Results 6,301-6,320 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- 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.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: They will be given careful consideration.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: It does not.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I wish to inform the Minister that it does not.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I will quote from the website of a law firm in the UK giving the basics on the sale of a business: The sale of a business may be structured in one of two ways. The business may be transferred by way of a sale of the shares in the company which owns and operates the business or by the sale of the assets, which are necessary for the continuance of the business.We must cover both options and...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: It does not.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, line 4, after "Water" to insert "or any of its assets or any part of its assets,".This comes to the nub of the issue. Unfortunately, for him, the Minister let the cat out of the bag in his previous contribution. My amendment seeks to ensure that the assets of Irish Water are also subject to the same plebiscite provisions, flawed as they are, that the...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: On top of it, only for shares in Irish Water not for the assets. In fairness, the Minister's officials should do some research on this issue. I am raising a valid point which the Minister has dismissed out of hand privately here in the Chamber. The reality is that shares, assets, business, undertaking, licence, all aspects of what Irish Water can do, are not subject to the plebiscite...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I heard colleagues say they would support the Minister because of that. One of them who spoke privately to me voted with the Minister; he said that it could change during the course of the debate. The Minister seems to have ruled that out entirely. I think I have spotted a significant gap. The Minister cannot say that assets are covered by shares - they are not. A limited company can...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: It could charge for the supply of water-----