Results 241-260 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The reality is this is very serious. The debate would be best served by a rational approach, not by instinctively opposing everything the Government has tried to do. The Labour Party opposed the bank recapitalisation, the State guarantee and the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank. It voted against that measure in the Dáil.

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party voted against the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank in the Dáil. That is on the public record. It is now calling for a temporary nationalisation of the banks. Deputy Gilmore makes a virtue of cleaning up the banks. Does he require a sweeping brush or a can of pledge, because he has not outlined what he intends to do?

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The NAMA proposal will clean out the banks. It will take all the good and bad debt out such that there is no argument over which is good and bad. Our proposal is to clean out the banks, to get the banking system working, to get the economy up and running and to get loans out to businesses.

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The banks are against our proposals too. Instead of calling it a bank bailout or builders' bailout the Labour Party would be better off taking part in a rational and constructive debate and to indicate what represents a good measure and what represents a bad measure. This is not the case, they simply instinctively oppose everything. It is not serving the country well. It may serve the...

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: We are in a serious situation. We have taken the lead in several areas. The State bank guarantee certainly saved the banking system. The recapitalisation is necessary but we should remind people that it is a loan which must be repaid at a relatively high rate of interest. That point is always forgotten and ignored. It is almost as if one's Christmas bonus is paying for the bank...

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: They may also ask who will win council and European seats. However, one will find the answer to who will get the economy back on track and who will get people back to work on this side of the House.

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: They would seek legal advice anyway.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (14 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 54: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [19396/09]

Leaders' Questions (19 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Gilmore should let Deputy Burton explain it.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (19 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 189: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [19706/09]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (19 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [19724/09]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (19 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 199: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [19775/09]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (9 Jun 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 689: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Meath is entitled to receive special needs assistance hours for the 2009-10 academic year. [22699/09]

Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Thomas Byrne: This is nonsense.

Fiscal Policy. (23 Jun 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Judicial independence is a critical feature of any democracy. The independence of the Judiciary is enshrined in Article 35.2 and subsequent articles of Bunreacht na hÉireann. Article 35.5 provides that a judge's remuneration should not be reduced during his continuance in office. In light of this when the Oireachtas enacted the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill we...

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (24 Jun 2009)

Thomas Byrne: It seems odd that when the objective of the legislation is to prevent crime and murder and tackle gangs, the most contentious point seems to be whether we give powers to the GSOC against gardaí. It takes away from the focus of the legislation which must be quite specific. I agree with the Minister's approach that perhaps it will be necessary to give this power to the GSOC in the future but...

Commissions of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jun 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge and welcome the non-political nature of the motion that has been proposed by the Opposition. If there is any way of agreeing a motion before tomorrow night, I encourage the Minister for Health and Children and her Cabinet colleagues to find it. That would be welcome. If we do not find agreement, there may well be good reasons for that. It is important to recognise that the...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Barrett made an important point in regard to the small claims court. Many of my constituents have raised with me issues of nuisance noise. One can make an application in the District Court in respect of noise regulations. People are reluctant to go to the District Court or even to a solicitor, who must draft the papers for the District Court, to deal with noise issues that arise...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I am pleased the Minister is dealing with this issue. It is one I have raised with him on several occasions. I understand he was initially told it could not be done, an opinion also expressed to me by another Minister. I thank the Minister for pursuing it with such vigour. I was shocked on first discovering what was going on, when a person who came to my clinic told me that High Court...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (7 Jul 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 345: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drug seizures in County Meath over the past two years. [27361/09]