Results 2,681-2,700 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: One does not require a party nomination to get elected, as in the case of Senator Walsh.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: In relation to Independents who join parties, the practice may be that they give up the allowance but as I understand it, when this was a live issue in the media during the last Dáil the legal advice was that they do not have to give it up. The Minister might confirm, unless he is changing it in this Bill, that this was never the position and that people do it because it is the right...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It does in September.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: They add up at the end of September.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We can speak for as long as we like.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: From 1 January, will Independent Members be required to account for the money they receive from that date on? I want a clear answer. The answer the Minister gave was not clear.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am asking a question.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: No. I was making a point on Senator Norris's behalf. I certainly did not intend to be bullying. I was merely asking a question because the Minister's answer was vague.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Not at all.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister has not answered the question. When does he intend to commence the Act?

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is not agreed. If the Minister proposes to bring forward substantial amendments on Report Stage, it does not seem satisfactory that the Bill will be taken on Thursday. I do not know whether there is an explanation for that. I will not hold up proceedings this evening but it was promised that the practice of having only a couple of days between Stages of a Bill would come to an end. It...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Banking Sector Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The purpose of this Adjournment matter is to get some clarification from the Government on the proposed role of the KfW bank, a German bank which the Taoiseach mentioned in his speech announcing that the Government would not seek a so-called backstop financial arrangement upon leaving the agreement with the troika and the Commission. KfW is a public interest bank with various roles in...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Banking Sector Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: No, thank you.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I second the amendment. The Senator has made a very strong argument in favour of it and I urge the Minister to accept it.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, line 20, to delete “the period of 5 years” and substitute “each of the periods of 2 years and five years”.I hope Senator Zappone will reciprocate in due course and second the amendment because my colleagues are otherwise engaged. In fairness, the lobby for immigration reform is meeting Members in the House today and I gather that...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, line 23, to delete “that period” and substitute “those periods”.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 4: In page 7, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(j) an educational establishment.”.I wondered when I put down this amendment whether other types of educational establishments which are defined in the Act already should be considered public bodies within the definition. Institutions of higher education are included but schools etc. are not....

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is defined in the act.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am satisfied with that. I knew about the Labour Relations Commission involvement and I am pleased to hear that the Department of Education and Skills will be involved as well. That is important because the education system is a major part of the State and there is occasionally potential for wrongdoing in the educational system. We saw in the House when disclosures were made about...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 5: In page 8, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:“(e) works on a voluntary basis, as a volunteer for no pay,”.I have tabled my amendment in order to include volunteers in the legislation. When I spoke on Committee Stage I was particularly thinking of charitable organisations who may need protected disclosures. They may have volunteers who are...