Results 7,001-7,020 of 9,827 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Standing Orders: Motion (5 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: We are not allowed to subjugate ourselves to the Dáil. We are not allowed to subjugate ourselves to Government. We must carry out our functions in accordance with the Constitution and the powers therein and we must do so independently. That is even more necessary in light of the referendum because the people said they want to keep the Seanad as a check on the Government but the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I share the Chairman's concern that the issue of interest rates has not been dealt with. Personally speaking I have no problem with credit provided by catalogue firms or electrical or furniture companies, which are well known companies that are doing a good job. While people may pay a lot for what they purchase, they might not be able to get their products otherwise. While there may well...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Who is the prosecuting authority in that regard? Is it a criminal matter?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Another issue of concern for me is that of debt collectors calling to people's homes, which ties into the unlicensed moneylender issue. There is a great deal of secrecy in this area, including by licensed companies. Moneylenders generally do not display the name of the company over the door. In many cases, the names do not suggest that the business is that of moneylending. A couple come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Is Mr. Sheridan aware of any case ever being taken?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That means the provision concerned is a irrelevant. I advocated a couple of years ago that people avail of that provision in relation to interest rates on mortgages. However, it does not apply to mortgages. Is there any role for the Central Bank in terms of use of that provision for issues that arise outside of annual renewal time in respect of moneylending agreements or other credit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The fact that a moneylending firm can operate from a premises with no name over the door is an issue. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with any of the companies of which I am aware. As far as I am aware, they are licensed companies, some of which are operating from plush offices. The fact that no name is displayed over the door undergrounds the business, whether licensed or...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: There was a vote, "Yes" or "No", on this matter. The Labour Party voted "No".

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Fair play to Seán O'Rourke.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Water companies?

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: This is the correct decision but the Minister is, in some respects, coming in here with his tail between his legs. There was a Fianna Fáil amendment in the Dáil which sought to make Irish Water subject to the Freedom of Information Act, as amended, but the Government argued that it was not needed and that was not done. The establishment process was kept secret and that culture of...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I am laughing at the Labour Party which has been railroaded by Fine Gael into this policy.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: What has that got to do with Irish Water?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I support Senator MacSharry’s amendment to the Order of Business to allow for a debate on the pylons issue. What have the people of Meath done to this Government that means they are treated as second-class citizens? What is going on is outrageous. Deputies in Meath have shown themselves to be completely powerless and supine to whatever is going on. We now have these Deputies...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: This is a Cabinet decision. The buck stops with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte. We are not second-class citizens in Meath and will not be taken as such. There is uproar and consternation in County Meath about this. I am sure it is the same in County Cavan.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I have councillors from Cavan and Monaghan phoning me about this review. There is uproar there too. They feel they are second-class citizens. It is as if the Government is saying “We do not care. Push ahead”. The question is why. Is it to do with the wind farm projects going ahead in County Meath, which are also causing consternation? Is private business pushing this...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Free Education Scheme (28 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: It is clear from what the Minister of State said that there will not be any mandatory charges for day pupils. The Minister can take it from me that there is a real need for this school in that area. A crisis would have occurred this year were it not for the fact that Meath Vocational Education Committee was flexible about Laytown, but that situation was not going to continue. This is...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Free Education Scheme (28 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter regarding Gormanston College, which, according to media reports and public announcements last week, has decided to abandon the fee-paying model. I greatly welcome this decision, as Gormanston College has a marvellous history both in the community and nationally, as well as having a fabulous location. In general, the news has...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I would have called for another amendment if I had known Meath and Cavan were to be excluded from the ESB undergrounding review. I have only just found that out.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Yes.