Results 7,561-7,580 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Today the country was greeted with the news of yet another broken promise by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. This was not just a pre-election promise but one that was made repeatedly in official statements from Ministers and the Government. That promise was on progressing the introduction of free GP care. The Government made a specific commitment to introduce free GP care for those on the...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I take the opportunity to put on the record that Fianna Fáil Senators, while broadly in favour of the principle of the Bill under discussion today, did not partake in the vote.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of information, there was nothing in the original troika agreement about the sale of assets. There was a reference to a review of what we might be able to sell but there was nothing forcing us to sell. Repetition of that point must be stopped.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It was not.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister for the debate. We, as a party, did not have fundamental differences about the issue. However, we did not agree that the regulator should be appointed and felt that it could be done quite adequately from within Government. We await the concrete implementation of the Minister's plan to put the money aside for the children's hospital, which must be central to the debate....

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We will not persuade the Minister so I am happy to withdraw the amendment noting the point has been made. There is no question that a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation is being created here today. The Government should redouble its efforts to close down unnecessary quangos, non-governmental bodies and regulators. I hope the person who will become the regulator reads this debate...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I accept what the Minister has said.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, to delete lines 12 to 19.If the Minister says he is changing his approach to the issue of the regulator, I will move the rest of the amendments, but, if not, I may withdraw them, even though they are being discussed together. I had suggested a slimmed down version of the regulator and that we proceed with the model that has applied heretofore. There is the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: In light of the Leader's reasonableness on the other matter and in light of the court proceedings that are under way, as pointed by Senator Hayden and myself, I withdraw the amendment. I thank the Leader for his reasonable approach to No. 2. The Seanad is not a rubber-stamp for these issues. I also thank my party's spokesperson on European affairs for indicating his immediate availability...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 1: "7. The employment rights of employees of the National Lottery and the contractual rights of agents of the National Lottery shall be protected by this Act.".It is crucial that we give clarity to the staff and agents of the national lottery that they will be protected under this arrangement. Former staff of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society were...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I stated that I would vote against No. 2 if we did not get a reasonable response from the Leader. No amendment to the Order of Business was proposed.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We do not debate any of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I refer to motion No. 2.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is not No. 1.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I shall not call a vote on the first issue that I wish to raise. I urge the Leader to arrange a debate on the motion set out in No. 2 on the Order Paper. Every day that one comes into the Seanad there are calls for us to deal with the scrutiny of European legislation. Today we have been asked to adopt, without debate, the EU scrutiny work programme 2013 of the Oireachtas joint committees'...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It seems that the Seanad seeks a role for itself but then votes measures down. Therefore, I shall call a vote on the motion if no debate is arranged because that is the proper thing to do. We can talk all we like about dealing with EU legislation, yet when a motion is tabled it is passed without debate. That is not a good way for the Seanad to operate or deal with business. The substantive...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad to see the National Lottery Bill will be debated today. We have had a week between Committee and Report Stages, which is a positive step for the Seanad. Will we debate No. 2?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: She is not here either. Will the Leader make that point when Members on his own side are not present?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2013)

Thomas Byrne: And not just in Fine Gael.