Results 2,641-2,660 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister effectively abolished the mortgage interest supplement last year. Did her initiative last year, which required people to have worked for one year with the bank, lead to a collapse in applications? I would certainly have expected them to have reduced, but I do not know. I can see the logic behind not giving hard-pressed taxpayers' money to the banks by removing mortgage...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister hits the nail on head in a way. This money should not be spent indefinitely. However, such a scheme should still be in place for cases where someone is temporarily out of work. Let us suppose a person loses his job on 1 February and is out of work for three months. A payment like this could be crucial in keeping that person in his home. I agree that it should not be a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister listened to my argument.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: What does "phase out" mean?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: He was a close personal friend of mine.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: What does it mean in practice that mortgage interest supplement is being phased out? Are there any other provisions the Minister can use to stop payments where ordinarily they would not have stopped, other than the provision being inserted that it should not be paid after 1 January 2018? Is there anything else that can be done to phase it out or is it that it will come to an end, as it...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Assets (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, as ucht an deis a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a árdú ar an Athló. I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for allowing me to raise this matter and I thank the Minister for being present. This is an issue that has an impact countrywide and I wish to highlight one example. I am talking about municipal authorities, in effect,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Assets (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am disappointed with the response. I did not table this matter to attack the Minister's local government strategy but to raise a specific problem that has arisen as a result of it. That problem is acknowledged by all parties in Kells and, indeed, by many of the officials I have spoken to in Meath County Council. I urge the Minister to examine this. I am sure there are similar cases...

Seanad: Passenger Name Record Data: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We are not going to object to the motion being referred to the committee today but we expect a full but short debate after it has been discussed there.

Seanad: Passenger Name Record Data: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Chair can take it that a debate will be required at that stage.

Seanad: Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (Amendment of Schedule) (Annex 19 to Chicago Convention) Order 2013: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The same terms will apply to this motion.

Seanad: Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (Amendment of Schedule) (Annex 19 to Chicago Convention) Order 2013: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, these matters relate to functions of the Seanad where we have equal power with the Dáil. We have no 90 day function, we have equal power. If we do not approve of this motion it does not get passed.

Seanad: Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (Amendment of Schedule) (Annex 19 to Chicago Convention) Order 2013: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is as simple as that. We need to take our responsibility seriously or not exercise it.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I raised it on Tuesday.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Report Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I second the amendment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Members of this committee know not to mess with the Chairman. We have all learned that over the past couple of years and it works well. I welcome the witnesses from the Revenue Commissioners and compliment them. I could not put it any better than Deputy Joe Higgins, who was absolutely right in regard to the use of an alibi. I said on local radio this week that these hearings were a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It was not put to the committee whether we would invite the Revenue Commissioners. The Chairman went on television to ask Ms Feehily to come in. We were never asked if the she should be invited. When the Government Deputies legislated for the tax they blamed it on Fianna Fáil, and now this is being implemented, they are blaming it on the Revenue Commissioners. It is completely...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: If one opts for the single payment with a service provider, when can it be done?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I do not require Ms Feehily to respond to this but it is worth reminding Members who voted for this legislation that they are the ones who inserted a due date or liability date of 1 November. They are also the ones who put in a return date of 7 November and a payment date on or before 1 January, which is a bank holiday and the seventh day of Christmas. That is what has happened here. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am not seeking a response from Ms Feehily.