Latest news with #ThomasByrne
RTÉ News
18-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Concern in Irish farming circles at EU's CAP plans
Thomas Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for European Affairs, discusses the concerns Ireland has around proposed changes to CAP.
CNA
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CNA
EU says action against Israel over Gaza still 'on the table'
BRUSSELS: The European Union is keeping the door open to possible measures against Israel if humanitarian conditions in Gaza fail to improve, foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday (Jul 15). Kallas presented 10 options for action after Israel was found to have breached a cooperation deal with the EU over human rights concerns. The measures include suspending the accord, restricting trade, sanctioning Israeli officials, imposing an arms embargo, and halting visa-free travel. Despite mounting criticism over the devastation in Gaza, EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels failed to rally sufficient support to implement any of the measures. "We will keep these options on the table and stand ready to act if Israel does not live up to its pledges," Kallas told reporters. "The aim is not to punish Israel. The aim is to really improve the situation in Gaza." TALKS WITH ISRAEL Kallas last week announced an agreement with Israel to open more border crossings and allow more food into Gaza. On Monday, she said there were "some positive signs" including restoration of electricity lines, provision of water, and increased humanitarian aid deliveries. "Of course, we need to see more in order to see real improvement for the people on the ground," she said. Gaza's roughly two million residents remain in dire need as aid restrictions persist amid Israel's military campaign against Hamas. 'USE OUR LEVERAGE' Irish Foreign Minister Thomas Byrne said Kallas had committed to updating EU member states every two weeks on progress with humanitarian access. "So far, we haven't really seen the implementation of it, maybe some very small actions, but there's still slaughter going on," Byrne said. "So we need to see action and we need to use our leverage." While no new steps were agreed, the EU's willingness to even consider punitive measures marks a shift. The bloc only agreed to review the cooperation deal after Israel resumed major military operations in March, following the collapse of a ceasefire.
Irish Post
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
Russia ‘not interested in peace' says Ireland's EU Affairs Minister ahead of Brussels meet
IRELAND will stand strong alongside Ukraine as its war with Russia continues, EU Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne said today. Mr Byrne is in Brussels for a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers where the ongoing conflict between the two nations will be among the topics up for discussion. 'EU support for Ukraine, in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression, must remain steadfast,' Mr Byrne said this morning. EU Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne pictured in Brussels for today's meeting (Pic: 'The escalation in Russia's brutal attacks on Kyiv, and cities across Ukraine, continue to demonstrate that Russia is not interested in peace.' The situation in the Middle East and the deepening political tensions in Georgia will also be on today's agenda. 'The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic,'Mr Byrne said. 'We urgently need to see humanitarian aid delivered at scale, into and throughout Gaza, and a ceasefire and hostage release deal reached. 'The situation in the West Bank continues to be deeply concerning,' he added. 'In Brussels today I will join fellow EU Ministers to discuss the need for action, to improve the situation on the ground, and I will raise follow-up to the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.' Regarding the situation in Georgia, where the Georgian government has jailed a number of politicians from the main opposition party in recent weeks, he added: 'We will also have an opportunity to discuss the situation in Georgia,' 'The EU must send a clear message to the Georgian government that it is heading in the wrong direction.' See More: Georgia, Ireland, Middle East, Russia, Ukraine
Irish Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland wants EU-US trade deal as soon as possible, Europe Minister insists
Ireland wants to see a trade deal between the European Union and the US agreed as soon as possible, Europe Minister Thomas Byrne has said. Mr Byrne is to take part in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade in Brussels on Monday. It comes after Donald Trump threatened that the EU and Mexico will face a 30 per cent tariff on imports to the US from August. The US president warned he would impose even higher import taxes if either of the US trading partners decided to retaliate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has responded by stating the EU prefers a negotiated solution on trade with the United States and that the bloc would extend its suspension of countermeasures to US tariffs until early August. Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic will update ministers in Brussels on the negotiations. Mr Byrne said: "We want to see a deal between the EU and the US agreed as soon as possible, including if possible, in advance of the 1 August deadline. "The Irish Government strongly supports the efforts of Trade Commissioner Sefcovic. "We remain cautiously optimistic about reaching agreement in principle on a framework agreement in the coming days." Other items on the agenda at the summit include a discussion on ongoing bilateral trade negotiations and EU-China trade relations. Mr Byrne said: "Now, more than ever, we need to expand our trade and diversify our markets. "An ambitious trade agenda, with new partners around the globe, is in our overall interests. "But in pursuing this agenda, we must maintain EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, as well as remain faithful to our European values of supporting better environmental and human rights standards around the world."
RTÉ News
25-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Govt lobbying for strong EU fisheries and CAP funding
The Government is lobbying for strong CAP and fisheries funding in the next seven-year EU budget as well as policies prioritising energy, connectivity and the digital sector, according to a Government policy paper issued to the European Commission which has been seen by RTÉ News. The submission comes amid expectations of a bruising battle over CAP funding, with the Commission warning that the repayment of hundreds of billions of euro in Covid recovery loans - which begin to fall due in 2028 - will mean member state contributions may have to increase. In the paper, the Government acknowledges that in 2028, when the next budget takes effect, Ireland will be the ninth largest net contributor out of 27 member states. The Government wants to ensure that the massive boost in EU defence spending takes account of Ireland's geographical location on the western seaboard of Europe, a possible reference to the need to protect undersea cables. The paper states that the EU budget should "[build] our security and defence capacity, recognising specificities of peripheral regions". The paper, which cabinet approved this week, was presented to the EU budget commissioner Piotr Serafin by the Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne this afternoon. The European Commission will unveil the first draft of the €1 trillion seven-year budget, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in July, with farming groups warning of massive protests if CAP funding is not protected. The current CAP fund stands at €387 billion and is short of one third of the entire EU budget. Commissioner Serafin has said that direct subsidies, currently worth €291 billion, should be untouched, but there was no similar promise for some €95.5 billion in rural development spending. Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath this afternoon said that there was strong support within the Commission for protected CAP funding, but that no decision had yet been made. He said the Commission had been in contact with farm organisations. "We understand what their perspective is. In broad terms, they want the structure as it currently is to be maintained. "But of course, they want a larger CAP and they want it to do more." Mr McGrath warned: "In this MFF, we do need to provide for the capital repayments of the [Covid recovery] loans to kick in in 2028. That's a very substantial amount of funding, perhaps €20 to €25 billion. That will have an impact. "Member states will also need to reflect on the level of contribution that they are willing to make." The Government appears to be frontloading farmers and fishing organisations in its lobbying effort. "For Ireland, the following areas are of central importance in setting the EU's future expenditure," the paper states. "A separate, strong and ring-fenced Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy." The Government is also pushing for an EU competitiveness fund that "prioritises energy, connectivity and digital as critical enablers for improving European competitiveness. Also highlighted are support for SMEs, public-private financing and a new seven-year Horizon R&D budget that "is stand-alone (and ring-fenced) and continues to support excellent research, transnational collaboration and innovation". The Government wants to ensure there is "sustained financial, political and military support for Ukraine, while also preparing to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction". It is understood that the Government has acknowledged that the security environment in Europe requires a major increase in defence spending. However, the Government's argument will be that security is "intertwined with our prosperity", according to a senior source. The Government wants to see the next MFF allow for "increased flexibility and adaptability to respond to emerging and evolving circumstances". The paper adds there should be the "maintenance of development and humanitarian assistance in a sustained, long-term manner [and] external engagement with global partners, and support for peace and building social cohesion". The government is also pressing for the simplification of EU regulations and "proportionality as indispensable elements to reduce administrative burdens". Ireland will hold the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2026, when the budget negotiations are expected to reach a crescendo. It is understood the Government has been keen to appraise the Commission at an early stage of the budget negotiations of its priorities, in order to "be seen as an honest broker…especially when we [hold] the [EU] Presidency [in 2026]", according to a senior source.
