Results 6,121-6,140 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Once again, the people of County Meath are being treated as second-class citizens by the Fine Gael-led Government. I refer to the announcement this morning by EirGrid, which I understand was tipped off to Fine Gael Deputies last night although they did not tell their constituents until a representative of EirGrid appeared on radio this morning. EirGrid now has decided there will not be...

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: There was a lot of debate.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The person was a long-standing customer.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: He is not.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Why is Senator Mullen not addressing equality?

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Does the House have to consent to the withdrawal of the amendment or is that purely in the hands of Senator Rónán Mullen?

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: It would save time later.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (27 Mar 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Rónán Mullen was asked whether he wished to withdraw the amendment. I am saying that as we had a long debate the intention of the Senator Mullen in withdrawing the amendment was to have another debate later tonight. Frankly, many of us have other things to do than listen to the same arguments again.