Results 1,261-1,280 of 9,810 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na comhaltaí as ucht cuireadh a thabhairt dom teacht os comhair an choiste ar maidin. Tá mé an-sásta teacht os a chomhair agus na hábhair is tábhachtaí atá os ár gcomhair go léir a phlé, go háirithe an Chomhdháil ar Thodhchaí na hEorpa agus an obair a dhéanaim ar...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I join Deputy Haughey in expressing my deepest sympathy to the parents and siblings of Rory Mason from Dunboyne. He was a constituent of mine. I read what his dad said - it was lovely. The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance. The family has asked for privacy, so I had better leave it at that. They are going through a difficult period and they have my deepest...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Regarding the conference, the Commission and the Council have published a list of conclusions and how they can be implemented. I assume that their documents are publicly available. They go issue by issue and set out how the recommendations can be implemented. For some people, it is always someone else's responsibility, but it is all of our responsibility to highlight the good things that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I have said a good deal on the Conference on the Future of Europe. People do talk about Hungary, but we have achieved a lot with which Hungary has agreed. It vetoed the taxation proposal that came up at OECD level, for example, but the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has said he is confident we will be able to resolve that issue. Even with unanimity being a requirement, we can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: On the question about something really desirable that was not achieved because of a veto, it does sometimes happen that at the Foreign Affairs Council, there might be a statement on human rights violations in particular countries that is vetoed by one country. What happens is that they do not hold a vote; they merely withdraw the proposal. It just does not happen because one country has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: On a European affairs officer, I believe it should be a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and individual local authorities. Some local authorities already have a European affairs officer and I think such a post would be very useful because there are funding opportunities available through various sources. One of the things we are very keen is that at every...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: On Russia, I will not give a running commentary on military matters; that is not within my expertise. On this so-called annexation of Ukrainian territory, we categorically condemn what Putin announced - that Russia could in any way annex part of the territory of Ukraine. This has no basis whatsoever in law and it does not actually even reflect what the people of those regions want for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: The electoral regulations are going through at present and are under discussion. This matter comes up at the General Affairs Council and is on the agenda this coming month. I will certainly raise that issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: From an Irish point of view, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage leads on this and feeds into the European discussion on the issue, but it comes up at the General Affairs Council.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Absolutely, but in terms of the Irish response-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: -----I then discuss it at the General Affairs Council. It was meant to be on the agenda last month but was taken off. As I understand it, it will be on our agenda in Luxembourg this month. I will certainly raise that issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Former.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Ms Collins is now the head of the EU-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: I will answer. I do not agree with what the Chair said. I will give some reasons.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: It has been said to the Chair but I think this is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: First, we went through Covid so there was definitely less engagement in terms of physically meeting people, but my Romanian counterpart has been in Dublin. We have had a good meeting with her here. We opened the embassy in Ukraine in August of last year before anyone was talking about the war. I met the Moldovan foreign minister in December last year and was very glad to do that. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on the Future of Europe and the General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Again, I will say exactly what we are doing because it is at all levels. The Minister was in Romania and Moldova and we have engaged very heavily with them. For example, my predecessor, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, did a tour of the western Balkans, as I did. Next week, I will sit down with the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama. We have different formats at European level. For...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (29 Sep 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Tá áthas agus bród orm labhairt sa Dáil inniu i bhfabhar agus ar son cháinaisnéis 2023. Tá sé cothrom agus cuireadh le chéile í ar son leasa an phobail. This budget enhances Ireland's reputation for looking after our most vulnerable, for promoting income equality and for encouraging enterprise and job creation. This is a budget that...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed) (29 Sep 2022)

Thomas Byrne: Táim ag labhairt ar mo shon féin agus ar son an Rialtais agus mo pháirtí féin.