Results 7,601-7,620 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Business of Seanad (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Not agreed.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: That is a different question to that put by the Leader.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Okay, with no guillotine.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is not agreed. We are not agreeing to any guillotine of this legislation. I am not trying to delay this. It is a point of principle. We may not need the time, but there should be no guillotine.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: When the Minister speaks about the need for capital expenditure, it is worth reminding him that the Government’s capital programme is significantly less than the one the previous Government signed with the IMF. There was also a significant underspend on capital projects last year. When the Minister makes the point about needing this money from the lottery, he should look at the...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am going to respond to this, too.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Above and beyond what was included in the IMF agreement.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: This section is trying to draw back in ministerial responsibility for matters that should be within his or her remit. It has been promised in terms of reform and it is a pity to see matters relating to the national lottery moving away from the scope of parliamentary questions. I listened to what the Minister had to say about the regulator coming before committees. The tabling of a...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On how the regulator will deal with the company which will hold the lottery lease, it seems that, as well as the disclosure of interest, there is a needs for some provision on the interaction of the regulator with the lottery company and how it will deal with that issue. It is inevitable that there will be massive communication between both sides. While it may not be a direct interest of...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Does that mean the regulator and the staff will be allowed to hold shares in the gambling company, as long as they are declared on the register?

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We could discuss the matter on Report Stage, as it is important. The Minister could also include it as part of the terms and conditions of the regulator under section 7. If one has a financial interest in the matter one is regulating, one has a financial interest in the company that is operating. That should not be the case. It should not be a matter of declaring it.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: If I am entitled to, I may do so.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 8: In page 13, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: “26. The Minister shall, within one month of the licence being awarded, bring forward a report outlining how the proceeds from the sale of the National Lottery licence shall be ring fenced for the purposes of meeting the cost of constructing the National Children's Hospital.”.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I can see why someone would want a regulator but I believe it is time for new thinking in this whole area. Why can a Minister not do the job? At least if we are not happy with a Minister he can be kicked out. We can do that and there is public accountability. When a politician makes a decision the public can do something about it to effect change. We have had multiple instances of...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: No; I am suggesting something like the social welfare appeals office, which is independent of the Minister but is actually part of the Department of Social Protection administratively. As I understand it, staff are appointed by the Minister to be independent but the office is within the Department. The Minister could establish a smaller entity within a Department in an administrative sense....

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:“4.The Minister shall, within one month of the enactment of this Act, bring forward a report outlining how the proceeds from the sale of the National Lottery licence shall be ring fenced for the purposes of meeting the cost of constructing the National Children's Hospital.”.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 5: In page 7, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following:“(4) The Regulator will cease to exist at a date to be set by the Minister.”.We have a major difficulty with the issue of a regulator. It is probably unnecessary. I oppose all the sections dealing with the regulator, so I presume I should talk about the various issues section by section rather...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I know, but all the sections to section 20 are about the regulator.

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Okay, I will discuss them individually. The amendment is self-explanatory. We do not believe there is a need for ongoing regulation. The regulator should cease to exist, in the interests of costs and not increasing the bureaucracy at a time when this and previous Governments have been determined to cut bureaucracy as best they can. I have other issues with the regulator which I will...

Seanad: National Lottery Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Apr 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I will wait for the discussion on the section because I wish to speak further than what is contained in the amendment. I will withdraw the amendment so we can move to discuss the section.