Results 8,381-8,400 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator's party signed us up to this agreement.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Tá mé an-bhuíoch go bhfuil deis agam labhairt maidin inniu. I welcome yesterday's announcement to the effect that a referendum on the fiscal compact is both required and will be held. In my view there is only one reason to vote "Yes" to the treaty, namely, that we will not have access to moneys from any new bailout fund if we do not do so. This is probably the only good reason to vote in...

Seanad: Standing Order 18: Motion (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I do my best. I was looking for the truth this morning.

Seanad: Standing Order 18: Motion (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On behalf of my party, I support the amendment to Standing Orders to allow for a period of 30 seconds of reflection. It is an acceptable compromise. It is fair to say this is not a burning issue around the country. I received fewer than a dozen e-mails this morning on it. One or two were very insulting but most were very balanced.

Seanad: Standing Order 18: Motion (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: By referring to religion as a fantasy. This is very unfortunate. One hears this view expressed by some of the organisations involved in this area from time to time. It is very important that we have respect for faith and individual faiths. I support the principle of non-denominational Christian prayer at the commencement of proceedings and support the change to introduce the period of...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He is telling the truth.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is not in it.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I second Senator Darragh O'Brien's amendment to the Order of Business so that the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, can come to the House to explain her comments on the conflict with the Germans over the fiscal compact. In the context of that and of the allegations made about privatisation and the memorandum of understanding, it is important we have a debate on the truth in this Chamber....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, I apologise. Her German counterpart yesterday said ,"we are trying to design everything that is on the table in a way which would be okay in the eyes of the Attorney General and the Irish Constitution so that no referendum is needed". The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, denied that in this House, on television and in other places. The Labour Party, but also Senator Clune, now...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The €5 billion figure came from Ministers, Deputies Rabbitte and Howlin. Senator Clune earlier claimed there was an agreement to pay down debt through privatisation. There is no such agreement in the memorandum of understanding. A study into the matter was called for in the troika agreement originally with the previous Fianna Fáil Government. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan,...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Fianna Fáil Party stood over several privatisations, many successful and some not so.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, like Eircom which I accept.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We must have a debate on the truth because there are too many lies coming out in the course of politics.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is adding to public cynicism about politics.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Either the Irish Minister or the German Minister is telling lies. They both cannot be telling the truth.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I withdraw the word "lies".

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: One of the Ministers is not correct. One claimed there was an avoidance of a referendum while the other said there was not. The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, should attend the House to tell us the truthful position. We also need the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, who has given the truthful position, in response to parliamentary questions from Deputy Michael McGrath and Sinn...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He has five weeks to go to the High Court on this.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Parish pump politics again.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It was on the front page of The Irish Times.