Results 8,341-8,360 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We are not in a courtroom. We cannot talk about court judgments in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: How many of them are already built?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to echo the concerns that have been raised about the schools building programme. Those concerns began on the "Morning Ireland" programme yesterday when the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, was incoherent. He did not know what figures he was giving.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is the duty of Ministers to go on the radio having facts and figures at their disposal. It is also the duty of Senators to do that. In the meantime, after Senator Whelan made his claim about seven new schools in Laois, I have examined the figures. It turns out that there are eight in County Laois on this list.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That is not what the Senator said earlier.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is all in my mind.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It turns out there are three on site already in County Laois, which means they are practically complete. We had that in Meath as well. In north Meath, two major projects dropped off the list and there was one on the list that is already built. There was one site to go in 2012, which was already announced by the Minister in December 2011. Therefore, four have already been built or...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I know all about Meath, too, because I have looked at it and there is not one there. I have not looked at the problems concerning the four for 2013-2014, but there is not one school in County Meath that has not been announced already by this Government or the previous one. While any investment by the Minister is to be welcomed, it falls far short of the radical investment he planned. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I seek a debate on this. This is a victory for spin over substance. The capital plan has been ruthlessly dragged apart to put in place the most unfair budget in the past five years, as has been confirmed by the ESRI. Mr. Colm Rapple in the Irish Mail on Sunday stated it was most unfair because the Government targeted the poorest of the poor, cut the capital budget and is now spinning it to...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes. The idea that the Minister for Finance can come into the House to talk about a loan of €80 billion to Greece and not talk about 2,500 people who are being made redundant in this country is ludicrous.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Certain parties in this House have for many years lived off the spectre of former Tánaiste and esteemed former Member of this House, Mary Harney. They have time and again criticised her for what they perceived to be right wing economics and dreadful health policy. It is, therefore, hilarious to hear Labour Party and Fine Gael Members of this House support what is essentially a tinkering...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: A way is always found to get money from, say, the widow in Roscommon to whom Senator Leyden often refers. This Bill is only window dressing. No one has yet been imprisoned for breaches of competition law and no one is likely to be imprisoned under this legislation because it is far too complicated. The legislation is much too complex in terms of its provisions in respect of economic...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We do not believe this legislation goes far enough and are calling for the introduction of much more radical action in this area.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I notice the Labour Party is rather thin on the ground this morning in the Chamber. The cancellation of this afternoon's Government party shows it is certainly the party pooper and that finally it has had one achievement in government. It is beginning to show its true strength in the Fine Gael-dominated Government. I congratulate the Labour Party on that.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Last night we learned 2,500 jobs are to go at AIB. This comes on top of losses of 750 at Bank of Ireland and 900 at Aviva. There has been significant destruction in employment in the financial services sector. We already know the problems that have been caused in the sector. However, those getting the sack are not the ones who caused them.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They are the ordinary tellers and managers who kept society and the economy moving. They are also the ones who probably gave some people hope in their darkest hours when they went looking for a loan from the bank. Normally, when there are major job losses in any sector, the Government will say the usual words of sympathy and that something must be done. In this case, something must be done...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: -----and the retraining that will be offered to the workers in question who may never again work in the financial services sector.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Government is a year in office. It is about time it started taking responsibility and doing something about the awful problem of unemployment.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He should be seeking a discussion on the crux of this problem. That is why I called on the Minister to attend.