Results 9,221-9,240 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: No, we are not. This is very much within the scope of the Bill.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: This is very much within the scope of the amendment.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I said it would be far better if the press conferences were held later in the year. As the Minister of State said, we all hope this works. I hope it can be shown later in the year that it is working. Figures that were released today show that the official seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has decreased. Some analysts have said the reasons for that may not be as good as they appear. I...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am sure the Department would have had discussions with the various industries on the prospects for job creation. While the amendment describes a report, it does not describe a report informed by CSO statistics. We regularly get Ministers making jobs announcements. They are not based on CSO figures. Unfortunately, we often hear that some of the jobs do not always materialise. It would be...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: He was the same as the Taoiseach.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The Taoiseach believed him.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: He was the same about Navan hospital.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to say how sad I am on the death of a good friend and colleague, Brian Lenihan. There is no more to say as regards anecdotes or praise of the man because it has all been said, but I am very sad still. The issue has been raised about the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, coming to the House. The Minister made himself available in the House for the very uncontroversial and...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: What happened at the Pensions Board?

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: After we raised it.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It was answered in a parliamentary question.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It was a parliamentary reply in the Dáil.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: We on this side of the House welcome any attempt to deal with unemployment. It is welcome that at the very least the Government has thought about and acted on jobs, even if we disagree with some of the things it is doing. It is welcome that the focus in the Seanad, Dáil and Bill is on jobs. The jobs initiative, which was previously called the jobs budget, falls well short of what was...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, Labour Party Senators are raising worthy issues, including MABS and mortgages. I am happy to sit here until late tonight to discuss those important matters, but Standing Orders require that Second Stage speeches should be confined to the general principle of the Bill. If the Labour Party tactic on difficult questions, such as targeting the pension pots of middle-income...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I ran for election.

Seanad: Progress on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language: Statements (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom féin fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit as teacht go dtí an tSeanad inniu. Níl aon amhras ach go go gcuirfidh sé an Ghaeilge agus na ceantair Gaeltachta chun cinn i rith a théarma. Bhunaigh an Rialtas deiridh, ina raibh mé féin páirteach, an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá an straitéis sin bunaithe ar thaighde agus ar thuairimí mhuintir na Gaeilge agus na...

Seanad: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: This matter derives from a large-scale campaign organised in County Meath to protect services at Navan hospital, which is greatly valued by people in the county. In following up promises made by Fine Gael in particular in advance of the general election, the campaign group permitted the Minister for Health a reasonable period to master his brief, but I understand he has not yet issued a...

Seanad: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister but I am disappointed that the Minister for Health has not committed to meeting the people of County Meath. This is the sixth time he has been asked. He has in the past committed to doing so but he has not made a commitment in this reply. While I regarded Ms Mary Harney as an excellent Minister for Health and Children, she could not have put this better herself. This...

Seanad: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The deputy leader can propose a constitutional amendment.