Results 8,141-8,160 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears, Banking and the Economy: Statements, Questions and Answers (3 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He never said that. We welcome this Bill.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears, Banking and the Economy: Statements, Questions and Answers (3 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We never said that; it is a complete misrepresentation of what we said. We welcome the Bill.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears, Banking and the Economy: Statements, Questions and Answers (3 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I asked for the Bill to be passed as quickly as possible. That is hardly trying to tell people there is no hope.

Seanad: Battle of the Boyne Site (28 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence and allowing me to debate this motion. I failed to attend on Tuesday evening to discuss it because of a clash of diary commitments, for which I apologise. I also apologise to the Department and the officials involved. This is an issue I have raised on a number of occasions on the Adjournment. I also raised it in the Dáil under the previous...

Seanad: Battle of the Boyne Site (28 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Ministers of State for the reply with which, to a certain extent, I am satisfied in the sense that the commitment still stands. I understand the request of Meath County Council to provide funding was made some time ago, perhaps in the term of office of the previous Government. It is disappointing, therefore, to hear the Minister of State say the county council has not yet...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: With a number of provisos, I do not really share the concerns of Senator David Norris. Having immunity is commonplace in international organisations in foreign countries. If a terrorist is appointed as an ambassador or to the diplomatic staff of a particular country, in general, that person will have immunity from criminal prosecution. I presume the ESM will have its own disciplinary...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Article 37 concerns a dispute resolution process within the treaty. It is comforting that the European Court of Justice has jurisdiction in that area. It is not as if the ESM can operate on its own and do what it likes. Members of the Oireachtas have inviolability or potential inviolability with respect to their private papers according to the Constitution. We have immunity from suit in...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I gave examples of embassies. There have been problems with diplomatic immunity during the years when bad people, including drug traffickers and terrorists, claimed immunity. The system does not always work perfectly. Immunity in the context in question, however, is relatively common. The purpose is to allow people to get on with their jobs. The reality is that if an individual country...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: There was growth after budget 2010 which the Minister of State's party opposed. Fine Gael constantly makes claims on junior bondholders, but that measure was put in place by legislation which Fine Gael opposed just before the general election. On the bond markets, Sinn Féin should be careful what it wishes for. Senator David Norris was correct on that point. Much of the talk about Sinn...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am not sure if Sinn Féin fully understands the way in which the bond markets work but they have never done this country any favours.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Do not tell the Chair to relax.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Appropriation Bills pass through the Dáil - I presume they appear in the Seanad as well - whereby sums of money are appropriated every year for the provision of services and the payment of wages, yet we never debate them. This section enables us to have such a debate. Regardless of which side of the argument one is on, the sum of €11.1454 billion is staggering. The section authorises...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We support this Bill as it is necessary, although it is not perfect. My main concern is that I do not know whether our Government and other governments are doing enough to advance solutions to finally resolve this matter. There have been suggestions involving eurobonds, common banking regulation and a common fiscal set-up within the European Union, or at least the eurozone. These are not...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Norris can be entertaining at times but he is also boring on occasion.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am not sensitive.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: This is not perfect and much more needs to be done by the Government. Nevertheless, it is worthy of support. The last referendum result indicated that many people who oppose Europe are doing so for short-term political gain rather than the interests of the country. It seems this Bill deals with an insurance policy for the country, and although it is not perfect, no policy provides a...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Cullinane raised the issue of rent allowance and that was not ruled out of order.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Former Deputy Pádraig Flynn is back.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Unfortunately, for the Senator, it is approximately eight months too late.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State has opened up a range of issues to which I feel duty bound to respond and I will do so as quickly as possible. I say this with all due respect to the Minister of State who has made a persuasive case to the House and who will rebut points made by some of the Senators on this section, but there are a number of issues that I must address. What the Government gave through...