Results 981-1,000 of 1,687 for speaker:Eric Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Exchange of Views: Discussion with Turkish Parliamentary Delegation (25 Sep 2013)

Eric Byrne: The delegation is more than welcome. As has already been said a very tightly knit bond exists between Turkey and Ireland. On average 115,000 tourists go from Ireland to Turkey every year, which indicates a great bond and relationship, and fondness for Turkish people. Let us get down to the nitty gritty. Turkey is a huge country. As my colleague has said, we would be very keen to see...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (24 Sep 2013)

Eric Byrne: 317. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a community employment scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39428/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (24 Sep 2013)

Eric Byrne: 557. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding speech and language therapy in respect of a child (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39660/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Eric Byrne: Silver or gold.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Forthcoming General Affairs Council: Discussion (19 Sep 2013)

Eric Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State and will begin my contribution by reminding him that I think I am sitting in the same seat he used to occupy. When I was elected to the Dáil, I was allocated the office of Deputy Rabbitte who had to vacate it because he was promoted to Minister. With the reshuffle coming down the line, am I on a trajectory? I am a big admirer of the Minister of State...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Situation In Syria: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (18 Sep 2013)

Eric Byrne: The chemical weapons issue has taken the focus and the media attention away from conventional weapons. Perhaps that is the way it should be, but, as we discuss this conflict, up to 1,400 people are being killed every day with conventional weapons. Given the impotence of the European Union and the United Nations, does the Tánaiste agree that essentially the solution will come from the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Services (18 Sep 2013)

Eric Byrne: 1299. To ask the Minister for Health the appropriate legal minimum ratio of nursing staff to patients in nursing homes; the minimum standard of care as set by his Department in nursing homes; if any consideration is being given to a continuity of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36996/13]

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: That is some record.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency Objectives, Foreign Affairs Council and Membership of Human Rights Council: Discussion (17 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for his comprehensive report. I commend him and his officials, as well as the rest of the Government, on the work done during the EU Presidency. Yesterday, I heard the Romanian ambassador openly praise the work of the Irish EU Presidency. There were attempts several years ago by an Irish diplomat to open talks with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Recommendations from AWEPA Conference (17 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for doing a great job in presenting those recommendations to us. I would like to get a handle of the status of these recommendations. Do we transfer them over to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ask them to look at them? Or will it become policy of this committee? The 12th recommendation is a suggestion that we monitor the development programmes...

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Deputy Martin made a hames of his job when he was in government.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: The Deputy is misleading the House.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: The Deputy is still in denial.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with Foundation for European Progressive Studies (16 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: It is proportional representation. Does the list system have a role to play in that debate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with Foundation for European Progressive Studies (16 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: Is Senator David Norris not a member of this committee?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with Foundation for European Progressive Studies (16 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I would point out that one of the previous witnesses, a well-known Irish economist, suggested that proportional representation was the problem and that Irish politicians could never complete the project of studying the democratic legitimacy and accountability in the EU because our interests were always elsewhere.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with Foundation for European Progressive Studies (16 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I am merely quoting what one of our prominent-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with Foundation for European Progressive Studies (16 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: -----economists told us. I am not saying I support him but I am stating that there are two schools of thought.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with Foundation for European Progressive Studies (16 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: I thank Mr. Kitching for his presentation. We have had witnesses from think tanks previously. In so far as someone comes from a think tank, it does force us to think deeply. I am conscious that my colleague, Ms Emer Costello, MEP, is present. It should be obligatory on those of us who are members of the committee to understand the European Union structures. Perhaps those of us who have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with Foundation for European Progressive Studies (16 Jul 2013)

Eric Byrne: We are debating very serious issues about the role of Europe, national parliaments and us as constituents. I am the first to admit that, in our attempts to examine democratic legitimacy and accountability in the EU, as parliamentarians we must start to look at our own legitimacy and imagery in the eyes of the electorate right across Europe. It seems to me that we are trying to address the...