Thomas Byrne

Yeah.

Ireland is missing out on the economic benefits of Europe's massive increase in defence spending because it does not have a significant defence industry, Thomas Byrne has said.

Would I keep reading? I don't know.

I just thought that that really summed it up.

I mean, like they're just being that blatant about it.

Isn't like, you know, like, cause Thomas Byrne also appeared on the Virgin show and he was next to, um,

One more.

He said there are Irish companies operating in the sector and that the government is trying to increase their involvement so that there's an economic benefit back to Ireland.

Again, in Brussels, European Affairs ministers are meeting.

That meeting's been chaired by Thomas Byrne, the Minister for State for European Affairs.

And it's all about finessing a draft negotiating budget, which would then be put to EU leaders in a key European summit in the middle of October.

To what extent, Tony, has this become a debate about traditional policies like prioritising agriculture on the one hand, and then on the other hand, these new priorities like defence?

Extremely well-received on the European side.

Ireland's Minister of State, Thomas Byrne, says there's lots of enthusiasm amongst EU members for a closer relationship with Canada.

I would say eighty percent of the parliament was not just supportive, but really enthusiastic.

But back in Canada, the Conservative Party is concerned about the unknowns.

And actually, next up after Ursula von der Leyen was actually Simon Harris.

And sitting beside Mark Carney in the hemisphere was Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne.

Both of them welcomed this enthusiastically.

So, you know, an idea like this doesn't come out of the blue.

If you have an opinion on the National Anthem and whether it should be learnt properly in school as part of a compulsory educational programme, please do send us a message to 086 1800 658 or indeed you can send us a voice note.

Now, after the break, we will be talking to Minister Thomas Byrne in relation to the news today that Canada is to be invited to become an associate member of the European Union.

That after a weekend when Donald Trump won over Doonbeg and it would appear most of Ireland.

So we will be talking to Minister Thomas Byrne about that in the last hour of the show between 11 and 12.

But we're going to look now at a story in relation to roadside memorials to people who are killed in road crashes.

They are set to face tighter restrictions in parts of South Dublin.

Now, first off on the program, uh, this morning, I'm joined on the line by Meath East TD and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Defense, uh, Thomas Byrne, to talk about a, a number of, uh, different issues.

Minister, good morning and welcome to LMFM.

Good morning.

Meath East TD-

Who play GAA

... and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Defense, and former Minister for Sport, uh, Thomas Byrne.

Minister, thanks very much indeed for joining us here on LMFM.

But he also said he's optimistic.

Thomas Byrne, our European Affairs Minister, went further.

He said he was absolutely confident that a deal can be reached by the end of the year.

He has spent time this week doing bilateral meetings with a lot of the other member states trying to figure out red lines on the budget, trying to figure out space for compromise.