John Biggar

Retired from DFAT Ireland. Former Irish Ambassador to Bulgaria, Armenia and Georgia. Ex Director, Security Policy, Counter-terrorism, Disarmament, Human Rights

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

An important call for action by Dr Al-Qadri. We do need anti-hate-speech legislation.
https://t.co/pmcYiaicAK

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

Brenda Biggar all ready to sell at #GiftedFair2024. Come and see her upstairs at the RDS at stand B3.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

Hope to see many others supporting Irish crafters. Best of luck, Brenda!

[Brenda Biggar @bcbiggar]

DCCI have just bought a brooch from me to present to Minister Heather Humphreys, who opened #GiftedFair2024 this morning. Hope to see lots of you at this great Fair.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

I'm looking forward to working on Brenda's Stand B3 at Gifted Fair @giftedrds next week.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@bcbiggar @DCCIreland Looking forward to working with you on Stand B3. Best of luck!

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

https://t.co/oDsOGh8U1Y

Well worth listening to this. Very proud of my son!

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@_IDFOC Excellent result. Many congratulations to General Clancy.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@AnnwieAnna @NATOBrazeB Fully agreed. Anyone who believes in the primacy of international law MUST support Ukraine as do I. But it is also worrying that this international consensus doesn't seem to exist when it comes to support for a Palestinian state, alongside Israel.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@faniaoz Of course, neither is true. But the same goes for UNRWA- unproven accusations against a tiny proportion of its staff do not justify the decision by some major donors to cancel their contributions. Ireland is right to increase its funding to the Agency.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@MichealMartinTD @HylandSonja @MunSecConf Despite the ignorant comments posted by some here, I’m glad to see that Ireland continues our efforts with other like minded countries to bring about an end to the carnage in Gaza, while promoting a future where both Israel and Palestine can exist together.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@danobrien20 @Edward__Burke 2/2 This is definitely an area for international cooperation. I see that are latest partnership programme with NATO is addressing the issue.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@danobrien20 @Edward__Burke Dan, this is a bit more complex than your comment suggests. Under UNCLOS, every state has the right to lay submarine cables in our EEZ. That does not impose a duty on us to defend them; nor us there a legal impediment on other states patrolling outside our territorial waters. 1/2

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

Well done, @irishmissionun , @dfatirl. Good to see we're keeping up the tradition!

[Ireland at UN @IrishMissionUN]

“Go raibh míle maith agaibh.”

At a recent press briefing, @UN_Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric thanked Ireland 🇮🇪 ‘as Gaeilge’—or in Irish—for paying our contribution to the 🇺🇳 Regular Budget in full and on time.

Tá fáilte romhat @UN!

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@ianjamesparsley Yes, I'm afraid I overlooked Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill. But that reinforces my view that sometimes Northern Ireland - for all it's problems - can lead the way.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

First time on this island that we have two women as Head of Government. Truly historic.

[Ian James Parsley @ianjamesparsley]

Whatever you think of their politics, or of the system we have here, if you remember the dark days this is a remarkable image.

What we have is imperfect, but it’s a million times better than what we had.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@ianjamesparsley

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

First time on this island that we have two women as Head of Government. Truly historic.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@faniaoz Thank you for an enlightened article. It's tragic that this vision of Zionism has been left behind by the current government in Israel and, I infer, also by much of the electorate. Also tragic that even this moderate version is rejected by so many in the Palestinian camp.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

Dun Laoghaire Living Streets - Can we hear YOUR voice? - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/XC9rZ0a4kY via @Change

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@Bentonra @JohnOBrennan2 Not the first time, unfortunately, and unlikely to be the last that someone holds up a major decision until they get what they want. But Orban's subsequent comments make it obvious that Ukraine's accession process unlikely to go smoothly.

[John Biggar @biggar_john]

@DanMulhall Fully agree, @DanMulhall and @alexhallhall. For many years, I worked closely with UK colleagues at UN and elsewhere in support of international law and human rights. In past, current UK approach would have been unthinkable, and is indeed shocking.