Results 7,281-7,300 of 9,827 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge the presence of former Senator, Professor George Eogan, in the Gallery. Professor Eogan is one of our more distinguished predecessors, having led the excavations at Knowth. At the time, he was the first person in Knowth in millennia, and in Newgrange. His contribution to Irish society and this Seanad should be recognised. I thank Professor Eogan. He was in Nobber yesterday...
- Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: I suggest that the Oireachtas Library and Research Service set out a one-page document on the functions of the Seanad. We have all heard about the 90-day delaying power, which is one of the main functions and powers of the Seanad, but we have a whole range of other powers not just in the Constitution but also in statute. We have to approve much European legislation in the area of justice...
- Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: I was delighted earlier this year when the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announced the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and the pyrite remediation scheme. Only during the summer did I discover that this requires legislation to establish. I see no sign of the legislation and would like to know where it is. The Seanad would be willing to play its...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Yes, but it is on the technical issues relating to how it operates.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: We need a Government answer on this. It seems to me that the Civil Service cannot really tell us why we have not joined the legal challenge. It cannot say why and we cannot criticise the Civil Service for adopting a lackadaisical approach. Does the committee agree that there is such a lackadaisical approach? Perhaps it needs to be examined more carefully. Many jobs are at stake in...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: There have been developments since then.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Ms McVeigh said she has met representatives of the funds industry and the IFSC about this. Has she met organisations that are supporting the introduction of the FTT and listened to their views?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: The banks and the IFSC still have the back door of the bank guarantee. There is a debate on this and I am not saying I agree with them, but I wonder if the witnesses have listened to their views.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Was the meeting with Social Justice Ireland about this issue?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Was the meeting with the funds industry about this or about other things?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: I accept that, but this is very significant and there are arguments for and against it. On balance, I am against it, but if we are looking for openness and transparency, then the views of NGOs such as Social Justice Ireland should be taken into account. It is a bit disappointing if they had not been asked in, as the funds industry had been asked in.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: The British are taking a legal challenge to this for some of the reasons described by Ms McVeigh in respect to our position, such as jobs in the funds industry, the IFSC, problems with the issuance of government bonds generally, sovereign debt markets etc., reduced growth across the EU while we are in it or out of it. Is there any reason we have not considered taking a legal action ourselves?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Was there a decision taken at Government level not to-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Was there any independent consideration? The British can do what they like, but have we ever thought that this is so serious that we should sue to try to stop it? It seems that the arguments are set out cogently by Britain and by the Council legal services. Did we independently consider this as a risk to thousands of jobs and decide that we had better stop this in some way?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Do we have to stay neutral in the discussions when we were chairing the Council?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Was there not somebody else from the Government representing us at the meetings, such as Ministers of State?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Officials attend, but perhaps they put forward our point of view. We have a dual role chairing the meetings but we also put forward our own point of view.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Have we changed tack since then?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: Am I right in saying that we do not have a veto on enhanced co-operation?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)
Thomas Byrne: There are no votes on a Council wide basis, but it is simply the countries that are participating.