Results 1-20 of 9,950 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: To clarify, do I also have a closing speaking slot?

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanad os rud é gur chur na Baill an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo ar an gclár ar maidin, the Global Sumud Flotilla, an Loingeas Domhanda Sumud. Is cabhlach de 50 long é an flotilla cúnamh daonnúil a thabhairt go Gaza. The global flotilla wants to deliver humanitarian aid - we all do - and establish an...

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I did not mention that.

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: We absolutely condemn this and we have called for the immediate release of everybody who has been taken by Israel. We have never said anything else. We could not be clearer about that, just like Minister Albares, who was quoted earlier. We have worked very closely with Spain and other countries for the past couple of years on these issues. I completely echo the sentiments of Senators...

Seanad: Global Sumud Flotilla: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Thomas Byrne: We are keeping in contact with our Spanish colleagues. We have a very close connection with them but the idea that an Irish ship would go to the location is simply not tenable, neither practically nor under the law. It never was possible and would not happen. In fairness, our Spanish colleagues have been keeping in very close contact with us. For quite some time, Ireland has been...

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: It has been almost two years since the heinous terror attacks carried out by Hamas and other terrorist groups against Israel and Israeli people on 7 October 2023. The horror of these attacks remains imprinted in our minds. Murder, rape and general savagery was video recorded. Ireland has consistently and unequivocally condemned these attacks. They were absolutely disgraceful. As we...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Air Services (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: If the Government broke the public spending code, or the infrastructure guidelines in this case, or decided to spend money without doing a proper analysis and proper business case, you guys would rightly be down at the public accounts committee castigating the Government. The Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to progress this project when the business case is received...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Strategies (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister has mentioned the upcoming Working in Ireland survey, which the Department has funded. About 5,000 people, north and south of the Border, have been surveyed. The Minister understands the survey has been completed and we can expect the research output in the coming months. We anticipate that there will be a lot of information on a range of labour market issues in this area, and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Air Services (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: The Government does support Waterford Airport. I assure the Deputies that the Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to see the Waterford Airport project to lengthen and widen the runway progress. In line with this commitment and the requirements under the Government’s infrastructure guidelines, Waterford Airport was invited earlier this summer to submit a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Strategies (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputy Currie for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Burke. As the Deputy is aware, there has been a significant long-term shift in attitudes to remote and flexible working among both employers and workers throughout the country since the pandemic in particular. Acceptance of remote and flexible working is high and the evidence suggests...

Energy Costs: Motion [Private Members] (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I move: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government is acutely aware of the recent energy price increases and the impact it has on households and businesses; — the Government acknowledges the latest data for June shows that 13 per cent of households are in arrears on their electricity bills and 25...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Senator Joe O’Reilly for submitting this Commencement matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Peter Burke. Ireland’s long-standing voluntarist system has served us well over the decades, helping to contribute to industrial peace and stability. It has also enhanced Ireland’s attractiveness as a major...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I will certainly say that to the Minister, Deputy Burke. It has been the clear and consistent policy of successive Governments to promote collective bargaining through both legislation and the development of an institutional framework that supports a voluntary system of industrial relations. It is therefore hugely important that we continue to protect the measures that were put in place to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: RSV is a common virus that causes respiratory infections. The risk of severe infection is highest in very young infants. RSV is a seasonal virus with outbreaks typically occurring in the winter months, with the highest numbers of infections usually reported in December and January. Each winter in Ireland, one in two babies will get RSV and many will need medical care from their doctor or...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Senator. Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective and successful public health interventions that exist. It is quite discouraging to see so many people sceptical about vaccines. There is never scepticism about a new curative drug and instead people say, "Please, we need this drug as soon as possible." With a vaccine, people are hesitant and say they do not know what is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Fees (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Senator Nelson Murray for raising this issue. It is a matter that has been brought to the attention of the Department on a number of occasions. The main financial support available to students is SUSI. Reckonable income includes all sources of household income, including income from a student’s employment. However, holiday earnings is income that a student can earn outside...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Fees (23 Sep 2025)

Thomas Byrne: As the Minister has said, there are competing demands. I know the Senator and other colleagues were looking for the student contribution to be reduced again this year as well. The Minister has a certain amount of money and he is trying to balance all of the competing demands. They are all worthy. Nobody could be against any of them, but the simple fact is that it is a financial...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (10 Jul 2025)

Thomas Byrne: On 25 June, I met the EU Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, Piotr Serafin, in Brussels. The meeting was an important opportunity to set out Ireland’s preliminary views on the post-2027 multi-annual financial framework, MFF, in advance of the proposal of the Commission being published next Wednesday. During this meeting, I called on the Commissioner to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (10 Jul 2025)

Thomas Byrne: It is important to briefly set out the process. The Commission will publish the proposal next Wednesday. Ultimately, it is a matter for the leaders to agree this, in conjunction with the European Parliament. Over the next year and A half, starting on 18 July, governments will discuss the Commission's proposal and, in effect, negotiate it. Next Wednesday's proposal should be seen as the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (10 Jul 2025)

Thomas Byrne: During the Presidency Ireland will, in effect, be in charge of the negotiations. We will have to act as an honest broker. It is important that between now and then we get our spoke out, so to speak. That is why met Commissioner Serafin at a very early point and immediately after that meeting I met all of our MEPs, all of whom were invited to be briefed on our position. I am more than...