Results 8,201-8,220 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Taoiseach come to the Seanad to explain the circumstances behind the allegation regarding the shredding of files in the Department of the Taoiseach and the leaking of a letter to The Irish Times and the failure to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The matter dealt with by him in the Dáil yesterday is of the most serious...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Usually the Minister's colleagues.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I would be interested to hear the Minister's views as he took part in a discussion of this matter at some length at an Oireachtas joint committee in the previous Dáil. While Senator van Turnhout's amendment raises issues of profound import for society, I do not believe I would be carving out exceptions to this legislation unless we are making the policy choice in the general law. That is...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They have no councillors.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: His own advisers spoke to the media about it.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: During the referendum campaign people at the doors raised with members of the coalition Government a matter of grave public concern, which is that of special advisers. A very undignified spectacle is playing out in the newspapers at the moment. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, appears to be battling with the Minister for Public Enterprise and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Evening Herald newspaper says it understands there was dissatisfaction that the Minister failed-----

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am not displaying it. I have read it a number of times so I can probably quote it from memory. The Minister expressed dissatisfaction that his adviser could not get the top point in the salary scale. The spokesperson confirmed on the record to the newspaper that the Minister will be battling for the new special adviser to secure the top point on the principal officer scale. This man and...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister was not on the phone to Chancellor Merkel. That is the problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: My ancestors did not have a vote.

Seanad: NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I second the motion. I thank my colleague, Senator Daly, for doggedly pursuing this issue which is of great concern to him. I remind the Minister and his officials that the last time Senator Daly used parliamentary privilege - which I presume he is using in some of his statements - it was a very effective use of Seanad privilege and has resulted in a Garda investigation of child sexual...

Seanad: NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, every time a Fianna Fáil Private Members' Bill is put before this House, the Constitution is invoked against it. It is an abuse of the Constitution. Every time we write a Bill and get senior counsel to advise us on it, it is a disgrace and a shame to come up with constitutional reasons against it.

Seanad: NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: This is a different Bill.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Fine Gael seems to know what is in it already.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am not accusing the Labour Party.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. While my party supports the Bill and is supportive of a rationalisation in the local government sector, the Minister of State would probably admit the Bill is limited enough in its scope. We are speaking about the Limerick regeneration agencies being merged in tandem with the merger of the local authorities in Limerick. The Local Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I apologise for arriving late for the Adjournment debate last night through my own fault. I am grateful for every opportunity to raise a matter on the Adjournment debate which is one of the most important opportunities available to Senators to elicit information from Departments. On that basis, I was disappointed to note that the Department of Education and Skills issued a factually...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I referred to the continuing attacks on the commuter belt by the Labour Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: No, I was referring to Garda districts within the commuter belt.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I was referring specifically to a recent decision to amalgamate the Garda districts in the part of the commuter belt in which I reside.