Results 7,381-7,400 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I want to give an unqualified welcome to Senator Naughton today. It must be a happy day for her. I remember my first day in the Oireachtas, some six years ago, and it was a lovely sunny day like today. It is an addition to the House to have the former mayor of a major city as a Member, like Senator Cummins and others. I hope she will put her experience to good use in the House. Go...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I second the amendment tabled by Deputy Darragh O'Brien and I take this opportunity to endorse the comments he made yesterday. I am seeking a debate on the subject matter of an article in this morning's edition of the Irish Examiner, which appears under the headline "Debtors protect assets in private trust". The article in question refers to a scheme being operated out of County Kilkenny...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Government's own Fiscal Advisory Council has advised the same.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is often claimed that no Government has done anything on this issue for 21 years. In fact, the Minister did not have to look very far when he was drawing up the text of this section. Much of the same language was used in the legislation drawn up by Fianna Fáil in advance of the 2002 referendum. The same language was used in respect of saving the woman's life, for example. The...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It may be, but we are talking about section 7 at the moment, which relates to the risk-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We are talking about amendments to section 7. I am pointing out that I feel-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Yes.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am talking about section 7.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: There are amendments to section 7 before us. I am making the point that the amendments to sections 7 and 8, at least, are unnecessary. The provisions of those sections were considered okay when they were included in the 2002 legislation. I do not think the debate has moved on to the extent that those sections need to be amended to provide for even stricter laws, as people are suggesting....

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Section 1 states “the Government have made a decision”. I am not an expert on English grammar, but I would have thought it should read “the Government has made a decision”. I know not much turns on it, but there is standard language for Bills and the drafters do not get these matters wrong.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Will the Minister set out the reasons for this section?

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Does the language used require the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council to endorse the forecast prepared by the Department?

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am satisfied with that explanation. Any doubt has been removed by the Minister as will be shown when one looks back at the parliamentary debates to interpret the Bill.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: While it is a short Bill, it relates to important aspects of how the Government will plan public expenditure in the next few years and to the role of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. These will play a major part in keeping us on track to leave the EU-IMF programme later this year. We will support any legislation that will help us to reach that target.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Insolvency Service of Ireland: Discussion (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Mr. O'Connor touched on the IT system but seemed to hedge his bets. Does he expect the Department to fulfil its assurances?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Insolvency Service of Ireland: Discussion (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Has IT delays on the part of the Department of Justice and Equality been a feature of the ISI's reign so far?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Insolvency Service of Ireland: Discussion (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The threat of bankruptcy is often quoted as the last line of defence for a heavily indebted person vis-à-vis the banks and the bank veto debate. Is it a realistic threat for an indebted person?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Insolvency Service of Ireland: Discussion (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Will bankruptcy applications still be dealt with by the courts system?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Insolvency Service of Ireland: Discussion (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Let us say I am a person in debt who is in severe straits and has dealt with the Personal Insolvency Act and its procedures. What if the bank exercises its veto? Many of us have predicted that will happen. What are the prospects of my approaching a solicitor, hiring a barrister and drafting pleadings? Will help be provided to people to whom bankruptcy has been touted as an attractive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Insolvency Service of Ireland: Discussion (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Can someone who wants to declare him- or herself bankrupt walk into the central office in the High Court to fill out the form?