Results 241-260 of 1,033,964 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Catherine Byrne OR speaker:Eamon Ryan OR speaker:Helen McEntee) in 'Committee meetings'

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Paul Murphy: It is utterly shameful that, after the rhetoric during the elections, after the raising of the Palestinian flag and after the criticism of Israel, the Government is supporting Ursula von der Leyen for President of the European Commission . It means that all of that was really for show for the Irish public. The Government was willing to criticise but then turned a blind eye to this woman who...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Mairead Farrell: Anybody who has been in this Chamber in recent years when we discussed pre or post European Council statements will remember that I have been continuously raising the plight of Julian Assange. I was going to raise Mr. Assange's imprisonment again here today but I am delighted to be able to say that he has now landed in Australia and is reunited with his wife and family. Julian Assange...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Martin Kenny: I too commend everyone involved in ensuring that Julian Assange, at long last, got his freedom and a way out of the entrapment that was put in place. As my colleague has said, he stood up for democracy, for freedom and for ordinary people having a voice when they saw tyranny going on around them. We do not have enough of that in the world anywhere. In regard to the situation in Europe,...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: There has been a very positive recent development in the fishing and seafood industry. The producer organisations, Killybegs Fishermens Organisation, Irish Fish Producers' Organisation, Irish South and West Fish Producer's Organisation and the Irish South and East Fish Producer's Organisation, have united with the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association. That is five major...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: Deputy Carthy has already spoken about accession. Whether we are talking about the western Balkans, Moldova, Ukraine or Georgia, the Copenhagen criteria need to be met. While countries must be engaged with and a route map must be provided for them to even meet them half way, the rule of law is absolutely necessary to maintain the sort of European Union we would like to see, which we...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome again the opportunity to address the House and especially the Government on the upcoming European Council meeting. The Minister of State set out a variety of issues that will be on the agenda but, as practising politicians, we all know the main agenda item will be the nailing down of the horse-trading deals on the main positions to be allocated for the next mandate. It seems that...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Seán Haughey: I have a recollection that pre and post European Council meeting statements were introduced in this House following the defeat of an EU referendum.

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Correct.

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Seán Haughey: It was done to bring about a greater awareness of European issues and to make the Taoiseach more accountable to the Dáil as regards his approach to European Council meetings. While they are helpful, the Dáil is a long way from mandating what the Taoiseach should do at European Council meetings, as is the case in some other EU member states. Be that as it may, I welcome the...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Minister of State for her opening statement. I do not know whether I have had an opportunity to wish her well since her new appointment but if not I do so now. I acknowledge that accession conferences have been held or are ongoing with Moldova, Ukraine and Montenegro. It is the right of states and the people of those states themselves to decide what the wherewithal of their...

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Pre-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2024)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: The Taoiseach will participate in the June meeting of the European Council taking place in Brussels tomorrow and Friday. The agenda will cover Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, and the next institutional cycle. The meeting is also expected to adopt the EU's next strategic agenda and agree a roadmap for future EU internal reforms. There will also be...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach very much for the opportunity to present the 2024 Further Revised Estimate for the connectivity and communications delivery programme of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This Further Revised Estimate was required due to the recent transfer of marine planning-related functions to my Department from the Department of...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I believe we have seen real success and progress in the area of communications. The investment by Eir and other operators like SIRO, Liberty Global and Virgin Media is very significant. That competition has delivered for the Irish people, particularly the universal aspect of that given that the national broadband plan is covering areas that would not otherwise be reached. The investment by...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: What the Deputy said is true. Some of the most significant connectivity issues are in cities. Many estates in south Dublin that might have been built in the 1980s do not have the ducting. It can be difficult to roll out high-speed gigabit broadband in these estates. The Department and ComReg are looking at working with local authorities to facilitate support for that specific problem and,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It will be a number of years but we do need to start now and we are starting to work with local authorities and the companies to see how we might make that possible.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The point the Deputy makes is a good one. It is not just in the National Cyber Security Centre. It also involves those bodies that will have the responsibility for overseeing the NIS directive. Many people will be looking in the same pool of talent. There is a very significant private sector in our country with an interest in cybersecurity so it is a competitive market for a relatively...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: That is already the case. Going back to the major attack on the HSE, there was very significant use of consultancy and international agencies to support us. You do not just rely on in-house resources. The skill involved in running the National Cyber Security Centre involves being able to have safe access to data and analysis from other agencies, so the answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes".

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Yes. It goes both ways. We also feed our data in and share information so we are not just relying on other agencies to provide expertise. We can also feed back. We have very explicitly scaled up that sharing of data and information as a security priority. The Commission on the Defence Forces report and others recognised cyber as one of our most important security issues. The Defence...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Further Revised Estimate) (26 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: There were, and I am trying to remember how even a few weeks ago, there was a significant attack on some of the Government networks - during the local and European elections, as I recall. It was mostly commercial, it would seem, and similar to what we saw in the attack on the HSE or the Munster Technological University about a year or two ago, if members recall. A lot of it is still ransom...