Results 6,221-6,240 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, I am. I would rather the Minister give a commitment to come back on Monday on Report Stage on this.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: We had a Private Members’ motion recently on the privatisation of Irish Water which the Labour Party bravely supported. The Minister said then he would come back on this. Through all the hours of debate, we have shown we are not satisfied with what he proposed.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I have come the minimum distance to come closer to the Minister on it but he has rejected it. Senator Gilroy said we need to change the wording. If he has ideas on this, I will sit with for the next hour to change the amendment for Report Stage. However, I got the reply from him that why should he help me with my amendments. We are trying to help him actually.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: We are trying to help the Government make this Bill better. That is what all our amendments are about. I urge colleagues to support this amendment. If they have difficulties with the wording, we have Report Stage to make those amendments. The forum has already been given quite complicated tasks and is well able to look at this issue. The customers of Irish Water will be the citizens, or...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Will another situation arise whereby we have to change it again?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I did not.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I said it was the only body that could do it.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I will be brief. I am not going to match that style of speech. This was a genuine attempt to use a vehicle in the Bill to come halfway between our position and the position of the Government. Labour Party Senators did a brave thing in supporting a Seanad motion calling for the non-privatisation of Irish Water. This is one way we can put that into action. We cannot initiate legislation in...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: This was a vehicle to do it.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:“(8) The Forum established under section 7 of this Act shall not later than seven months after the passing of this Act, meet and consider a proposal to amend the Constitution of Ireland to incorporate a provision prohibiting the alienation of any share or shares in Irish Water or its assets or any part...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The issue is not that there is a statutory prohibition on the sale of assets; the issue is whether that is covered by the plebiscite proposal. It is not covered by it in plain black and white in the first line of the section. On the basis that the Minister and his officials intend to look at this issue and to consider the serious points I have raised-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: -----and we will look at it, I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: It has already been submitted.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The company does.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister refers to his colleagues who are trade union officials and to the transfer of undertakings regulations and the protection of employees. Employees are protected not just for the sale of shares of a company but also the transfer of an undertaking. An undertaking could be a part of a company or an asset that somebody works on which is moved to another company to generate income...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: She thinks Enda is the best too.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: It is the Fine Gael briefing note.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That is my point. It will manage them, not the Minister.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That is not true.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: It has a fiduciary duty to the company.