Results 1,101-1,120 of 1,687 for speaker:Eric Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Irish Presidency of EU: Discussion with Amnesty International (16 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: I will start by asking for some information. We have two pink documents - one dealing with Ireland and the other with Romania. A set of figures is given, one of which is the Roma population. The estimate for the number of Roma in Ireland is 3,000. The Council of Europe estimate, however, refers to approximately 37,500. I cannot figure out these two charts, so could someone explain them later?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Irish Presidency of EU: Discussion with Amnesty International (16 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: Let us take it that there are 3,000 Roma in Ireland, according to one of those figures. It is a noble cause to integrate the Roma. I have had a lot of experience of the Roma in Budapest, Hungary. I am also familiar with some of them here in Ireland. It is right that they, no more than Travellers, should not be discriminated against. We have legislation to prevent discrimination against...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Councils: Discussion with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (9 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: The Chairman will be pleasantly surprised to learn I have only one question. The joint committee had a meeting at 11:15 this morning with the United Kingdom's Minister for Europe, David Lidington, MP. Members had a fairly detailed discussion with him and needless to say, I was not terribly happy with the Conservative Party's position on what will happen and where it will lead the British...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The United Kingdom and the European Union: Discussion (9 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: I warmly welcome the Minister, Mr. Lidington. We are delighted to extend the hand of friendship and a heartfelt céad míle fáilte. As politicians, regardless of whether we have differing views on the current course and future direction of the European Union, we know that our two nations are bound together almost in an umbilical way. Our fantastic trade relations are only one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: The United Kingdom and the European Union: Discussion (9 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: I will take the liberty of asking Mr. Lidington a very direct question. The decision to reduce rather than increase funding under the multi-annual financial framework has been hailed as something of a victory by the British Government. To what extent is the Conservative Party's position in this debate motivated by the perceived electoral threat presented by the United Kingdom Independence...

Leaders' Questions (9 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: Not if people are not living in a reality.

Leaders' Questions (9 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: It is Fianna Fáil that put the country into hock.

Leaders' Questions (9 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: They put the country into hock.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (9 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: 91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify a situation regarding a project (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21991/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Second Global Irish Economic Forum: Discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs (8 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: If an additional 320,000 people were to visit Ireland this year, it would be a phenomenal success for The Gathering. I am interested in the scheme involving 100 Irish graduates with experience in Asia. While we are deriving great benefits from our relationship with the United States in terms of foreign direct investment, there are clearly other markets in the world. Irish people are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Second Global Irish Economic Forum: Discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs (8 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: Sometimes we run away with ourselves and think that the undocumented Irish are the at the centre of the immigration debate. Where do Ireland's illegals rank in the debate on the upcoming legislation vis-à-vis Hispanic illegals, for example? I am trying to get a handle on this. From the American perspective, is it an Irish issue or is it a much wider international issue? The Chechens...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Second Global Irish Economic Forum: Discussion with Department of Foreign Affairs (8 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: That is called political survival.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement: Discussion with Minister of State (8 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: We are discussing a big world.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement: Discussion with Minister of State (8 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: I did not mention Armenia or anywhere else.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement: Discussion with Minister of State (8 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: I will not rehearse any of the issues I raised with the Minister of State yesterday. I congratulate her, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Taoiseach on the excellent way in which they have guided the European Union during Ireland's Presidency to date. There is no doubt that Ireland, a small nation with a population of 4.5 million, is doing an exquisite job...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Accountability in the EU: Discussion with Minister of State (7 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to this meeting. I understand that we are attempting to create a dialogue between parliamentarians and the EU and that there is a deficit in that regard. There is certainly a deficit in the sense that we have MEPs elected to represent Ireland who seem to be aloof from this engagement process. I am very worried about what seems to be happening in Europe....

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: Darby O'Gill economics.

Leaders' Questions (2 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: Did Deputy Clare Daly help with it?

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Issues (2 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: 161. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce legislation which would cap the fees charged by waste management companies to domestic users, which have increased repeatedly since privatisation by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20943/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: The Case of Mr. Sergei Magnitsky: Motion (Resumed) (1 May 2013)

Eric Byrne: I thank the committee members who did much work in finding an acceptable wording for the resolution. I am delighted that it has been agreed to unanimously. I hope we will not have a repeat of these motions that require such in-depth analysis and research.