Results 6,181-6,200 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I can check about the road being gritted and let the company worry about the register.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator can lobby the Minister.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Fianna Fáil supports this Bill. We have been looking for this, particularly in opposition. It is essential that it happens. There is too much lobbying. There has been a great deal of lobbying about the Bill itself.

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We have all been lobbied. Some lobbyists are more beneficial to the State than others, but who are we to judge? The Bill has been significantly watered down from what was originally promised after lobbying from many good organisations, and I do not want to disrespect them. In respect of the cooling-off period for officials, we are concerned about the grade of the civil servant. Principal...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (28 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh clann John Carty agus muintir Chnoc Mhuire agus Contae Mhaigh Eo atá anseo. I knew John very well when I was elected to the Dáil and in the past few years of his life. He was an incredibly decent person. I get to know him quickly when I was elected because of my connection to Knock. John was able to explain my family history better than I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Once again, the blame is put down to the volume of submissions received, which is causing the delay. Although the Minister of State did not say this explicitly, the previous Minister did. What is happening is the message is being sent to An Bord Pleanála, in particular, that this is not a major issue of importance to the Government because there has been no effort on its part to update...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The guidelines are being revised because the turbines are unprecedented. They did not exist when the 2006 guidelines were introduced.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht an deis a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar an-tábhachtach seo a ardú ag tús suí an tSeanaid inniu. I am pleased to be presented with the opportunity to raise this issue in the Seanad today. The people of north Meath, and I presume people all across the country, are hopping mad with the Government because left, right and...

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister has my full support on those two pieces of legislation.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I was discussing this subject.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: What about the McNulty affair and what about Bord na Móna?

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: What about that chap in Irish Water?

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: They could not even find the name and address of one of the board members of Irish Water, except that he was-----

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: His forefathers fought in the Civil War on the pro-treaty side. That is all they knew about him.

Seanad: Appointments to State Boards: Statements (22 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: That was an extraordinary speech by the Minister. It was full of hope and promise and, of course, there was no mention of the ghosts at the banquet, namely, Mr. McNulty and Senator Craughwell, which brought this process to light. We were told this was the most reforming Government in the history of the State. The public rejected the old ways in the election in 2011, but we saw more of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: I apologise for being late; I had to attend two other meetings. Deputy Paul Murphy mentioned a list of projects. Is that list available?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: Is it available on a website or can the delegates send us a copy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: My points may have been addressed; if so, the delegates need not respond again because I can read the answers in the transcript of the meeting. I ask the Chairman to guide me in that regard. The issue of house prices in Ireland was flagged, but when I read the report, I could not see it highlighted hugely by the Commission. A concern about house prices is highlighted in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Thomas Byrne: We know that now, but what action is being taken at Government level? What action is being taken before the European Commission starts to give out to us and before the red light starts to flash?