Results 8,441-8,460 of 9,844 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Cultural Institutions (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I again welcome Senator Warfield's interest in these important matters and I echo what he says about us being champions for the institutions that are right beside us, whether it is the National Library, the National Museum, the Natural History Museum or the National Gallery of Ireland. These are very important institutions which are right beside us and having engaged myself with the National...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Inland Fisheries (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: It has not been rephrased in my response. It is there as the Senator has called it out.
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Inland Fisheries (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The Senator will have to understand that I am here on behalf of the Minister, who cannot be here. I will simply have to be very faithful to the script in front of me. I am sure the Senator can take up the issues further with the Minister. I want to thank the Senator for the opportunity to clarify these important matters which were raised, of...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Inland Fisheries (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I would reiterate that the current review under section 18 does not focus, as the Senator said, on the allegations raised on the Order of Business on 5 May. It does not focus on those allegations which gave rise to subsequent media reports, nor does the section 18 review include other allegations made in an anonymous disclosure earlier this year against a senior member of IFI staff. That is...
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I am glad to be able to address the Dáil on this important issue. I apologise for the absence of the Minister, Deputy Coveney. He is abroad on important State business. The passport service has been the subject of much public interest in recent weeks, as always. A passport is a very important document. As a Member of the House, I am fully aware of the number of requests for...
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I am not saying that. However, there are some errors. There is no question about it that there are some. People should check the Department website. It is also important to say that we have published estimated processing times. That processing time does not start when you start the application. The processing time for passport applications begins once the correct documents are sent into...
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I did not say that.
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I will clarify that.
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I will clarify that for the Deputy.
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: That is only a very small part of it.
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: We can find ways around the problem and try to solve it. That is the point I am trying to make.
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I agree.
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: Three weeks.
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. The sentiments they have expressed are sentiments I know only too well. I apologise for the absence of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, but I am glad that the director of the passport service has been in the Chamber throughout the debate. Many suggestions have been made by Deputies during this debate. There were some good suggestions and many...
- Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I accept that, but that will not be the majority of cases. That will be a small number of cases. A significant number of issues have been put forward in the debate. I have no doubt but that the passport service will take into account all those issues and all the really good suggestions that have been made. I agree with Deputy Paul Murphy that we should not have to do this on behalf...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I want to thank Deputy O’Rourke for raising this issue. As he rightly said, I am very familiar with it. I did give apologies to a public meeting that I could not attend last year. I fully support the Deputy’s proposal. I was at a public meeting three years ago when I put forward the exact same proposal. I tried to get action on it then. Unfortunately, people were not...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: The official script.
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for mentioning the Ardcath group. I had good engagements with Mr. Mick Reilly, who I have known for a long time. I will engage with the Minister next week and will inform the Deputy in advance of that. We need to work on this together. It is something that can happen. There are things going against it because the school is closed. It is for sale so, presumably, money...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I very much thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am glad the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte, is present to listen to his comments. There was not much we disagreed with on the substance of his points, quite frankly. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, there was not much she would disagree with either. The bottom line is no...
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2022)
Thomas Byrne: I had better continue this because it is the important part.