Results 7,681-7,700 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Thomas Byrne: That is the problem.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Senator O'Donnell asked Fianna Fáil to second the motion and I am delighted to do so. She will start a national debate on this which is very welcome because people are not fully up to speed with what is happening. Her motion is moderate and in tune with the public. Fianna Fáil has opposed the establishment of a regulator but this is neither here nor there with regard to the motion. We...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Blaming relatively young Fianna Fáil members for what happened in 1997 must stop. I was in college then. The Minister was a Minister back when I joined Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Thomas Byrne: That is how long ago this was. I am not answerable for it.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I can say I often raised the question as to why money was never ring-fenced. The money one pays for a national lottery ticket goes from the newsagent through An Post straight to the Exchequer. One then hopes a Minister will spend it on the good causes on which one expects it to be spent, but this is not the practical reality. I am very concerned about the lack of a legal commitment or a...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2013)

Thomas Byrne: They just do not understand the deal.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tax Code (31 Jan 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I have not argued that the site value tax would be fairer in the commuter belt. The Government suggested that households would be in a worse position under a site value tax, but that is not necessarily true. Sites in those areas are much smaller than sites in other areas. The Government's argument does not necessarily stand up, but I am not making the counterpoint. There is no link in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tax Code (31 Jan 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach as mo ábhar a roghnú ar an Athló sa Seanad. This matter is very important. There is huge unfairness with the property tax in general and this unfairness particularly manifests itself in the commuter belt in Dublin, particularly in areas of south County Meath. The property tax is based on a market value approach which does not take into...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Industrial Development (24 Jan 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I accept much of what the Minister says, but it is disappointing that there were no site visits. Site visits are, presumably, part of the way in which the IDA attracts companies to Ireland, in that it offers a menu of places. I ask the Minister to be conscious of the Drogheda Business and Technology Park which is, in fact, located in County Meath. It has an international financial services...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Industrial Development (24 Jan 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for yet again accepting my request for an Adjournment matter to be discussed. It is a useful opportunity for Senators to question Ministers on important matters relayed to us by people, as we do not have the rights evident in the Dáil. Today's issue arises from a parliamentary question in the Dáil which revealed to my colleague, Deputy Dara Calleary, that there...

Seanad: Community Development: Motion (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, when the Senator's party abolished water charges.

Seanad: Community Development: Motion (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Thomas Byrne: There seems to be uncertainty in this regard. One point that has not been raised concerns the number of houses that already have meters installed. I understand that in the case of any house built in County Meath in the past ten years provision has been made for the installation of a meter. I did not hear the Minister of State's speech, but is he making provision for those houses that...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I compliment Senator Barrett because the main talking point around the country on the property tax is how we will value our homes. There are so many developments in the property market, for example, banks are selling houses off very cheaply. Senator Barrett spoke more on the other side of the equation, referring to policy measures which, he states, distort the market the other way, but...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Fifth Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We cut for the wealthy by a great deal more.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Fifth Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I seek a formal ruling from the Chair on my verbal amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Fifth Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I would like the Chair's reasons. Standing Orders state specifically that they may be made on Fifth Stage without notice.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Fifth Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Where is the precedent for that? In Parliaments across the world short amendments may be made. My amendment relates to two letters of the alphabet.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to comment on Fifth Stage.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Are we still on Report Stage?

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Report Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Report Stage is not agreed.