Results 381-400 of 7,211 for speaker:Peter Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: Absolutely. As I said earlier, we are providing consular assistance to her family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time because it will be a very difficult time. As Senator Chambers rightly said, Ireland has been to the forefront in trying to build consensus, working with our European partners, and trying to be that voice of humanitarian assistance to ensure there are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: I assure Senator Martin that that will be the case. As I said before, we are leaders on this in the European Union as a country that first advocated the two-state solution that is now EU policy. We have shown our track record in bringing others together. That is what Ireland will focus on over the days and weeks ahead, trying to respect human life, trying to ensure that aid gets to those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: To provide a bit of context on the Franco-German group, it is, in theory, a group of independent experts. As very clearly stated on the front of its paper, it does not reflect the positions of the German or French Governments. In addition, on our General Affairs Council, we have a number of different-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: That is what I am coming to. There are a number of formulations from different groups of countries that bring proposals together about institutional reform and what the merit-based approach should look like, considering current geopolitical uncertainties, especially with Ukraine. The Lithuanian minister and a number of experts came to an informal meeting a number of months ago, sharing what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputy. I will try to go through those points. On qualified majority voting, and the MFF and the EU budget, we are firmly of the belief that Ukraine is a special case. We have to really work to ensure it gets access to the finance it needs and enhanced loans and grant support. If we look at the trajectory and the time it took to agree the current strand of the MFF to 2027, it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: My apologies. We are awaiting the environmental aspects. There is supposed to be an appendix to the agreement that has to be approved to give assurance to member states that we are not going to be compromised on environmental issues that could happen. These have been very well-flagged and we are gravely concerned about them. I have not seen the appendix yet. I am unsure if it has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: On the migration and asylum pact, the negotiations have not concluded and I do not expect any conclusions to be reached before the spring. There is still a journey to be undertaken on the detail of the instrument. The Department of Justice will have a look at the proposal at that juncture and then it will require a Government decision on whether Ireland will opt in. The Taoiseach was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: On the last question regarding languages, we have been very supportive. As I said, my Spanish colleague flagged it with me that he was going to bring it to the General Affairs Council and maybe a decade or so previously it was brought to the General Affairs Council. In the new government they are trying to form in Spain, it is something that has come to the forefront and they are trying to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: It is indeed. We have had one issue that was referenced-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: That is a significant challenge and we have to learn from that for how we progress them into the future. I absolutely hear the Deputy's point on that and on qualified majority voting and the different approaches to enlargement. The committee will hear a lot of ideas, I would imagine, over the coming months about institutional reform, what that would look like and what the shape of it is....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: It is horrific what has been imposed on the Armenian people and what they have gone through. We have expressed the need for de-escalation and the outrage towards Azerbaijan about what is happening there. It is very distressing to see so many people have moved and the humanitarian issues on the ground. We have been supportive financially, if I am not mistaken, and I can get the Deputy a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: The Senator captured it very well with regard to where Ireland has been through its history in terms of welcoming the discussion on enlargement. We had the Presidency back in 2004 when we had the day of welcomes and ten member states were brought into the European Union. We have a solid track record working with those countries that are aspiring to get into Europe. Some of them can have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: Starting the discussion is important but many think-tanks and papers-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: That is the key thing. They are all on the fringes of different groups presenting their views of what the country’s view is. As Senator Chambers said, it is good the table is constantly talking about enlargement now but none of these reflect the position of the European Union as a collective. We all have our own views. More importantly, the Cathaoirleach is right and I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: The committee could be vital in the debate. We will be vital in the enlargement debate. It is important.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: 101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review an application under the teacher refund scheme and advise why it was not paid in light of course conditions being met (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44277/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: 105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the status of school transport for school pupils (details supplied). [44350/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: 106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the status of school transport for school pupils (details supplied). [44352/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: 107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the status of school transport for school pupils (details supplied). [44355/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (11 Oct 2023)

Peter Burke: 108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the status of school transport for school pupils (details supplied). [44356/23]