Results 1,461-1,480 of 9,810 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (8 Dec 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Senator for her comments. The Government is keen to address the concerns raised by the people who live the daily reality of disability and it will use the results of this research to inform measures to address the issue of cost. People with disabilities have widely differing needs and the extra costs of disability do not arise to the same extent in every case. Basic standard...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: The strong interest shown in this House at all times, including during these questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and me, will be of great encouragement to people in Belarus. We are deeply cognisant of the migrant crisis and are working on the humanitarian aspects of it, which are crucial. We have also shown complete solidarity with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia in terms of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I visited Lithuania on 27-28 October for a number of bilateral engagements. Ireland has a close relationship with Lithuania and I availed of the visit to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Lithuania. A number of issues were discussed during the visit, including the situation on the Lithuanian border with Belarus, the situation in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I have to be honest, my visit to the border was an unsettling experience. I could say the same for my Lithuanian colleagues as well. They are dealing with a new situation. They certainly are not used to this. I am very pleased that they are engaging with civil society, in particular the Red Cross. Ireland responded to the migrant crisis by providing €100,000 to the International...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I participated in the second Plenary of the Conference on the Future of Europe which was held on 23 October in Strasbourg as a hybrid event. My colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett, also participated as the second Government representative at the session. Also in attendance were the four Oireachtas representatives to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (18 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I attended the most recent meeting of the General Affairs Council which took place on 19 October 2021 in Luxembourg. The principal item for discussion at the Council was the preparation of the agenda for the European Council meeting, which took place on the 21stand 22ndof October. At that meeting, Leaders discussed energy prices and migration. There were also discussions on the Covid-19...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I have probably answered these questions insofar as I can. As Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, I do not deal with the Israel-Palestine situation on a daily basis. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is in that part of the world today doing great work on behalf of this country. He is following a long tradition among the governments of this country, going back to...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: We meet-----

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister, Deputy Coveney, will undoubtedly be here next week to be accountable and to answer questions or reply to a Topical Issue debate on his visit. He will be more than happy to go through the issues in detail. While he is there, it would not be a good idea for me to answer questions on these issues any further than I already have. I suggest that the Minister do so next week. The...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I will take the opportunity to answer on the issue of fisheries, which was raised by a number of Deputies here today. It is welcome that they did so. The European Commissioner who is responsible for fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, visited Ireland for two days in September. He went to Donegal with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and met the Taoiseach. He has been left in no...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: The reason I raised the Malmö declaration is that the Deputy asked why it was printed under three stars. The reason, of course, is the great seriousness of that issue, which occurs across the globe and is not related to any specific conflict. The matter of Israel's decision was not on the agenda for the European Council meeting but the Minister, Deputy Coveney, is in the region today....

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Paul Murphy raised an issue in respect of Sudan, which is very important. The Government shares the Deputy's concerns with regard to recent developments there. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, spoke about that. It is important that the United Nations and the African Union collaborate urgently to respond to developments including by strengthening peacekeeping measures. Ireland is, of...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: No, because I will not have finished answering my questions.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I am in the Chairman's hands.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I want to be clear: the purpose of this debate is to discuss what was on the European Council meeting agenda and its follow up. As it happens, this issue was not on the European Council agenda during this summit nor was the issue of fishing, as another example. The idea that Ireland is doing nothing about the Israel-Palestinian situation, as alleged in this Chamber, is completely belied by...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: It is happening in this country.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: It is very important.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: I have no problem with that whatever. However, many questions were raised by Members who had to go to other meetings. This slot might provide an opportune time to reply to those questions as well. That was certainly the practice when we sat in the convention centre, although there may have been only one Member left in the entire place. I am in the Acting Chairman's hands.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Reliefs (2 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: Táim buíoch as an deis an freagra seo a thabhairt don Seanadóir. As the Senator has said, there are currently no specific tax-based measures targeted at the owner-occupiers of apartments with defects. However, the programme for Government does commit to examining the issue of defective housing in general. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who generally...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Reliefs (2 Nov 2021)

Thomas Byrne: As I mentioned, this is possibly the first Government to have a comprehensive approach to the issue of defective housing. The working group is examining all options, including tax. Famously, with the issue of mica, it is direct expenditure which is being looked at and not tax relief because the latter would not be sufficient for the campaigners. The Minister for Housing, Local Government...