Results 9,081-9,100 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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

Thomas Byrne: On a point of information, the word "scandal" was not used by me in my contribution on the Order of Business yesterday.

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am pleased the Minister has attended the House in person. She is one of the more imaginative Ministers in the Government and has a great deal on her plate. The functions of the General Register Office are not among the better known responsibilities of her Department. Senator Leyden's Bill is excellent legislation which deserves all-party support. It is a shame that Ministers in the...

Seanad: Registration of Wills Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: We would be happy if the Department took over the community welfare officers.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Another Fianna Fáil policy confirmed.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On one of my first occasions to speak in this House, we were debating the motion on the Smithwick tribunal. It is the case that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, misled the House on that occasion by withholding correspondence. It was, I understand, published subsequently, at the suggestion of the judge in the case. The information on this very serious matter was...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Shame on him for not telling us about this correspondence in the House. He came here to address a very serious matter of public concern, a serious matter of British-Irish relations concerning families and individuals, and did not tell us about what a judge had told him in correspondence. The judge suggested this should be made public and that he had no objection to that. The Minister, if...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: He is doing exactly the same.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: He took over the board of the HSE.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Why not tell the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, to put his hand down the back of the same couch in which he found the money for opening a train station in his constituency?

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It is not.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It relates to administration between the two Departments.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I would like to put on the record that I will withdraw amendment No. 9a owing to time constraints.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Again, owing to time constraints and to facilitate Senator Barrett who wishes to raise important issues I will withdraw amendment No. 13.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I only got a 2:1.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Sections 21, 22 and 23 are part of one package. It would be opportune if the Minister could explain in general terms how this provision will work. The Minister may correct me if I am wrong but in my view, under section 22 - I am aware we are dealing with section 21 - statutory powers not listed in the Bill which relate to the functions of the Minister and certain sections of this Bill and...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I hope the Minister is right and that this issue will not arise. The Minister for Finance has so many functions that there could well be a citizen who has a particular bone to pick with the Department of Finance and does not know whose function it is. This matter would resolve itself if our earlier amendment - discussed when the Minister was not in the House - had been accepted. It sought...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I hope it never will be. I understand it deals with a matter of statutory interpretation in which the Taoiseach would have no role, nor could he overrule a court in its interpretation as to who had a particular function. That is not what is envisaged. Even if it were to be exercised, it is not a judicial interpretation of law. It is a matter of which of the two Ministers has...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 20: In page 20, before section 23, but in Part 3, to insert the following new section: "23.—(1) If any doubt, question, or dispute arises between any Minister of the Government as to the Minister of the Government in whom any particular function is vested by virtue of this Act, such doubt, question, or dispute shall be determined by the Taoiseach. (2) Where the...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I compliment Senator Barrett on the amendments, in particular amendment No. 24. The reality is that if accurate work had been done in regard to what is set out in amendment No. 24 in the past ten to 20 years, we might not have some of the problems we face today. On that basis, it is very important to set out this type of prescriptive requirement in the legislation, requiring the Department...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am not sure we could go that far.