Results 5,941-5,960 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Tackling Obesity in Ireland: Statements (17 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister. This is a crucial issue for society. The Minister may think he is presenting some good news on it but the facts show that this a problem that is getting out of control. I am not sure how seriously he is taking it. I have lost about two and half stone since I came into the Seanad. It is a difficult process. There are certain simple things that could be adopted to...

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (11 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I will not use all of my allotted time. My party supports the continued operation of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, as I have done every year in this House. We brought that in at a time of terrible strife in this country. It was done at a time when we thought we would have uninterrupted peace but, sadly, peace did not last. Unfortunately, there are still people who do not...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as teacht isteach sa Teach le míniú a thabhairt ar an mBille seo. I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss the Health (General Practitioner Services) Bill 2015. The general effect of this Bill is to give back to the over-70s what has been taken from them, partially by the previous Government but mainly by this Government...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: No, it is not.

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Many families have been asking me for the past year and a half, since this was first announced, when it would come in. Many families will not benefit from this at all as their children have gone past six years of age. The demographics are changing in this country. There was a baby boom a few years ago.

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: As a former leader of my party might have said, the baby boom is not as boomy as it was, but the Government seem to be categorising groups in the hope of getting a few votes out of it while people in the middle are really struggling. There is a case in County Meath at the moment where a child cannot get treatment in Ireland, or in England for that matter.

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I assume the child has a medical card. The treatment is not available here, so the child has to go to America for treatment. I had another case last year but that child seems to have recovered. There are a lot of problems with the health service and it is wrong to suggest this will change things. It will not. Does the Minister of State have the up to date county by county figures?...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party has learned its lesson on tax cuts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Affordable High-Quality Child Care: Discussion (11 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Troy made some good comments. I apologise for being late. I am concerned about all the issues that have been raised. The last thing I did before coming here today was to drop off my child for the last two weeks of his free preschool year. There will be many tears shed at his graduation next week. We are extremely grateful to the teachers involved. They do an absolutely fantastic...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I disagree with Senator Norris. Good riddance to these proclamations of the 18th century because, in the main, they were penal laws which subjugated the people of this country at the time.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I do not have the text of this legislation relating to that Lord Lieutenant, who I believe was the Duke of Devonshire. I certainly do not support that legislation and I do not wish to keep it.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We do not.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: In many ways-----

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: In many ways it is ludicrous to debate a piece of legislation that was spent nearly 200 years ago.The context of the Bill is the penal laws of this country-----

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: -----under which the majority of the people suffered grievously under the lord lieutenants and their legislation.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Let us do this as quickly as possible.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2015: Committee Stage (10 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I know Senator David Norris does much for Georgian Dublin but he is in danger of turning the Seanad into a Georgian parliamentary chamber because we have debating issues that are utterly irrelevant. Listening to the debate about the items that are spent, I wonder whether it is worth the time of civil servants going through items that are clearly spent and clearly have no application....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I second the important amendment proposed by Senator White. I wish to speak about IBRC, the commission of investigation, the role of the Seanad and all the issues that have brought this to a head this week. It is very important to remember that under the commission of investigation legislation, the Seanad has the same role as the Dáil. This commission of investigation cannot go ahead...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, I agree but it is not a matter for the courts.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It is not a matter for the courts, it is a matter for the House.