Results 9,181-9,200 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It began by stating the saving of €289 million was driven by a reduction in staff numbers of 5,349 during the period, but after pages of gobbledygook it concluded by stating that public service pensioners have left the public service and therefore it would be wrong to include their pension costs in a progress report on the Croke Park pay agreement. On the one hand it stated savings were...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: This is ludicrous and it deserves a full debate in the House and among the public.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: What are the savings from the Croke Park agreement? It is a very important agreement which we want to implement but what are the savings? We do not have the figures.

Seanad: Public Service Agreements (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: This issue will have to be further investigated because the correct figures are not being provided. It is not credible for a Minister to claim to the House that pensions savings are not related to pay or other issues in the Croke Park agreement. Pensioners are part of the Civil Service's costs because they are getting paid by the State.

Seanad: Public Service Agreements (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment and I am grateful to the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, for his attendance. It is good that many senior Ministers come to the House to reply to Adjournment matters. I am anxious to put that on the record. I raised this issue following the publication of the first progress report on the Croke Park agreement, the...

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I also forgive Senator Hayden because she was probably not aware of a report I co-authored with the former Deputy, Olwyn Enright, in the Joint Committee on Social Protection, where the Fianna Fáil Party did considerable work on this issue. One of the original aims of Fianna Fáil was to establish as many families as practicable on the land. While that is now an unfashionable aim, the...

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It is a fair point. The Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs has an important role and there is an argument for it to be elevated to a Cabinet position. Fianna Fáil attempted this, albeit unsuccessfully, in 1997. It is also important the incumbent has a deep commitment to European issues. Deputy Lucinda Creighton follows on from the former Minister of State, Dick...

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish her well in her role covering European affairs. Only two ministries of State are worth having and hers is one of them, along with that held by Deputy Brian Hayes. No one would probably notice if the other ministries were not there.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, the Cathaoirleach has allowed an Adjournment debate proposed by Senator Ó Clochartaigh relating to Government policy on Palestine, which is very general, yet he will not allow me to raise a matter which specifically relates-----

Seanad: Business of Seanad (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: There is no motion. I have asked for the Minister to come to the House essentially to discuss an article in a newspaper last weekend.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am just looking for a figure. The Government last week presented figures and then we found out they were not the real figures. I want the Minister to come to the House to discuss that.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Without wishing to breach the sub judice rule I want to endorse what Senator Mullen stated earlier. I am very concerned about reports of current court actions concerning nursing homes in County Meath and the issue is worthy of further debate. I will say no more about the issue until a decision has been made but I would hope the courts will come to a decision on that very quickly because it...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Promises have been broken.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Fine Gael has broken its contract this time.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I spoke yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: What about Report Stage?

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It is a matter for the Government to provide speakers to speak on the relevance of the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, the Leader does not propose to allocate any time for Report Stage. This could be important, especially if amendments or recommendations are ruled out of order or not accepted.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I point out, on behalf of my colleague, Senator Terry Leyden, that the health issues raised by him and other Members were, once again, not addressed by the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Yes.