Results 9,941-9,952 of 9,952 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Strategies (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputy Currie for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Burke. As the Deputy is aware, there has been a significant long-term shift in attitudes to remote and flexible working among both employers and workers throughout the country since the pandemic in particular. Acceptance of remote and flexible working is high and the evidence suggests...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Strategies (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister has mentioned the upcoming Working in Ireland survey, which the Department has funded. About 5,000 people, north and south of the Border, have been surveyed. The Minister understands the survey has been completed and we can expect the research output in the coming months. We anticipate that there will be a lot of information on a range of labour market issues in this area, and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Air Services (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: The Government does support Waterford Airport. I assure the Deputies that the Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to see the Waterford Airport project to lengthen and widen the runway progress. In line with this commitment and the requirements under the Government’s infrastructure guidelines, Waterford Airport was invited earlier this summer to submit a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Air Services (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: If the Government broke the public spending code, or the infrastructure guidelines in this case, or decided to spend money without doing a proper analysis and proper business case, you guys would rightly be down at the public accounts committee castigating the Government. The Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to progress this project when the business case is received...

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: It has been almost two years since the heinous terror attacks carried out by Hamas and other terrorist groups against Israel and Israeli people on 7 October 2023. The horror of these attacks remains imprinted in our minds. Murder, rape and general savagery was video recorded. Ireland has consistently and unequivocally condemned these attacks. They were absolutely disgraceful. As we...

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: To clarify, do I also have a closing speaking slot?

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanad os rud é gur chur na Baill an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo ar an gclár ar maidin, the Global Sumud Flotilla, an Loingeas Domhanda Sumud. Is cabhlach de 50 long é an flotilla cúnamh daonnúil a thabhairt go Gaza. The global flotilla wants to deliver humanitarian aid - we all do - and establish an...

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I did not mention that.

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: We absolutely condemn this and we have called for the immediate release of everybody who has been taken by Israel. We have never said anything else. We could not be clearer about that, just like Minister Albares, who was quoted earlier. We have worked very closely with Spain and other countries for the past couple of years on these issues. I completely echo the sentiments of Senators...

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: We are keeping in contact with our Spanish colleagues. We have a very close connection with them but the idea that an Irish ship would go to the location is simply not tenable, neither practically nor under the law. It never was possible and would not happen. In fairness, our Spanish colleagues have been keeping in very close contact with us. For quite some time, Ireland has been...

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom mo thacaíocht a thabhairt don Tánaiste, don Aire gnóthaí eachtracha agus Aire Cosanta, an Teachta Simon Harris, inniu. Ba mhaith liom vótáil ar son agus tacú le rún an Rialtais. There is a bit of a misnomer going around that the Government has manufactured this debate today. In fact, this has been standard practice for quite some...

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: For any Government to continue in office, any motion of confidence must be dealt with very quickly. Ireland and Europe stand at a very critical juncture. War is taking place on our Continent. As Minister of State in the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade, I am proud to work with the Tánaiste in making Ireland more secure and in securing our European future in...