Results 8,321-8,340 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Barrett noted that the Finance Bill 2012 comprises 324 pages. It will cost each household in this country €2.50 per page, or €800 per year. That has not been mentioned in the succession of praise for all the great things we are doing for job creation. Let us compare the cost of these measures to the €1.3 billion bill for Irish households. The special assignee relief...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Senators opposite are the ones who tax the poor.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: What did Fine Gael Members do last year?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: In light of the Minister of State's comments at the start of his contribution and the fact that the Bill is being rammed through in two days I call a quorum.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: When we are on Committee Stage and a reasonable distance from centre stage, as proposed in the programme for Government and in its manifesto, we will cease to call quorums.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is up to the Government side to provide a quorum.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On behalf of my group, my leader has asked me to express our sympathies with the devastated people of Toulouse. I endorse my leader's call for the Minister, Deputy Hogan, to attend the House to discuss the mess that is being made of the household charge. I expect that the Minister will attend when a debate on the Mahon tribunal is scheduled. In this light and given that today is the first...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Professor Lucey knows everything all right.

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Tá cathú ann leanúint ar aghaidh le "Cill Chais", ach ní dhéanfaidh mé é sin. I wish to put on record my slight disappointment about the format of the debate. It is good to have it and I am delighted to see Mr. Kinsella present. I did not know he was to be the rapporteur and when I found out, I was delighted. He is one of the best of the new generation of economists. I first met...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht deis a thabhairt dom labhairt ar son an rún seo, a bhaineann le hábhar ríthábhachtach. Tá mé an-bhuíoch go bhfuil an Aire é féin sa Seanad chun na ceiste seo a phlé. I welcome this opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the absence from the schools building programme 2012-16 of Eureka secondary school in Kells and O'Carolan college...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is bitterly disappointing that not one iota of hope is being given to these schools. I welcomed the announcement on Monday in so far as it went, and I also welcomed the prefabs announcement last week. When I saw the list of schools, they need and deserve them, but it is a continuation of previous policy, which needs to be acknowledged.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is, because many schools in County Meath-----

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I just want to respond to the Minister. Many schools in County Meath got prefabs replaced in recent years, and I could name them. However, the Minister's response is bitterly disappointing. I accept the demographic issues but I hope there was no politics involved in the decision-making because rural north Meath was completely left out even though there are demographic issues there. I may...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Fianna Fáil were accused of being political over many years.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I have made my point.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That last assertion does not apply to Eureka secondary school in Kells or O'Carolan college in Nobber. As for the former, I acknowledge the previous Government announced it and put the project forward towards architectural planning-----

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes. However, last January, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, responded to an Adjournment matter in this Chamber on behalf of the Minister and reconfirmed the position. She gave great hope and encouragement and at the time I was delighted and welcomed that.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We are not disputing that. They want more, as we had planned.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They are complaining because it is a major cutback.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He failed to pay €1.6 million.