Results 1,321-1,340 of 9,810 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputies for their statements and questions. I will address the issues the Taoiseach indicated I would address, namely, the economic issues and the Conference on the Future of Europe. As is usual at this time of year, the June European Council generally endorsed the country-specific recommendations for this year's semester process. We are broadly happy with the four...
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: The European Commission has clearly set out that this does not apply to the occupied territories, full stop.
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: With regard to the European political community, Ireland does not want a second-tier system so that will not be happening.
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: The details are scant as yet. It is an idea that President Macron put forward. It was up for discussion at the European Council and the conclusions are there from the Council as to what it would be. These are not quite as detailed as the French proposal that was put before the leaders, which I think was published. It is generally an idea to offer a platform for political co-ordination in...
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: It is very important. They have heard strong messages from Ireland and it is information that the House is receiving. I have told them that Ireland, the Irish language and Irish culture and identity have thrived in the EU, and that they will be able to do so as well. What the French have proposed is a difficult agreement for them to accept but it is necessary to reach unanimity which,...
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: Ireland has been to the fore in seeking justice and peace in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Palestine. We were the first country to put forward the two-state solution.
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I can give a direct answer, which was that it was not discussed at the European Council.
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I do not want to give him that answer because it would not be fair, but it was not discussed at the European Council. I am happy to refer to the Minister for Foreign Affairs because it comes up at the Foreign Affairs Council on a regular basis, where Ireland is extremely vocal on all of the issues the Deputy raises about Israel and Palestine, and, indeed, at the UN Security Council. As a...
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: We will work to have peace and reconciliation between Israel and Palestine. We have always been seen as an honest broker there and we will continue to do that work, but it is done by the Minister, generally speaking, at the UN Security Council and at the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU.
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: The Deputy has hit on an important point about corn. Russia is going around the world, blaming the EU for food prices, but there are no sanctions on food from Russia. There are no sanctions on corn and Russia is still free to export it because we do not want to interfere with the food supply. At the same time, Russia is trying to stop the food supply coming out of Ukraine, which is very...
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: That is easily answered. First, there are no sanctions as of yet generally on Russian gas and yet Deputy Brady seems to have called for them to be against Israel. For the EU, as the Deputy rightly said, to deal with this issue, to try and get gas into the European Union, and to try and get the prices down that his party complains about is a little more complex than shouting in the Dáil.
- Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: A deal has been done with Israel and Egypt on co-operation which may lead to more natural gas coming into the European Union. To be very clear, as the Deputy outlined, the practice has always been that these agreements do not apply to the occupied territories. The European Commission has included a unilateral statement in an annexe to this agreement that clearly and publicly underlines the...
- Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear. Their heads are down.
- Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.
- Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.
- Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: Stop objecting.
- Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.
- Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: Well said Deputy Foley.
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Religious Persecution (7 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I would like to thank Deputy McGrath for raising the issue. It is an issue that I would have raised myself as an opposition Deputy. I am grateful that he has raised it today. It gives us a chance to outline exactly what the Government is doing and where we are raising the issue at international forums. Religious persecution is on the rise in many different parts of the world. I welcome...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Religious Persecution (7 Jul 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy again for raising the issue. I previously outlined that we engage considerably on the issue at a multilateral level. I will refer to some of our most recent work in this area. At the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which concludes later this week in Geneva, Ireland took important steps to highlight our concerns around religious freedom. Along with 46 other...