Results 5,941-5,960 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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

Thomas Byrne: I am merely recalling that. Effectively, EirGrid is acting on that policy decision from 2012. Really, nothing has changed, from EirGrid's point of view, in respect of the North-South project since then. In relation to representations made, would Mr. Slye or any of his colleagues have had contact with the Taoiseach or the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, on the project in the west, and...

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

Thomas Byrne: Facts from EirGrid.

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

Thomas Byrne: They are not. This is a political body.

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

Thomas Byrne: This is where politics are engaged. I do not know whether the Chairman had any role in that. Fair play to the Chairman if he was looking after his constituents. I would admire him for getting a result.

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

Thomas Byrne: Maybe the Chairman had a role there. As I said, I would commend him if he did. I am in no way critical of any representational function of Dáil Deputies on this issue. In fact, that is my point.

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

Thomas Byrne: The people of Meath and, I suppose, Cavan and Monaghan, are up in arms about this. They will be up in arms even more listening to what I would consider the clearest statement from EirGrid on the alternative of an underground option, as stated this morning by Mr. Slye. It could not be clearer. Mr. Slye has stated it here. That has changed incrementally over the past number of years. The...

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

Thomas Byrne: Is it in the press release?

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

Thomas Byrne: There were no representations at all. We saw with Westport House that the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, was well able - fair play to him - to facilitate a meeting with NAMA and the local authority. Was there even anything like that in this case?

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

Thomas Byrne: As I recall, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, was supporting that at the time, but not in Meath.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (21 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Táim fíor-bhuíoch den Leas-Chathaoirleach as an deis a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú ar an Tosú inniu. Tá a lán moill ag baint leis an rud seo agus ba cheart don Aire Stáit an scéal a thabairt dúinn faoin méid atá ag tarlú. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this matter in respect of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (21 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: This is the most outrageous reply I have received to a question in this House.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Heritage Sites (21 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: For the Minister, who is legally and internationally responsible for arranging world heritage status between UNESCO and the Government, to claim there is not enough interest in these areas is outrageous. I have never seen a town so committed to its heritage tourism than Kells. The people are working tirelessly and are engaging with the Department. One group met with the Minister, Deputy...

Seanad: United Nations Principles for Older Persons: Motion (21 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis na Seandóirí Ní Dhomhnaill agus van Turnhout as ucht an rún seo a chur os comhair an Tí anocht. I thank Senators van Turnhout and O'Donnell.

Seanad: United Nations Principles for Older Persons: Motion (21 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Senators O'Donnell and van Turnhout. Go raibh maith, a Sheanadóir. I said it in Irish first. Senator O'Donnell is prickly about the issue but no personal offence whatsoever was intended. I am glad this motion has been, fortuitously, tabled this week. Peter Sands, a Member of this House for a number of months in 2007, was a fiercely active man in the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament...

Seanad: United Nations Principles for Older Persons: Motion (21 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Ireland can be the greatest little country in the world in which to do business but, as my party leader has asked on a number of occasions, is this the greatest little country in the world in which to grow old in? We all aspire to growing old in good shape and with good facilities and security available to us. The one thing the elderly need and demand from the political system is a sense of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Services: Quarterly Update (6 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I would like clarification on some of the figures provided in response to my questions. The Minister and HSE have acknowledged that there are some problems in relation to the figures up to 2012. However, the statistics for 2013-2014 also appear odd in that some indicate a huge increase in 2014 and others are indicative of a decrease in 2014. Perhaps the Minister would indicate when he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Services: Quarterly Update (6 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Senator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Services: Quarterly Update (6 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I am getting above my station.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Health Services: Quarterly Update (6 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: There are some who have 24-7 care.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Site Acquisitions (1 Oct 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I think the Minister of State is a Minister of State in the Department of Education and Skills.