Results 1,301-1,320 of 1,687 for speaker:Eric Byrne

Leaders' Questions (11 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: The risen people of Sinn Féin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: To follow on, we in urban Ireland, particularly in Dublin, have an acute interest in agricultural issues, given the importance of the agricultural sector and the history of abuses within this sector. We would be extremely disturbed that yet again in the reports we see of, for example, farmers claiming ownership of more land than they possess.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: Let me continue. I read in the report that perhaps they are reporting scrubland as viable agricultural land, for example. The first question, which has been provoked by the previous speaker from me, as an urban representative, is whether Mr. Cardiff thinks there is a culture of defrauding the EU in the field of agriculture.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: For example, is it urban myth or actual fact-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: -----that there is a huge amount - there has been in the past, although hopefully it will not continue - of movement of cattle illegally across various landmasses, switching and cutting, or whatever they do, with the ear tags on sheep or cattle, for which Ireland must be infamous? To ask, therefore, have-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: I am quoting-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: I want to ask Deputy O'Reilly-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: -----my colleague on my left. This illegal activity created foot and mouth disease in this country-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: -----and shut this country down. The same degree of-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: I want to finish, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: Can Mr. Cardiff give us an idea of who might be the five worst offenders in fraudulent activity? Can he reassure me that any overpayments that are not properly obtained are recouped by the Commission? We have association agreements and regional partnerships with aspiring EU members like Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. We also have the Eastern Partnership. Does the court monitor the EU...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: I am sorry my two colleagues have left; they represent rural Ireland. I want to admire the farming community, the farmers who farm properly and in accordance with the directives, be it the Habitat Directive or whatever, because biodiversity is a hugely important thing. Deputy Durkan came across, sadly, with a eurosceptic position on biodiversity and habitat directives. He insulted----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Annual Report of the European Court of Auditors 2013 and Related Matters: Discussion (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: I am concluding now. He insulted the snails by calling them slugs, but both have a very important role to play in biodiversity. I praise the directives that have now managed to allow us to reintroduce species that had been eradicated in the past by incorrect application of agricultural methods. I praise the grant assistance to the farming community to reintroduce the corncrakes. I praise...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Year for Development: Dóchas (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: Very briefly. I thank the witnesses. Frankly, I did not know next year was the European Year for Development. Having heard the witnesses' contributions, I am still not quite sure what is the lead agency. I hear the witnesses presenting a number of jobs for this committee to do, so I hope the Chairman was listening, but I do not know that questions are being posed to the witnesses as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Year for Development: Dóchas (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: Ok.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Year for Development: Dóchas (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: I conclude on that and I look forward to the witnesses monitoring us in the course of the year on this vast range of topics.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Year for Development: Dóchas (16 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: Who tasked Dóchas with this?

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: I wish to speak on this particular section and the particular issue.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: I am talking about the amendment.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Eric Byrne: Amendment No. 37 is still on the table.