Tag Archives: Thomas Byrne

Irish people will be able to travel abroad this summer if the EU’s digital green certificate initiative is established, says Thomas Byrne, Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs

This morning.

Via Irish Mirror:

Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne gave hope when he said that he is optimistic that Irish people will be able to travel abroad this summer if the EU’s digital green certificate initiative is established.

He told Ireland AM that he is very “optimistic”, but also added that he “wouldn’t be booking something yet that’s non-refundable”.

Meanwhile…

Primarily, Government advice remains in operation against all non-essential international travel

If your travel is essential, which holidays aren’t, you are advised to monitor the official advice provided by authorities at your destination, as well as restrictions upon arrival.

The Department of Foreign Affairs warn that any consular assistance requested in such circumstances will be limited…

The rules stopping Irish sunseekers from jetting off to Spain or Portugal today (irish Mirror)

RollingNews

From top: Thomas Byrne: left to right: Micheál Martin, Thomas Byrne and Ken McFadden in happier times

This morning.

The Michael Reade Show on LMFM.

Junior minister Thomas Byrne denied the claim by Meath Fianna Fáil activist Ken McFadden that he was the source of the leak of Barry Cowen’s drink-drive conviction.

Via Irish Examiner:

Mr Byrne said that he hadn’t spoken to Mr McFadden at 1.30am as suggested, adding that the conversation had taken place around 1am.

Mr Byrne said he had made phone calls to “many of his friends” on Saturday, June 27, when Mr Byrne was overlooked for a full cabinet position.

Mr Byrne said that he “absolutely” refutes Mr McFadden’s claims.

Mr Byrne said that he had taken legal advice on the claims, and had assessed his options, but suggested his role as a junior minister would preclude him from taking a case against Mr McFadden.

“‘As someone who has worked on defamation cases, these things take up all of your time.”

Seems legit.

FIGHT!

Listen back here

Thomas Byrne denies leaking Barry Cowen drink-driving ban to press (irish Examiner)

Meanwhile…

Yesterday: No Turning Back

Friday: Byrne After Reading

Rollingnews

Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State for European Affairs

This evening.

Amid public silence from his party, Ken McFadden, the Meath Fianna Fáil activist who named his friend Thomas Byrne as the source of the Barry Cowen drink drive leak, has tweeted his thoughts.

Mr McFadden writes:

‘I want to say a HUGE Thank You to all of the hundreds of people who have been in contact with support and to tell me they believe me 100%. I’m still getting through the messages, and they have come from every political party and none.

Today I did a number of media interviews and working on a few more over the weekend, the support has been overwhelming.

I also want to say it was not an easy decision to take to go public on the issue of the leak and who leaked it, I have had praise for being “brave” and others with abuse, I “betrayed” a “friend”.

I remain steadfast the information I put out on Wednesday night was the truth and I can live with the abuse from a certain few and even the two individuals (one from Slane and the one from Duleek ) who are being fed misinformation and worse by a person known to me but no longer a friend,

The more of this abuse I get the more interviews and tweets I will do, so let’s just see.

The allegations I am a man with a grudge who is angry I didn’t get a ministerial driver’s job are not true. I was unhappy I did not get the job having been asked by Thomas Byrne at least three times would I do it.

I was unhappy the way that information was given or in this case not given to me and when I eventually caught up with Thomas I felt the way it was handled by him was very grubby, so I was unhappy YES.

Does that mean I turned into a Looney Tune and decided to lie about a very serious matter like the Cowen leak? NO, it is a ridiculous allegation and it is something Trump would do with anyone telling a truth he didn’t want to hear,

I spent a decade or so trying to help/support and win elections for Thomas Byrne and I walked many a road with him and for him in all sorts of weather and conditions.

We had good elections, we were abused in some , we were welcomed in others, we met the best of people at the doors and out canvassing for with us, it was incredible.

I have made life long friendships out of Fianna Fáil and politics and  I wouldn’t give back a day, so please know I’ve been there through thick and thin.

To suggest I suddenly turned on someone over a job is just an excuse for someone who must look at their own behaviour in recent times and must be honest with themselves, I can’t do that for them.

They literally pulled the ladder up behind them as soon as they got news they were in as a minister and I to this day do not know why, I think a quick ring around the elected councillors in Meath will back up the picture I’m painting here.

I love politics and I love the Fianna Fáil party. I will always support FF and always vote FF no matter what.

Finally, I just want to say I’m sorry my actions on this issue have caused stress and hurt to the people around Thomas Byrne and especially his family who I know very well and who are people I have a huge regard for and are not part of this issue.

I say again the allegations I made on Wednesday are true and I will defend them anywhere.’

Ken McFadden

Mr Byrne has yet to respond.

Earlier: Slow Byrne

Previously: Well Now

Wednesday: Who Spilled?

Rollingnews

This morning.

Two days after a Meath Fianna Fáil activist accused his local TD Thomas Byrne (top) of disclosing fellow cabinet member Barry Cowen’s 2016 drink driving conviction to the press…

Alan R writes:

You have to hand it to Fianna Fáil. Thomas Byrne has been trending on Twitter for the past 36 hours and there is a complete mainstream lockdown on the story here. Quite an achievement in media control and bodes well for the party containing more serious cover ups to come….

FIGHT!

Yesterday: Well Now

Wednesday: Who Spilled?

Rollingnews

From top: Thomas Byrne on The Tonight Show; Tweet from Meath Fianna Fáil member Ken McFadden following the show

Last night.

On The Tonight Show on VMT.

Asked if there’s a witchunt in Fianna Fáil to find the person who revealed Barry Cowen’s drink driving conviction, Thomas Byrne told host Matt Cooper:

I doubt very much that anyone in Fianna Fáil had the information that is described in the newspapers in relation to that.”

Asked if it would have happened at a local level, he said:

“I’m not familiar with what’s going on in Offaly but certainly that is not a concern of mine.”

Watch back here.

Meanwhile…

Earlier:

Taoiseach Micheál Martin (right) with Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne in government buildings last week

This morning.

Last night: Who Spilled?

Meanwhile….

The Taoiseach’s office has been forced to apologise to Northern Ireland’s First Minister after just 10 days in office.

The apology came after a government source had “over zealously” briefed a media outlet that the first meeting between Micheál Martin as Taoiseach, First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill was to take place today, despite no meeting being organised

Micheál Martin’s office has to apologise to Arlene Foster for ‘cock-up’ (Irish Examiner)

Meanwhile…

All in all, a sure-footed start from Fianna Fáil.

FIGHT!