Results 1,761-1,780 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Does the Minister's reference to discussion with the trade union movement include the Garda Representative Association, PDFORRA and the other associations or were the discussions with SIPTU and other such unions? The GRA is not satisfied with what has been proposed. Its members think it is unfair.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I know. SIPTU has been mentioned a lot but it does not represent gardaí, members of the Defence Forces and prison officers. It might represent fire officers. There are different categories of worker involved. A special case can be made for them that they provide a particular service that forces them to retire early. They feel that a further unfairness is being imposed on them because of...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: As I said on Second Stage, this provision is unnecessary. It pre-empts the outcome of negotiations with public sector unions in regard to the Croke Park agreement. It is putting the gun to the head of the negotiators in that agreement. It is clearly signalling the Government's intentions by putting into primary legislation a possible outcome of those negotiations. Leaving this unnecessary...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The first broken promise.

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Opposition offered that all Stages of the Bill could be taken today in an effort to be helpful and to allow the Department of Health to reach its budget targets. It will not be the fault of the Minister of State, from what we hear in the Department, but this summer the HSE is facing a raft of costs. For once, even the Government will not be able to blame the IMF or Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We will not delve too far into the backgrounds of a number of Government Senators, who were in various parties over the past ten years. It is a legacy issue and we all have legacy issues. A false Estimate was put forward by the Minister for Health in respect of the HSE at the beginning of the year. Substantial savings were promised in respect of this Bill, which was first promised last...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Why are Labour Party Deputies out defending it then?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We do not support it. In fact, we completely reject that principle.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I would like the Cathaoirleach to address the following issue with the Oireachtas ICT section. There is a problem, apparently, with the online publication of debates for external users. I would like to have it sorted out. It is a misunderstanding and there is no deliberate attempt to stop people from looking at the transcript, but as there is a lot of confusion, perhaps the Cathaoirleach...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: No effort is being made to put patients first. We had partisanship in the Chamber before the summer break. We decided that we would not accept an innovative proposal from Fianna Fáil to pass legislation in one day and that we would delay it until after the summer break. The cutbacks that we predicted happened. That is unfortunate, but it is a lesson for the Seanad that we must not...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: What about the Fine Gael tent at Punchestown? I understand it is still open.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is all there in the Moriarty report.

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I did not come to the House today expecting to be shocked, but I am, because there did not appear to be a single reference to climate change in the Minister of State's speech. I can be corrected if this is not the case, but there was evidence in his speech that both he and the OPW are climate change deniers. He said: "There is no firm evidence that this level of variability is reflective of...

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The quote was "that this level of variability is reflective of anything more than natural variations in our weather."

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Government, countries and scientists around the world have had massive studies carried out of climate change and its impact on flooding. An Environmental Protection Agency report from 2009 co-authored by Professor John Sweeney from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, contains incredible detail about the impact of climate change on flooding. Whether the OPW is going to start...

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Climate change causes flooding.

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: No, because they did not do that.

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State is contradicting the science.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Credit Union Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, I found this submission interesting and persuasive. While at first glance one would question some of the suggestions to change the titles proposed, when one listens about it in-depth one can see the reasoning behind it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Credit Union Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Is it proposed to have a private meeting to discuss the report?