Results 3,981-4,000 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: On amendment No. 143, the language is self-explanatory. It requires that the interview be conducted in a child-appropriate manner and that the officer conducting the interview should have expertise in communicating with children to ensure the child's voice is heard and considered in line with his age, maturity and capacity. The amendment speaks for itself. Is the Minister of State going to...

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Is é an pointe ordaithe atá agam ná go bhfuil gach rud trína chéile ag an Roinn anseo inniu. Everything is shambolic in this debate. The Department has had no Secretary General for several months if not a year. The manner in which this matter-----

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We have had to suspend the sitting for 20 minutes to try to get some order on proceedings.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The legislation has been changed substantially in the past two weeks.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It is very difficult for anyone, even the Minister of State, to keep up with what is going on. This debate must be suspended in order that we can have a proper debate about very vulnerable people.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We should not rush something through in order that a political coup can be claimed.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We are obliged to study and examine this legislation carefully, but that is not being done. As the Leas-Chathaoirleach will know, the Department does not know what it is doing at this stage and it is unfair to be putting legislation before us.

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The debate is a shambles.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It is unlikely that I will use up the time I have been allowed. The Minister has given a reasonable explanation of what is intended by this Bill. The health insurance market could do with a major overhaul but perhaps that is not the business of today. We are supporting the Bill. This type of legislation seems to arrive at this point every legislative year. The measures seem designed to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I will not repeat all of what Deputy McEntee said, but I agree with her that the Government will be grossly irresponsible if does not publish guidelines by the end of the year. The Minister is being blamed locally by his Government colleagues for the failure to publish guidelines, but he is correct that Deputy Alan Kelly is the Minister responsible. The Minister, Deputy White, seems to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister should make a public statement because there is unease about this matter. There is a clarification notice on the Department's website which indicates that the terms and conditions of the scheme are to be changed dramatically, apparently for the benefit of identifiable projects.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (8 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim mo buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as teacht isteach chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé. It is good news that construction of Kells Primary Health Care Centre is now complete. It was the subject of a lengthy battle for the people of the area. When the former Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, published his infamous list of primary health care centre...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (8 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I look forward to the opening of the centre.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Children and Youth Issues: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (10 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It all sounds very valedictorial, having the Chairman and the Minister saying "Goodbye".

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Renamed the coffee shop.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I will pass on Senator Higgins's regards to Garda Connor.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I support the calls in the Seanad today, and second Senator Daly's amendment if it is necessary, because we were not sure if it was properly called the first time, for a debate in the Seanad and calling on the Minister for Health and the HSE to make funding available for the drug, Orkambi. There is another drug, called Kalydeco, which is already available for the relatively small percentage...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: This is in the public record. This is how this debate started. People could not believe that this process appeared to be done and dusted with the HSE.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We need a debate on this issue today in the Seanad. We need to support those affected. Ireland needs to lead the way on this issue. We should not be rubbishing drug companies all the time like we did in the case of the drug Soliris last year because the hope of these CF sufferers for a relatively normal life depends on the research and development done by many of these drug companies. We...