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

Seanad: Business of Seanad (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, the Cathaoirleach has allowed an Adjournment debate proposed by Senator Ó Clochartaigh relating to Government policy on Palestine, which is very general, yet he will not allow me to raise a matter which specifically relates-----

Seanad: Business of Seanad (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: There is no motion. I have asked for the Minister to come to the House essentially to discuss an article in a newspaper last weekend.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am just looking for a figure. The Government last week presented figures and then we found out they were not the real figures. I want the Minister to come to the House to discuss that.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Without wishing to breach the sub judice rule I want to endorse what Senator Mullen stated earlier. I am very concerned about reports of current court actions concerning nursing homes in County Meath and the issue is worthy of further debate. I will say no more about the issue until a decision has been made but I would hope the courts will come to a decision on that very quickly because it...

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish her well in her role covering European affairs. Only two ministries of State are worth having and hers is one of them, along with that held by Deputy Brian Hayes. No one would probably notice if the other ministries were not there.

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It is a fair point. The Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs has an important role and there is an argument for it to be elevated to a Cabinet position. Fianna Fáil attempted this, albeit unsuccessfully, in 1997. It is also important the incumbent has a deep commitment to European issues. Deputy Lucinda Creighton follows on from the former Minister of State, Dick...

Seanad: Housing Market: Motion (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I also forgive Senator Hayden because she was probably not aware of a report I co-authored with the former Deputy, Olwyn Enright, in the Joint Committee on Social Protection, where the Fianna Fáil Party did considerable work on this issue. One of the original aims of Fianna Fáil was to establish as many families as practicable on the land. While that is now an unfashionable aim, the...

Seanad: Public Service Agreements (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment and I am grateful to the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, for his attendance. It is good that many senior Ministers come to the House to reply to Adjournment matters. I am anxious to put that on the record. I raised this issue following the publication of the first progress report on the Croke Park agreement, the...

Seanad: Public Service Agreements (22 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: This issue will have to be further investigated because the correct figures are not being provided. It is not credible for a Minister to claim to the House that pensions savings are not related to pay or other issues in the Croke Park agreement. Pensioners are part of the Civil Service's costs because they are getting paid by the State.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I join my colleagues in congratulating the Minister, Deputy Brendan Howlin, on implementing a budget decision of the late Deputy Brian Lenihan to impose a cap on Civil Service and semi-State pay. I am disappointed he has not gone further but it is important to acknowledge the Secretaries General throughout the Civil Service who have taken voluntary pay cuts. They should be an example to...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Sir Humphrey Appleby should give an award for the reply I received.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It began by stating the saving of €289 million was driven by a reduction in staff numbers of 5,349 during the period, but after pages of gobbledygook it concluded by stating that public service pensioners have left the public service and therefore it would be wrong to include their pension costs in a progress report on the Croke Park pay agreement. On the one hand it stated savings were...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: This is ludicrous and it deserves a full debate in the House and among the public.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: What are the savings from the Croke Park agreement? It is a very important agreement which we want to implement but what are the savings? We do not have the figures.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I wish the Minister well in her job. It is the second or third most important job in government, in spite of comments made at the time she was appointed, as it controls about 40% of the budget. We are supporting the broad thrust of her actions in this Bill. At the time the minimum wage was reduced, I said in the Dáil that if it did not produce the jobs, then it should be changed. I agree...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I have been a member of the social protection committee since 2007, and I know they do a great job. There has to be some consistency to this, because it is bad for the social welfare system. The rumours and stories that go around, particularly if one lives near an area with many refugees, are due to the discretion available and the different practices used. Another issue which is slightly...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Enda Kenny announced it.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Call Deputy Flanagan into the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On the matter of the schedule of business for this week and in particular with regard to the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, I am not opposed to the use of the guillotine as it is a reasonable option for a Government to take although others have differing views. I am not stating this is my party's view. However, the way the business of the House has been scheduled for this week,...

Seanad: Rail Network (28 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I praised Ministers for attending the Seanad to debate various Adjournment matters and I hope they will continue to do so, but they may be busy tonight. While I am delighted that the Minister of State is present, I hope Ministers will not forget about or get bored with appearing in the Seanad. The Navan rail line is an important infrastructural issue, not only for Navan town or County Meath,...