Results 5,921-5,940 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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

Thomas Byrne: We are obliged to study and examine this legislation carefully, but that is not being done. As the Leas-Chathaoirleach will know, the Department does not know what it is doing at this stage and it is unfair to be putting legislation before us.

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

Thomas Byrne: The debate is a shambles.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It is unlikely that I will use up the time I have been allowed. The Minister has given a reasonable explanation of what is intended by this Bill. The health insurance market could do with a major overhaul but perhaps that is not the business of today. We are supporting the Bill. This type of legislation seems to arrive at this point every legislative year. The measures seem designed to...

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I compliment the Minister on one thing: his speech was astonishing in its brevity. It was one of the shortest speeches ever made by a Minister to the Seanad and did not reflect the seriousness of the issue or the approach that needed to be adopted. The Minister used a considerable portion of his time in making such a short speech on this serious issue to attack the Opposition and he...

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: There has been no personal attack.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Opposition is very determined. It is determined to ensure this Government does what it was elected to do, that is, to sort out the problems in accident and emergency departments, make life better for patients and not allow nonagenarians - people in their 90s - or, as happened three years ago, a woman in her 100s, to be left on trolleys for hours or more than one day. The Minister has...

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, the Order of Business from this morning allows 40 minutes for debate and we have not exhausted that time.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Perhaps the Acting Chairman could use that wriggle room to allow other Members to speak and we could hear the Minister's response as well.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The order has already been breached in allowing the debate go past 5.40 p.m. so with that in mind, perhaps the Acting Chairman could allow colleagues to speak.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We need a nod from the Minister.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It is well organised by the Opposition.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (26 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It happened in Drogheda, too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Assistance Dogs in Ireland: Discussion (19 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I have no questions because this issue is self-explanatory, but I took a great interest in Joe Duffy's recent coverage of the Service Dogs Europe issue. It was one of the best and most important examples of public service broadcasting in recent times. I do not if it has done much damage to the sector in which our guests are involved, but it has clearly done much damage to those who have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Assistance Dogs in Ireland: Discussion (19 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It has become an issue recently, as it is not only people who are blind who have assistance dogs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Assistance Dogs in Ireland: Discussion (19 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: For the blind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Assistance Dogs in Ireland: Discussion (19 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Are there other rogue operators around the country apart from the ones who have been highlighted?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Assistance Dogs in Ireland: Discussion (19 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: My colleague, Deputy Billy Kelleher, and, I am sure, the other health spokespersons are in the Dáil dealing with a health Bill which is unfortunate timing.

Seanad: Tributes to Former Senator Jack Fitzsimons (18 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: On my behalf and on that of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, I offer my condolences to the family of the late Jack Fitzsimons, a former Member of this House. To his wife, Anne, his children, Cora, Lana, Lloyd, Emla and Ken, and his grandchildren I offer the collective sympathy of this House and of the people of Meath, many of whom crossed paths with Jack not only through politics...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Crime is a constant worry in all communities and we need a general debate on the issue in the Seanad. Obviously, we must seek more resources for the Garda and look at how the force carries out its business. In my county of Meath, at the start of the Government's term, the Garda Commissioner, for their own reasons, decided to merge two Garda districts. The Garda district of east Meath which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Grid Link Project: EirGrid (4 Nov 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Mr. Slye mentioned the Government policy statement of July 2012 on interconnectors and EirGrid infrastructure. On that date, there was a direction from the then Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, to EirGrid to go ahead with the project. There was a separate direction issued at the time, if Mr. Slye recalls.