Results 1,621-1,640 of 9,820 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht seo inniu. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go bhfuilimid go léir aontaithe maidir leis an mBreatimeacht agus gabhaimid buíochas leis an bhFreasúra as an gcomhoibriú atá déanta acu anseo. I would like to express my thanks to all parties, including the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach, na Teachtaí agus na Seanadóirí as an bhfáilte agus as an gcuireadh teacht anseo ar maidin. Táim an-sásta teacht os comhair an choiste ar maidin agus an chomhdháil ar thodhchaí na hEorpa atá molta a phlé leis. Cuirim fáilte roimh shuim an choiste san ábhar seo agus roimh na seisiúin...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge the first point Deputy Howlin made. The visit was organised at the last minute. In future, I will make sure everyone is invited. On that note, the French Minister, Cleménte Beaune, is coming to the country on Monday week, I understand. It is planned to have a visit to the Border. With Covid-19 restrictions, we will make sure that every party is represented from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Richmond asked when a conference chair will be appointed. There are two different positions. Both the Parliament and Council have published positions so it is not just a question of a chair being appointed; it is a question of reconciling the two positions. I am sure that can be done. An agreement document will have to be produced. I have not seen considerable work being done on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: Undoubtedly, we want to be at the heart of Europe and do not want a federal Europe. That gives us power and business strength.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: I take on board what was said about traffic in Dublin. That is why I visited the ports of Rosslare and Dublin. For Dublin Port, substantial planning has been done and co-ordinated by Dublin City Council. I have checked this matter on a regular basis. One can have all the arguments about rules of origin but the face of Brexit will be a lorry driver stuck in traffic or a fisherman stuck on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: Ultimately, we will have to wait for the format of the conference to be agreed. The European Council and European Parliament would have to agree on how this will work. Our view is very strongly that it would involve citizens from the ground up. That would be decided on a European level, but I imagine it would be up to us, particularly the Oireachtas and this committee, to put that in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: I join Senator Keogan in wishing the new MEP, Colm Markey, the very best in the European Parliament. I am sure he will do a fantastic job. It is a wonderful opportunity as well as a huge honour for him. In terms of citizen engagement, we would much prefer to have public meetings. If the vaccine is rolled out, then we will have public meetings. As a young political nerd, I attended...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: We will be up in that area in a few weeks. We will not be able to invite much of the public there. I will meet the political representatives there. It has to happen on the ground. The Department of Foreign Affairs has recently given a contract to The Wheel, the national representative body of voluntary groups, to encourage engagement with the civic society and community sector and help...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: No, it is not on at 10.30 a.m. Members can log on to see the launch. They can also encourage their community groups which would be in a position to look for European funding to log on to this. They have a big job to do and we want them to do it well. We want to ensure that European Union funding reaches communities. That is another example of European engagement. We will have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: This is still under discussion. Agreement was reached at the European Council in July which took five long days and nights. The Taoiseach told me he had two hours' sleep and was back up to have bilateral meetings with colleagues while the negotiations went on. There are procedures that have to be followed. They are being worked on at the moment, particularly by the Department of Public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: I do not know is the honest answer, but there will be similar structures in place. At the end of the day, it is an EU fund that is being co-funded by Ireland separately and by the British Government as well. This type of EU fund-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: I refer the Deputy to the first principles. This was agreed in the multiannual financial framework, MFF, discussions and it formed part of the European Council conclusions from July. It is €120 million fund.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: That is what I am saying. It is an EU programme. That is the bottom line. I will ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to communicate with the Deputy on the matter. On the first principles, this is a decision taken by the 27 member states of the European Union, not by the United Kingdom. There are likely to be provisions in the withdrawal agreement as well as to how that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: There is a phrase "How long is a piece of string?", but, unfortunately, that cannot apply in this case because there is a deadline. The deadline is 31 December 2020, but that is not a true deadline because as the Deputy says, the agreement has to be translated. I understand that a large part of the agreement, 95%, is drafted and that there are place holders in terms of the outstanding...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: I will come back to the Chairman on the matter of professional qualifications. Certain professional qualifications are subject to the negotiations as we speak. I will have to come back to the Chairman on that one. As I understand it, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform made an announcement within the past week or so on our drawdown from the SURE fund. Of course that is a loan...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: I would not be accused of looking at my phone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: There are Dáil votes as well. There are no pairs now. We have be over in the convention centre. That complicates what we do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: I will take that on board.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Conference on Future of Europe and Related Matters: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (25 Nov 2020)

Thomas Byrne: One thing I have noticed is the work that is done by officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs in terms of making the links with other countries and setting forth our views and making the path smooth for us. I want to thank all the officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs.