Results 6,041-6,060 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: That is very important. Can I be assured it will only take place in the clubs that have bars and we will not go snooping and looking to find that they might be doing this or that? That will benefit those clubs that have bars.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The bar area.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It is extremely disappointing that this is not in place yet and that the Minister of State is saying the bills they have received for 2015 are due and payable. Over a year ago we had Fine Gael backbenchers announcing that this had basically come into effect, but the Minister of State is saying it will not come into effect until next year. We put forward a Bill in late 2013 or early 2014....

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I would make one further point. In the previous legislation we had a full exemption for sporting activities. The Minister of State has now watered that down in what I consider is probably a balanced way, but I am depending on the Valuation Office not to go looking where it has no business. These are not commercial entities; they are clubs. If the Valuation Office is going to start looking...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I said it was his predecessor.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I am not denying that. Neither do I accept I held up the legislation, however.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I am certainly not proposing any amendments to support wind farm developments.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I second my colleague's amendment on what is a very important issue before the House that affects many people. I also raise the debacle of the launch of Ireland's Ancient East initiative by the Government yesterday morning. In attempting to promote tourism in the east of the country and giving some alternative to the Wild Atlantic Way, it has botched the job, so the Minister should come...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: On pothole fixing in Castleknock.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: That is just 4%.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Deployment (2 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad that my commencement matter has been selected for today. I understand the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister of State are unavailable but at least I was told in advance. It is a pity they are not here because in the village of Duleek, County Meath, there is considerable fear and apprehension about the surge in the number of burglaries of premises and robberies that...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Deployment (2 Apr 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I ask the Minister of State to inform the Minister of the details of the situation in County Meath. The Garda division based in Ashbourne covers the area from the Kilcock bridge on the Meath-Kildare border up to the outskirts of Drogheda, across to Laytown, including Stamullen and Duleek and almost over to Navan and including the Rathfeigh area. It also includes the busy N2 road which is...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I was both astonished and disgusted today by the proposal from the Fine Gael and Labour parties that they will rewrite the 1916 Proclamation. I have never heard its like before. Would one rewrite a document for which people died?

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: That is exactly what is proposed.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Fine Gael and Labour parties have no authority. They have no ownership of 1916, which belongs to everybody in this country and it is about time they realise that. There appears to be some sort of shame, particularly within the Fine Gael Party, as well as large sections of the Labour Party, about 1916. That was clearly evident-----

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It was clearly evident from the promotional video the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, released last year.The 1916 Rising was hardly mentioned. There were pictures of the British royal family, but none of the signatories or people who had died.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We should have a full debate on the 1916 Proclamation, how we are implementing it and realising the vision of those who gave their lives and those who subsequently created this democracy.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: How are we realising that vision? For the Fine Gael Party, the latest show of shame and embarrassment follows the iar-Thaoiseach, Mr. Bruton, calling for the firing squads to be remembered. It is ludicrous and ridiculous. It is about time Fine Gael took its hand off the Proclamation and gave it back to the people, with whom it belongs.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Lemass and de Valera

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Lemass and de Valera set up democracy in this country