Results 5,901-5,920 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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

Thomas Byrne: Cheap mé gur gnáthcheist a chuirtear go minic sa Seanad ar Chéim an Choiste, go háirithe sa chéad díospóireacht, a bhí sa cheist a chuir an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil sé réasúnta go leor mar cheist. Bhí ionadh orm nuair a chuala mé a leithéid de fhreagra ón Aire Stáit. I am...

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

Thomas Byrne: I accept the Minister's response on amendment No. 231 and I will not press it. I agree with Senator Bacik. Ministers and their civil servants should take note that this is an appalling way to deal with legislation which is only a few weeks old. It is very difficult to follow. I was not expecting amendment No. 231 to be grouped here because it is not on the list of groupings. The page is...

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

Thomas Byrne: The rest of the amendments in the group are Government amendments.

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

Thomas Byrne: My point is not a huge one, it is that the list does not seem to be correct.

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

Thomas Byrne: No, we will be bogged down because we must be ready for amendments. I did not know amendment No. 231 was going to be discussed in the first group.

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

Thomas Byrne: It is fine if it is not to be discussed.

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

Thomas Byrne: In my short time in the House I do not think I have heard the Government withdraw its amendments. Is there provision in Standing Orders for that?

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

Thomas Byrne: What is the difference?

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

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 6:In page 10, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “ “Representative” means a person or an organisation appointed by the competent bodies in order to assist and represent an unaccompanied minor in procedures provided for in Article 2(n) of the Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32EU with a view to ensuring the best interests of the child...

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.