Results 9,061-9,080 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: -----but I fully expect the Minister to reply again with personalised comments. No criticism of the Minister was made in the debate on this Bill. We simply said there is a back story here involving the Department. My recollection is that I said the Minister was perhaps not aware of the situation that was relayed to Members of this House. When concerns are raised it is correct that we...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: There is a flood of legislation being introduced at the last minute, much of it guillotined-----

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: -----at short notice, which does not give Members time to study it properly. That is a concern. To return to this Bill-----

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: -----the amendment is an opportunity to discuss serious and genuine concerns. We are not out to get a Minister. We are trying to ensure greater transparency and to get answers to questions. As Senator O'Donovan said, the spokespersons for the main parties should have been briefed. They could have been told: "Look, we have a serious problem. We need to pass this Bill as otherwise we will...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: That was not said.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister could have explained matters on Tuesday

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: That is precisely the point.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister. I did not expect an answer that was much different from that. I acknowledge the Department's work in the area and the provision of Coláiste na hInse, which was mentioned. However, the reason I raised this issue is that I do not feel the Department has got it fully right. I ask that it reconsider in particular whether there is adequate second level provision in the...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Níl áthas orm labhairt ar an rún seo. Tá an Rialtas nua ag déanamh an rud céanna le gach píosa reachtaíochta a thagann os comhair an Tí agus ag déanamh rudaí ar bhonn ad hoc. Maidir leis an rún seo agus an chuid seo den Acht, section 46 refers to Acts of Oireachtas, it does not refer to developments plan, official translations or anything else. Let me read Article 25.4.4o of...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I would not like to ask them to do anything I would not do.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming and congratulate him on his appointment. He will make an excellent Minister of State and it is great for someone so young to rise so quickly. He is a good man and I know he will do good work. I am bringing this motion before the House in order to be helpful. I have often found the Department of Education and Skills to be lacking in terms of forward...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Report Stage and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On what page of the EU-IMF agreement was that?

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Very serious allegations have been made by Senators O'Donovan and Mullen about the provenance of this legislation. I will not rehearse the details but in light of these allegations it is within the gift of the Minister and Leader to withdraw the legislation rather than put it to a vote. The saying, "justice must be done and seen to be done", has long been applied to the courts system....

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Five is more than one, which is the number for which the Bill is designed.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: He will return in a minute or so.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: They refused to address this Bill.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister did not speak here about the Smithwick tribunal.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Why did the Minister not provide us with that letter from Judge Smithwick?

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: There is no confusion.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Where was the confusion about the qualification criteria?