Results 3,801-3,820 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2015: Second Stage (22 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I am delighted to second my colleague's proposal. It is good legislation which takes stock of the system of public procurement as well as attempting to deal with other aspects. Other than European Union law which applies to certain contracts over a certain value, we do not have public procurement law in this country. We have public procurement practice instead. I do not know if the green...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: With no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, I am grateful for his presence in the Chamber, but I am disappointed that not one of the substantial number of Ministers in the Department of Health is available to take this matter. I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to raise the matter of the provision of special needs assistants, SNAs, for...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State talks about progress. Both she and the Government are always willing to blow their own trumpet. We saw this in the Dáil Chamber all week. I do not know if we are going to discuss the spring statement here but the Minister of State's speech is in stark contrast to the self-glorification in the Dáil during the spring statement about how great things are. What...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: No. Ten minutes might be sufficient for one speaker from the Government, but two Opposition speakers are waiting to speak. Senator Cullinane is probably in his office watching this. If we give the chance to one, we must give it to the other.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: For three speakers, we would be looking at an 18 minute extension.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It is not agreed in that it is not enough. It is not fair to people who have been sitting here all day that the Government can come in and decide to give its speakers extra time.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We do. We are looking for a sufficient extension. We are not objecting to an extension.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It is not agreed.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We cannot agree to those terms, from the Government that just closed down debate. It is not agreed. We cannot accept orders like that from across the Chamber.

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I just want to know what services will be where.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I call on the Leader to arrange an urgent debate with the Minister for Health. He is now becoming the Minister for photo opportunities while the health service and public confidence in it continues to collapse. This follows the latest announcement through the media, of course, since the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, knows only too well that the media is the place to do business. There are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to comment on what Ms Corbett said. If I heard her right she said there was a sea-change in recent years. In the Children's Rights Alliance report, this Government inherited a B on this specific area of child care and it has gone down to a D plus in the last survey, which is a damning indictment on what has happened under it. The witness is critical of certain aspects of what we did...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I am not taking up any more time than Senator Henry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I have not, as a member of the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I am a member of the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: If you are chairing the meeting you should know who the members are.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I am adhering to what you said about equality of time. HSE has made that point to parents: that someone else is going to suffer because their children are gaining, and not even gaining what other children have had before there has been a huge cut. I want more recognition of the fact that grandparents are currently providing a massive amount of care. It seems that this is nearly always due...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Not for preschool assistants.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Chairman?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Child Care: Discussion (7 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We have gone from a B to a D minus in the survey.