Results 1,041-1,060 of 1,687 for speaker:Eric Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions of Christian Aid Ireland (7 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: Were members to restrict this debate to the area around Maiduguri, I note that unfortunately, a vast remaining strip of Africa is experiencing similar difficulties. The French are annoyed that they have been obliged to move into Mali and into the Horn of Africa, as well as driving them back from the Central African Republic.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Role and Functions of Christian Aid Ireland (7 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: The joint committee must examine this region very carefully.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Voting Rights of EU Citizens: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: I thank both delegates. We must go back to the fundamentals and I am asking them for their opinions. What do we mean when we speak about the Irish diaspora? Does it amount to 30 million or 40 million people? Is it 3 million in England? I am looking for guidance on the foundations of this debate. Whom do the delegates believe should be allocated the right to vote and what criteria should...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Voting Rights of EU Citizens: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: We found it very strange that one can change one's vote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Voting Rights of EU Citizens: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: The amount of work involved for Irish centres or embassies in handling an election that way would be phenomenal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Voting Rights of EU Citizens: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: As the witness has raised the hare of Northern Ireland, I have a supplementary observation. Perhaps we need to bring in the Border poll to decide once and for all who would have the ultimate right to vote in the North.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (14 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: Did he get married or something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Work in North Africa and Middle East: Amnesty International Ireland (14 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: I thank Amnesty International for the presentation. I read the report, Torture in 2014: 30 years of Broken Promises. It makes sickening reading. I am always cautious of the focus of attention on individual named victims. As one goes through this document one may read of a peasant in Sudan who has had a hand amputated or look at the regional snapshots. Where does one start? There is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Work in North Africa and Middle East: Amnesty International Ireland (14 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: I presume the reference to August 2014 is a typographical error and that August 2013 is the intended reference.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Work in North Africa and Middle East: Amnesty International Ireland (14 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: We identify the horrors we have been reading about in many Arab countries, north African countries and sub-Saharan African countries with extreme terrorism and religious intolerance by Christians against Muslims and Muslims against Christians. We are speaking from the point of view of the West, including Ireland and our greatest neighbour in Europe and closest trading ally, Britain, as well...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Work in North Africa and Middle East: Amnesty International Ireland (14 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: I am sorry, the relevant countries have been mentioned. I saw a list that included nearly all of the countries in north Africa.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Issues (27 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: 399. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will arrange to have the issue of a community employment supervisor being recruited by an organisation (details supplied) resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22512/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: I thank the Minister for his attendance and I thank the Chairman for starting the debate. We have heard something about the TTIP, transatlantic trade and investment partnership and it helps to study the briefing documentation. I have done my best to analyse it. If I was naive I would wonder why this project is not being fast-tracked because I am reading that it will be of great benefit to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (27 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: May I ask a brief question in this regard? I cited the Irish Medicines Board but what is the point of having an Irish Medicines Board, for example, if the European Union norm of standards is the established norm?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation in Nigeria: Ambassador of Nigeria (28 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: I welcome the ambassador and extend my personal good wishes to his country in solving the problem of Boko Haram and, more particularly, securing the safe return to their mothers and families of the 200 children who were kidnapped. I understand 100 or more are still in captivity. I do not want to fight with the ambassador, but I fundamentally disagree with his statement that the insurgency...

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: The local property tax is coming in for them. What way does the Deputy want it?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Development Fund: Motion (29 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State and his team. This is a fantastic example of what countries coming together, working in a cohesive and organised fashion can deliver in effective development aid to these countries. I am delighted the European Union is generous enough to contribute €30.5 billion in development aid, predominantly to Africa. It is interesting that it is co-terminous...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Development Fund: Motion (29 May 2014)

Eric Byrne: Botswana is a stable, democratic and wonderful country. ESB International is a credit to Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Exchange of Views: Mozambique Ministerial Delegation (4 Jun 2014)

Eric Byrne: The delegation is most welcome. I will kick-start my contribution by noting that when we review the figures for Mozambique, the amount it receives in aid is phenomenal. It is also phenomenal that our little island of 4 million people will this year alone provide €36 million. We do not want to shout about this too loudly because we are supposed to be in the depths of recession, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Exchange of Views: Mozambique Ministerial Delegation (4 Jun 2014)

Eric Byrne: Subsidiarity.