Results 8,981-9,000 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The emphasis is on people getting better and improving cancer services in this country but the Government is no longer supporting the strategy. I fully supported the strategy although I lost services in my own area. There is no problem in that regard.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister for Health needs to come to the House because there are sick people who are upset because of the sick promises that were made to them by individual Senators. The Minister must be held accountable. He came to the House to discuss the female genital mutilation Bill - important legislation that had cross-party agreement - but he refuses to come to the Seanad to discuss the issues...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Why can we not take the lead on it?

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Protect the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am pleased to see that the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has set up a telephone appliance which highlights the hospital trolley crisis. The reference for it is m.ino.ie/trolley.htm. As someone from the north east, I find it disappointing to see Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda topping the list with 46 patients on trolleys today. It is the case that not all major...

Seanad: Planning Issues (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter. It is a complex issue which has had serious consequences for Meath County Council and local authorities throughout the country. It must be addressed by the Government to ensure it cannot happen again although fault does not lie with the Government. In 2006 Meath County Council sought to sell some land in Ashbourne zoned C1...

Seanad: Planning Issues (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: There was not much criticism.

Seanad: Planning Issues (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am just advising the Minister of the position.

Seanad: Planning Issues (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister for his reply. A concern was that the manager had proposed not to implement the recommendation relating to his executive responsibility. However, my biggest concern was that the recommendation had been made by Mr. John Quinlivan, a very experienced county manager who ran a very large urbanised local authority which would have had a large number of planning cases with...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas don Aire as teacht isteach sa Seanad inniu. Tá an-tábhacht ag baint le hAire atá chomh gnóthach leis an Aire Airgeadais ag teacht isteach anseo. Cuireann sin in iúl cé chomh tábhachtach agus atá an Bille seo. I want to protest, in the most emphatic terms, that all Stages of this legislation are being taken today. If the Seanad is to become a rubber-stamp exercise,...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: We appointed Matthew Elderfield.

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I was the cheerleader for Matthew Elderfield when the Senator's Dáil colleagues at the time were criticising and castigating him in the local newspapers. I stood up for him.

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator should raise his concerns with the bank or the regulator.

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: That is not about the use of the guillotine.

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I will not comment on the substance of the amendment because, given the time allowed, I have not had time to read it, but I accept the Minister's explanation. Nevertheless, when we are rushing legislation through the House like this and there is an amendment several days after legislation was published, it makes one wonder whether there is anything else there, although I hope not. We should...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge the Oireachtas Library and Research Service which produced a brief on the Bill in a short time. Its work is important. It amplifies the point that introducing legislation quickly puts pressure on it, too.

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, in the light of the urgency of this legislation - I protested against the fact that all Stages are being taken today in the Seanad - more Members should be present and, therefore, I call a quorum.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Bacik did not sign that motion.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: They are right to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I suggest Senator Mullins' words will come back to haunt him. When the inspections start to take place, they will be concentrated in places such as east Galway where there has been a history of pollution and there are problems with the water table. It will come back to haunt the Senator when there are no grants available. Everyone wants clean water and expects us to comply with European...