Gary Fallon

@MaMoMVPY What exactly is Ursula von der Leyen’s mandate with regard to European foreign policy ?

That post from Ursula von der Leyen is getting quite a bit of attention on social media. It's mostly people poking fun at Europeans for not wanting to work at weekends (often from self-loathing Europeans). But seriously – what are Europeans supposed to say? The US and Israel have launched an attack on Iran. An attack that in no way adheres to international rules. And the Europeans were not consulted in the slightest. In Europe, we have a war – Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine. That should be our focus. The US has demonstrated time and again that it has no respect for Europe. So why should we even have any opinion on this whatsoever? Europe's view of the Iranian regime is crystal clear and always has been. That hasn't changed – and everyone ought to know it. Foreign policy is not conducted on social media – and it is exceedingly rare that a decades-long problem can be fixed with missiles over a weekend. It has never happened. It is therefore completely irrelevant what the Europeans might have to say in the middle of an attack whose outcome nobody can predict. So yes, it is perfectly reasonable to announce that we in the EU will meet on Monday – and yes, there has undoubtedly been a great deal of inter-European communication in the run-up to this attack and over the weekend, but political decisions are simply best taken when proper procedures are followed and a strategy is put in place. Trump may well believe that problems are solved with bombs and idiotic pronouncements on social media, but day by day the long-term costs of this behaviour are mounting – geopolitically and economically. And yes, when the time comes to clean up after Trump's mess, I rather suspect the Americans will come expecting the Europeans to muck in with the clean-up. That'll be a no from us.

@JohnOBrennan2 I have lived in Saudi for years and can confirm this . Europe has lost all credibility in the region due to the perceived hypocrisy in soliciting support for the war in Ukraine whilst simultaneously supporting the Israeli genocide.

The sad reality: Europe is completely irrelevant in the Middle East.

@afneil @British_Airways Are you still banging on about British Airways ? It seems every time I open this app there’s another rant from you .. I don’t even follow you . Get over it .. fly another airline.. problem solved .. you’re welcome

I agree they made access far too easy. The lounges were too often packed. But the way they attempted to resolve it was to hit their most loyal customers hardest. @British_Airways

@djstevemcgrath For a country that promotes itself as a tech hub , Irish online banking apps are at least 10 years behind what other countries are currently deploying .

The year is 2026 & AIB still insist on using one of these to set up a simple standing order. 🤦🏻‍♂️ Only took an hour of searching the house to find it.

@LisaForteUK Frankfurt is even worse , a flight connection in this hell hole will shatter any illusions you may have about German efficiency ..

Amsterdam airport is hilarious to watch ppl with an imminent connection get off the plane, look at the transfer board, note the gate & then realise “to make your connecting flight it is a simple 8.5km walk” If you’re not savvy to the Schiphol ways you’ll do some epic running 😂

@KeithMillsD7 Love that DCC complained about the clutter .. they need to get out more

All of the problems with Dublin City Centre and THIS is what the council are worried about? 🤡🤡 As it happens I think the Mercantile has improved that corner significantly. Dublin’s Mercantile Hotel signage branded ‘totally inappropriate’ by council independent.ie/regionals/dubl…

@compliantvc Totally false , no such thing as VAT on apartments in France

My friend spent €400k on a new flat in the heart of Paris He also paid a €250k VAT (value-add tax) on the purchase "Whoa! That's a lot to spend on taxes!" Someone said. My friend paused. "I didn't SPEND that money. It's an INVESTEMENT. You see, the government will take that money and make our streets safer; our regulations better; and our government more efficient. I'll receive my money back tenfold by living in a better society thanks to my investment." Everyone in the pub stood up and applauded. My friend receives the Government Medal of Honor for his brave words (he just had to invest €4,500 into the government to receive his medal) I love living in Europe

@james_raftery @DaraghCassidy Other countries ( Netherlands , Norway , Spain) seem to manage blending creative new builds with the heritage of the area , in Dublin everything looks like it’s come from an ikea flat pack , even docklands where they had carte blanche to showcase modern design

@garyffallon @DaraghCassidy If we build flair it’s not in character with the Georgian character. If we build Georgian (to modern building standards) it looks kinda like that 🤷🏻‍♂️

This extension is certainly needed. But it’s also a fairly hideous design. Is it too much to ask that we put a bit of thought and effort into the design and aesthetics of our buildings? Hopefully the architects come back with a nicer design which will then be approved.

@_alperyildiz @CataPaul2 By this logic would be more accurate to rename the list European Airlines 2025 because many of them could not be described as good by any stretch of the imagination

@garyffallon @CataPaul2 Well, those are the major airlines in Europe. Sorry there is nothing better to choose from 😅

✈️ Best airlines in Europe in 2025 1.🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines 2.🇫🇷 Air France 3.🇨🇭 SWISS International Air Lines 4.🇬🇧 British Airways 5.🇩🇪 Lufthansa 6.🇬🇧 Virgin Atlantic 7.🇪🇸 Iberia 8.🇳🇱 KLM 9.🇦🇹 Austrian Airlines 10.🇫🇮 Finnair 🖇️ Source: SKYTRAX (voted by travellers worldwide), via Proprogress Philippines.

@EmmanuelMacron So why is Netanyahu allowed fly through French airspace when there is an arrest warrant out for him by the ICC of which France is apparently a member ?

We will not tolerate any violation. This morning, the French Navy boarded an oil tanker coming from Russia, subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag. The operation was conducted on the high seas in the Mediterranean, with the support of several of our allies. It was carried out in strict compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. A judicial investigation has been opened. The vessel has been diverted. We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions. The activities of the “shadow fleet” contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.

@jurgen_nauditt It doesn’t exactly show Macron in a positive light either , looks like a needy schoolboy desperately seeking approval , why the need to have this call on speakerphone in front of the media ? Embarrassing for France ..

“Oh, good! The Nobel Prize. You’re the best,” Trump said to Zelensky. Recently released footage from May 10, 2025, shows Trump’s reaction to Zelensky’s acceptance of his offer of a 30-day ceasefire. Political intrigues that aren’t being discussed. Above all, it shows that Trump is only interested in his reward, the Nobel Prize, and not in the fate of 40 million Ukrainians.

@ufcgym_ksa after 5 months complaining, UFC Century Corner in Riyadh is still unable to provide towels on a Friday despite charging for these in the membership , #PoorService #ufcgym

@KellieMeyerNews Looks like a league table in a bowling alley

The words "The Presidential Walk of Fame" have been added above the photos of the Presidents along the colonnade going from the residence to the west wing.  Also noticed new gold touches above the photos.

@Valen10Francois It did when I lived there …

Even China doesn't have an outright ban on VPNs...

@CharlieFlanagan @IrishTimes Question .. have you just become aware of this since you left your Ministerial position ?

Government leaders are to ‘reflect’ after Aras poll. They could start by enlisting the support of John Collison following his withering interview @IrishTimes. Fact is ministers no longer make decisions having ceded power & authority to unelected NGOs & unaccountable agencies.

@vonderleyen Clearly the first 18 didn’t have much of an impact , let’s have a 19th shot at this everyone …

EU Member States have approved our 19th package of sanctions against Russia. We’re keeping the pressure high on the aggressor. For the first time we are hitting Russia’s gas sector - the heart of its war economy. We will not relent until the people of Ukraine have a just and lasting peace.

@rtenews Why is this news ? It’s part of his job description and he’s no longer representing Ireland in this role , he is representing the EU .. do you also cover other commissioners travels ?

Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath is meeting senior ministers in the Canadian government this week as part of a three-day visit focusing on election integrity, the rule of law, safeguarding democracy and consumer protection rte.ie/news/politics/…

@MaryLouMcDonald Short on specifics .. what exactly would you do if you were in government ? I seem to have missed it in your tweet ..

💡The rip off worsens! Today more than 200,000 SSE Airtricity customers will be hit with a big hike in their electricity bills - the fourth company to increase their prices in the last few weeks! Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are sitting back allowing big energy companies to brazenly squeeze every euro out of working households. It's big profits for them and more pressure for ordinary people. How bad does it have to get for Micheál Martin & Simon Harris to act to protect households from this blatant, greedy profiteering?  Enough is enough. They need to do their jobs!