Results 201-220 of 1,687 for speaker:Eric Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Developing Growth Markets: IDA Ireland (6 May 2015)

Eric Byrne: I have a supplementary question - the one I asked originally which I will ask again. Reading The Irish Timesthis morning, I saw that a former president in Brazil is before the courts for corruption. How does corruption feature in the IDA's efforts to attract business in these countries?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Developing Growth Markets: IDA Ireland (6 May 2015)

Eric Byrne: If this question is too political then please do not answer. What is the relevance of this committee to trade issues vis-à-vis the importance or relevance of other Dáil committees?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Developing Growth Markets: IDA Ireland (6 May 2015)

Eric Byrne: The committee members are very conscious that we do not travel. We travel to see aid projects in Sierra Leone but the multiplicity of trade delegations that go are never drawn from this committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: When we were debating the issue of genocide and Armenia last week, I said that I heard some speakers from Armenia speak very intelligently about the issue. I was surprised that the members of the Opposition were pushing so hard for a vote. I was disappointed that they pushed the matter to a vote, in so far as it deferred another vote on the issue for six months. The reason I raise the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: The Austrian ambassador was-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: The President would have been embarrassed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: The President would have been disgraced.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: If you want me to name you as the prime mover, I will.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: I join with the Chairman and Deputy Brendan Smith in extending our heartfelt sympathy to the people of Nepal. I hope the ten Irish people who have not been accounted for are not actually missing but are alive and well. I know this area attracts very experienced travellers from Ireland. They are well used to travelling to obscure and remote regions. Telecommunications are obviously down...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: Can the Chairman allow me to speak now because I must leave the meeting?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: The contributions and recommendations are excellent and one cannot disagree with any one of the bullet points. The former Minister for Education and Skills highlighted the issue of education. I am not familiar with the 25 students in UCC and the closing down of the course in its first year. I was involved in the twinning arrangements between Dublin and Beijing. In terms of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade between Ireland and ASEAN Countries: Irish Exporters Association (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: The ambassador is excellent. He has a lovely wife and children there. He does a phenomenal job in engaging and not just with the Irish diaspora. It is a great embassy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Ibrahim Halawa (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: I warmly welcome this diplomatic note. I want to put it on the record that I believe the Department, representing the Irish Government, has done a phenomenal job of work on behalf of an Irish citizen. Notwithstanding the negative positions that are being alleged - the situation has been inflamed by incorrect information about torture, etc. - it is clear when one reads the report that this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad: Ibrahim Halawa (29 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: We do not discriminate by having half Irish citizens, or full Irish citizens only. We do not treat this case as if it involved an Irish person of lesser standing than a white Roman Catholic who was born in Donegal. Citizenship in this country is full and equal citizenship. I think we should be careful with allegations that somehow or other, we as a country treat our citizens in an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Security Situation in Kenya: Ambassador of Federal Republic of Kenya (22 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: I welcome the new ambassador, His Excellency, Mr. Richard Opembe. Having read his contribution and listened to his presentation, I wish him every success in his new position. I wish his country every success in rolling back the horrors of what is happening to Kenya. I lived in Africa for four years and I am still trying to come to terms with the complexities of the Continent of Africa and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: I am no historian but I am very familiar with the arguments about the death of so many Armenians. I know it is a very emotive issue. There is a relatively small and compact Armenian community in Ireland. I have met members of it at celebrations. They have some religious leaders here in Ireland and they would argue very strongly that they do recognise it as a serious political issue. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: On a point of information on procedure, I was very familiar with Dublin City Council's approach to taking decisions on a motion, after which one could not debate it for a further six months. If we vote on the motion today, are there restrictions on when the matter might come up again for further debate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: It is the same system. In the light of that information, it is important for everyone to recognise that if a vote is taken and the motion is defeated, it cannot be debated for another six months.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: If Senator Daly is arguing so strongly in favour of the motion, surely he would like us to vote in favour of it? In that case, would he not defer the discussion for a week?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts: Motion (22 Apr 2015)

Eric Byrne: It is up to Senator Daly.