Results 8,441-8,460 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: In County Meath, it was votes from this constituency that made the difference between the Labour Party winning a seat and not winning a seat.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: With all due respect to stag hunters, I am much more concerned about the issue of education in rural areas. My party will continue to hold the Government to account on its promises on stag hunting. Government Senators have not had the courage of their convictions on the issue of guidance counsellors, about which all of them have complained. We do not believe the promised review of DEIS...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: When my party was in government, an Administration supported by the then Deputy Cannon, we introduced broad based cuts. This Government has targeted a particular sector because it believes it will not be noticed in the electoral scheme of things. That is a shameful way to plan educational policy and reveals a complete absence of strategy. The decision it has taken is based on what it...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: While the Government may have got away with it politically this year, those who are affected by these cuts will not forget. The Government's projections are being lowered and worse cuts will be required. While I wish it luck in this respect, it must be as fair as possible. Its members should not say one thing in the media and another in the House.

Seanad: Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I also support the Bill and along with many doctors in my constituency I urge its passage as soon as possible. Given that we have rushed legislation on many items, I wonder why this is not being rushed. With so much apparent unanimity we could probably have completed Committee and Remaining Stages today to allow the Minister to enact it with his order. As Senator Healy Eames said, the Bill...

Seanad: Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am sorry, Minister. The record was of the five Fine Gael candidates at the time and the now four Deputies-----

Seanad: Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They made a statement to the effect that investors in a hospital project met the Minister and that these investors would build it within five years. This was to be done and it was manna for the people of Meath. They are waiting for the hospital. Money was not a problem because, according to Deputy Damien English as recently as three weeks ago, it was arranged to be a public private...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I discussed the issue of the fiscal compact with my leader since the debate and I propose, on his behalf, that group leaders in the House meet shortly to decide on the format for a debate. I propose we have a Committee Stage style debate on the fiscal compact, perhaps with time limits imposed, but these should be longer than one minute. While we do not need unlimited debate, we need to go...

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, is it in order for the tellers to agree, if they did so, that Senator Susan O'Keeffe's vote be counted? As a teller, she did not vote and the vote should not stand.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Opposition leaders have not even been brought in for a briefing.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That was Deputy Leo Varadkar, no-one else.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Why have the Opposition leaders not been briefed by the Government? I understand it was common practice in previous referendums. If one is looking for a common approach, I suggest that is a good way to start on these major European issues.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State said there is no referendum.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I thought we were deciding whether there will be a referendum. Have we already made the decision? When will the Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, answer Deputy Micheál Martin's questions? When will there be a public education campaign? If the Government will not consult the people, at the very least it could explain what is in the treaty. We did not use any leverage...

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Perhaps the Leader might provide for the Minister of State to come back on another occasion.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State has made a suggestion to that effect.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I hope she can return at an early stage.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I was pleased to welcome the Cathaoirleach and the Taoiseach to my constituency and I hope they will visit again. The Cathaoirleach might note that the matter I wish to raise on the Adjournment relates to the parish he visited in recent days. I wish to raise an important issue in County Meath - the Lagan Brick workers in Kingscourt on the Meath-Cavan border. This is a very serious issue as...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Jillian van Turnhout is not too far away from it.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: My party may take a different position depending on the Leader's response.