Results 9,701-9,720 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Opposition Deputies may blame us now for causing the expense of the tribunals but if we did not establish them, we would be accused of hiding evidence.

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: My party has established tribunals and co-operated with them. Those who were unfortunate enough to appear as witnesses, which thank God I never had to do, played their parts properly, as I am sure the tribunal will find. Tribunals were established under the 1921 Act to investigate matters of urgent public importance. There is no doubt that the issues referred to the Mahon tribunal were...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I was not paid well for it but the firm had to charge the client a certain amount of money, which may revert to the Exchequer if the tribunal decides to award costs. I do not know in that case because I had left the firm by then. If a good senior counsel charges a lot, that is one thing but anyone would do basic meagre work that anyone with a few brain cells could do. There would be...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: He did nothing more than cite the report.

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy does not like the answers.

Training Programmes: Motion (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I will continue with what Deputy O'Connor said about Barack Obama. Those of us who have been inspired by the civil rights movement in America, Booker T. Washington going to the White House and President Truman desegregating the army are aware that it is a fantastic time for the world when an African-American can become President of the United States. It is a moment of change, as Deputy...

Training Programmes: Motion (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: The issue we are discussing tonight is very serious. Over the past decade we have seen incredible growth in the economy. In the past 11 years, coinciding with Fianna Fáil being in Government, some 640,000 new jobs were created. However, right now we find ourselves in the middle of an unprecedented global economic crisis. One hears people describing it as possibly the worst since the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 483: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers sanctioned by his Department for County Meath as of 24 May 2007; and the number sanctioned for County Meath as of 6 October 2008. [37963/08]

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (4 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 484: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the capitation and ancillary grants payable to primary schools (details supplied) for 2008; and the capitation and ancillary grants payable to these schools in 2009 based on budget 2009 and assuming pupil numbers do not change. [37964/08]

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (4 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 485: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the purpose of the capitation and ancillary grants to schools. [37965/08]

Written Answers — PDFORRA Conference: PDFORRA Conference (22 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 71: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his attendance and address to the recent PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference in Westport, County Mayo; his plans to address the issues that arose during the conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35125/08]

Written Answers — Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (22 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 61: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of times the Army bomb disposal team has been called out in 2007 and to date in 2008; the procedures in place for deciding to call them out; the number of hoaxes they have had to deal with since January 2007; the estimated average costs involved each time they are deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35124/08]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 408: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will report on an appeal for mortgage supplement submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and the reason for refusal on this appeal. [35376/08]

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the proposal before the House. I commend the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues on the decision they took in facing the current difficulties. I also commend the Oireachtas on passing the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act. It would have been easy to dither, as other governments did before being forced into action. A certain momentum has...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 141: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans to develop a new building at a school (details supplied) in County Meath. [35232/08]

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: That is the reason Deputy Crawford has not finished his application.

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I am pleased to speak on the motion today and, with my colleagues and under the leadership of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith, to bring some realism to the debate. It is totally unrealistic to come to the Chamber to call for the extension of a scheme which has been agreed and subject to the approval of the European Commission. The Commission's approval would...

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: The scheme was always going to end at the end of this year, and what a good scheme it was.

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I am here as long as the Deputy and I was elected by the people, including the farmers, of my constituency. Where other parties considered my constituency to be a commuter belt area, the Fianna Fáil Party knew it was an agricultural area and a very rural constituency. This was not appreciated by any of the other parties in the constituency. I am glad to represent all the people of my...

Farm Waste Management Scheme: Motion (16 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy McEntee assists me if Deputy Brady is not available from time to time. This has proved to be an excellent scheme with €113.8 million in grants-in-aid paid to date. Some €212 million has been paid this year and another €195 million under the Supplementary Estimate. This represents a sizeable investment in rural Ireland which is being used and utilised. It will be finalised...