to use...
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: I am raising the issues the Deputy raised when she spoke.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: I will come back in.
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: I will be clear. We have called for follow-up action on the association agreement report. I will attend the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on the issue next week and I will be taking a very strong position that is consistent with what we have done before. The report is brief but it tells you enough about what Israel has done, which is exactly what the Deputy has said. The Government has...
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: Ukraine is a top priority. I told ambassador Gerasko that was the case. I had an article published in the Irish Examiner this week reflecting on my visit there. I certainly encourage Members of the Oireachtas to visit Ukraine if it is safe to do so. It is never 100% safe, but it should be organised at an Oireachtas level. On my impression of the situation in Ukraine, what really struck...
- Post-European Council: Statements (9 Jul 2025)
Thomas Byrne: It is relevant because we are talking about a meeting of the European Council and there will be an informal meeting of the European Council in Ireland during our Presidency.