Results 8,021-8,040 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I second the amendment proposed by my colleague, Senator White. I am glad that despite all the turmoil in government, which is a disgrace, she has kept the focus on jobs in this economy because that is the most important issue. It is most unfortunate that the Labour Party, in particular, has taken its eye off that ball. In opposition and in the programme for Government, it proposed a...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party has this consistent message, and the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, was at it today, of blaming Fianna Fáil. Does the Minister, Deputy Quinn, ever ask his Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, if he destroyed the economy when he was leader of the Progressive Democrats and in government with Fianna Fáil? It is about time that question was asked because it is constantly being asked...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I compliment Senator White on bringing up this issue. I wish the Labour Party well but it is finished.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I said last week that it had a choice about whether it backed the Minister, Deputy Reilly, or the ordinary people. The Labour Party has made its choice. It has backed the Minister and lost a bad fight. It is a disgrace in government and has failed to live up to its mandate. It is about time it called a halt to this and got real people into government who will do right by the people-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: -----not just for their ideology-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: There is a lecture in five minutes being run by the Labour Party about the Cuban health service. Senator Landy will probably be late for that if he does not leave. How ironic that is happening today.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I stood before the people on policies which were rejected by the electorate which the Government has now adopted.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am trying to get the focus on employment.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: If Deputy Shortall does not, how does the Senator expect us to?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That is wearing thin. The Government does not know how to run them either.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator's party backed the Minister, Deputy Reilly. It made its choice.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The person will need the full support of the Minister, Deputy Reilly.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: She is a lady.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is the only one giving answers; the Minister is not.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I support the Bill, although it is more a case of letting it pass. The Minister has promised something good will come from it and we must wait and see. The Minister has given himself two Dáil terms to implement his health policy, which is longer than he gave the HSE to sort itself out.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Many Members on the opposite side were members of defunct parties, including some in ministerial ranks. The Minister has argued that this is all the fault of the last Government; nevertheless, the people saying this and the staff representing the Minister are the same people who were in the last Government. It is a bit much to hear it repeatedly explained that it is the fault of the last...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The politicisation of the health service led to ruin.

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The director general of the HSE will be in the same position as the current chief executive in that he or she will be accountable to an Oireachtas committee. There is little change. This Bill is supposedly the first stage in the introduction of universal health insurance but we do not have much detail in that respect. The board of the HSE was abolished well over a year ago and nothing much...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I speak for myself on this issue. I absolutely and wholeheartedly supported the national cancer strategy because cancer experts and the professor from Canada recommended it to us. I know not everybody, including Senator Crown, may have agreed but it was seen as the way forward. Fine Gael were unbelievably cynical in sinfully opposing that strategy, as it literally dealt with the lives of...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: My party did not oppose it. I supported it.