Results 6,021-6,040 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I have already given the Cathaoirleach notice of my intention, in accordance with Standing Orders, to seek an adjournment of the House in order to discuss the specific and urgent matter of Aer Lingus. I wish to make an appeal to the Leader. What vision do we have for the Seanad if we are only discussing Aer Lingus after the horse has bolted in the Dáil?

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: What is the Seanad for? Is it merely a debating Chamber? Do we merely rubber-stamp things? Is this a House of Parliament? If this was a serious House of Parliament then a debate on Aer Lingus would have been scheduled to take place before the Dáil vote so that all voices could be heard before the Dáil made its decision. I acknowledge that it is a decision for the Dáil....

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Seanad should have control where a Government backbencher contradicts a Minister. Somebody is right and somebody is wrong.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We need to know who is right.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Cathaoirleach has no control over them? Are we meant to get the proper answers to Commencement matters? I do not want to hear a row between a backbencher and a Minister of State. I want to know what the exact position is. It seems absolutely ludicrous that a backbencher would know more than a Minister of State. What is the position? What is the story? What can we rely on in terms...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, what the Leader has said is reasonable. Can I suggest that if Senator Barrett gets time from the committee and he does wish to speak, then Members could give way to him? He will only have a short time-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: He will have a lunch break.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Statements (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I do not see a rush to the Government benches to support this debate.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Statements (28 May 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Because the Government is proposing to flog the last remaining share of Aer Lingus. We would like to see some justification-----