Results 4,141-4,160 of 9,933 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Topical Issue Debate: DEIS Administration (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I will take the Ceann Comhairle's word on that, but he is not here tonight to discuss what is a major issue for schools all around the country. Deputy Cahill spoke about the five schools in Tipperary town. There are schools all over the country affected by this, which is why the Ceann Comhairle has recognised this as a huge issue. Those schools do not know why they have been excluded....

Topical Issue Debate (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: Can the Ceann Comhairle give us a minute because we were not expecting the statements to end so quickly.

Topical Issue Debate (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I understand that.

Topical Issue Debate (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: We were.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I was indicating.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I was indicating to the Ceann Comhairle before he said the time was up.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: The concept of academic freedom - particularly for the staff of a third level institution, a university or a technological university - is so crucial and so important for democracy, freedom of thought, the development of ideas and social progress that to dilute the concept of academic freedom for staff by inserting student academic freedom, as the Members propose, would be wrong. We should...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I am not going to hold this up. There was a major debate. It is worth noting the presence of the Irish sign language interpreter. What a wonderful day this is. That debate will happen later and we thank everybody for their presence. On the Bill at hand, there was an extensive debate at Committee Stage, and I thank the Minister for acknowledging the role that everybody had in coming up with...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: The amendments are very important and I thank everybody for their engagement.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I have met the student unions and I have to say that I am shocked by some of the stories I have heard about student unions not being recognised and colleges putting obstacles in their way. I have heard that anecdotally about a number of colleges and I think that is very wrong. However, I have explained to the student unions that I am not sure this legislation is the right place to place a...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I accept what the Minister of State has said on section 50 and the guarantee she has given. I am glad that has now been resolved as far as Fianna Fáil is concerned. As a by the way comment, I cannot see how one could go further than what is in the legislation. I am much happier now that the Minister of State has clarified and explained that.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister has thrown a spanner into the works in the debate today. I read section 50 as stating, in the plainest possible language, that there is a guarantee that everybody who has a job will continue to have one. I am supporting the Bill on that basis. If the Minister contradicts that and says she cannot give that guarantee, then Fianna Fáil cannot support the Bill - it is as...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister said she was not giving a guarantee.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: Can the Minister give us a guarantee?

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: My and the TUI's understanding is that there is a guarantee.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I do not answer to the far left but I will wait to hear what the Minister says on section 50 before committing because a spanner has been thrown into the works. We want to support this and get the legislation through. We want to support staff and the TUI, as well as the agreement it reached with the Department. We want to get these universities started and to ensure section 50 is properly...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I strongly criticise Deputy Barry for coming into the Chamber and throwing this red herring into the debate at the last minute. It casts a slur on all Deputies who support this legislation. If the Deputy had taken a minute to read section 50 of the Bill, he would see a specific section about the transfer of staff. There are no jobs losses and this is provided for by law. It is scandalous...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I would like the Minister to clarify this. With all due respect to the Minister, section 50 of the Bill does provide a guarantee. I ask that the Minister reconsider her point on not being prepared to give a guarantee. If one reads the legislation, in my view, it is utterly clear.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister should be as clear as possible.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Dec 2017)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome these provisions. There has been some loss of confidence in aspects of the governance of the third level sector, as was highlighted in the discussions that took place at the Committee of Public Accounts and in issues reported in the media. I also refer to the University of Limerick in this regard. In some cases, there was a great deal of defensiveness on the part of sector...