Results 6,341-6,360 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

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

Thomas Byrne: Senator Cullinane raised the issue of the bank guarantee. Who could have imagined us taking on those debts? Who could have imagined an Irish Government would have to do that? If it had been prohibited by the Constitution they might not have done that, but the reality is that if someone had made that proposal 30 years ago, we would have had the same answers that the Minister who was sitting...

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

Thomas Byrne: I refer to the issue of taking part in EU defence missions. What Irish Government would take us into war? What Irish Government would have us involved in conscription? We changed the Constitution in order to allay the fears of the Irish people in that regard. We introduced the triple lock under the United Nations mandate, and approval of the Dáil and this House is required before we...

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

Thomas Byrne: My colleague may have a proposal.

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

Thomas Byrne: It was not agreed.

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

Thomas Byrne: Sorry, Senator Moran has walked into the debate recently and with all due respect, some of us-----

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

Thomas Byrne: For the last while, yes.

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

Thomas Byrne: We are here since 10 p.m. We are here for four hours.

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

Thomas Byrne: The Senator has confirmed what I said. She confirmed what I said, that she came in three quarters of an hour ago.

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

Thomas Byrne: I thought the proposal of my colleague was perfectly reasonable, but if the other side does not see that, that is fine.

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

Thomas Byrne: No, I want to speak. If the other side is not agreeing with me-----

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

Thomas Byrne: It is already on the record.

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

Thomas Byrne: That is irrelevant.

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

Thomas Byrne: Senator O'Donnell will be interested in this. The national lottery was not actually sold. The Government issued a licence. Having checked that, I have now submitted a Report Stage amendment. A licence could be issued in the same way the national lottery licence was issued regarding the business and undertakings of Irish Water without having anything to do with section 2 and leaving...

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

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister for the assiduous attention he has shown to the debate and for listening to the robust and differing views expressed by Senators. I suggest to Senator O'Donnell this provision could be changed in exactly the same way that the national lottery was dealt with. It is the same procedure and the national lottery sets a precedent in this regard. The provision on the...

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

Thomas Byrne: He said he might do it. He did not specifically say that he would, however.

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

Thomas Byrne: I have the greatest of respect for Senator Quinn even if I might not agree with him on everything. We are not looking at this or the next Government; we are looking at the distance between the establishment of the National Lottery and its sale. The Bill does not deal with that distance. I have suggested that the public water forum be turned into a constitutional convention on the issue of...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Guím beannachtaí na Nollag ar an gCathaoirleach, ar an gcléireach, ar an gcléireach cúnta agus ar gach duine eile sa tSeanad freisin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh Nollaig shona ag gach duine. Unfortunately, with the run up to Christmas there is always rushed legislation which usually makes, it has to be said with the precedence that has been set over the past few...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I propose that we sell all the assets of Irish Water, if they were to sell the assets. I ask my Independent colleagues, in particular, to look very carefully at the amendments, as we will look at their amendments, and to judge each accordingly. It has to be said that there is huge disappointment out there at the moment with the Seanad. We are all being blamed for the actions of a few and...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Government does not seem to be too worried about the bills for Irish Water because the income coming into Irish Water will be only about €25 million. The Government seems to be happy enough to get as far as the EUROSTAT test, which with a bit of luck, touch wood, will be all right. That seems to me the way the political leadership of this Government is operating at present.

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: When some of the Senators opposite were members of the Fianna Fáil Party, we were creating thousands of jobs every week.