Results 6,321-6,340 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: The Seanad and the Oireachtas as a whole has a huge challenge because there are those who do not believe in parliamentary democracy, rather they believe in other forms of democracy.
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: We must show that parliamentary democracy is worth fighting for-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: -----that it is something we value and something that people will support, as some people are getting very sick of it with legislation being rushed through, before Christmas in particular, and mistakes being made. We have seen that with the water services legislation and we are already on the third or fourth version of that Bill due to mistakes and U-turns. The Road Traffic Act is another...
- Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: It is the Government's fault.
- Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I second the recommendation.
- Seanad: Standards of Care in Residential Care Homes: Statements (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: We were all shocked to the core by what we saw on television last night. Most of us do not watch much television, but last night's programme was what one might call "reserved viewing". Nothing prepared me for what I saw last night. I know a little about this sector as my wife is a nurse and works in a residential care home and is well used to dealing with individuals with disabilities or...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I welcome the representatives of the OPW, which does tremendous work in the various tasks it is set under legislation and by the State. It was stated that applications from local authorities are on the OPW website. I could not find them when I looked. Can the witnesses tell me if there are any applications in yet from County Meath in relation to recent flood events in Ashbourne?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: When was that granted?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Meath County Council was granted €75,000.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: This money was not drawn down.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Does Ms McGrath know what that was in respect of?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Are there applications in from Meath County Council in relation to recent flood events? An OPW official very kindly visited Ashbourne some time ago. There were quite a number of flood events in County Meath approximately four weeks ago.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I would be grateful for that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Is that on the small works scheme?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I am familiar with some of them.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Who maintains the projects?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: A small works scheme was granted in Drumconrath at the River Neagh and some people have suggested that other problems have been caused upstream or downstream as a result. The local authority in the first instance would look at that and come to the OPW if it needed more money to do more work.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I refer briefly to Oldbridge House. I congratulate the OPW and its staff there who do tremendous work. It is a major tourism attraction and benefit to the community of east Meath and south Louth, being located on the county border. Aisling and her team there do tremendous work. I brought my children there at Hallowe'en and there were things in terms of children's entertainment one would...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Presumably, the OPW wants the playground given that it sought planning permission.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Public Works (10 Dec 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Unfortunately, what has happened in the meantime is that a welcome expectation was created by applying for planning permission. For various reasons, Meath County Council did not want to go for it. It says it has no money whereas the OPW has a certain amount. It is getting caught now and families are losing out. The OPW and the site itself are losing out by not having it. The OPW was able...