Results 6,401-6,420 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: This is the reality. Seo í an chaoi atá sibh ag déileáil le hUisce Éireann. This is the way the Government has dealt with Irish Water from day 1. It is a disgrace and a shambles. Page 1 of the Government's manifesto was about freedom of information but its idea of freedom of information is to black the whole thing out. Do not let them know what is going on...

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I never heard of a director of a State board appointed as a ministerial driver.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: There were jaws dropping all over this country when that was revealed. It is relevant because it is part of a pattern with Irish Water. There was a full investigation by the Daily Mailinto finding out who exactly another of the directors was, because they did not even know that and Irish Water would not give details. They did know that his forefathers fought on the Free State side in the...

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of information, the Senators keep making that accusation but could they actually produce the document? The Minister of State is laughing but the people are laughing at him and they were laughing at him a couple of months ago----

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That is not true.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Senator John Gilroy is reading Fine Gael briefing notes and it is time he stopped doing so.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Please copy the page which includes the figure of €400.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: No, I did not.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, if the Senator wants to allege that we support a €400 charge, he should produce evidence. He cannot do so because there is no such evidence.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The advisers are again telling the Senator what to say.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator is reading another Fine Gael briefing note. Throw in the kitchen sink.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: What of "from each according to his means"? Is that not basic left-wing philosophy?

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Good point.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (20 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, for coming to the House. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is busy. Who is responding to me?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (20 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That is fair enough. I wish to raise the matter of the inpatient and acute psychiatric service in Navan. I understand there are plans to close the inpatient service in the new year. When a new unit opened in Drogheda, we all very much welcomed it. The more we can do for people with psychiatric conditions, the better. There are too many people dying as a result of diseases of the mind. We...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mental Health Services Provision (20 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge that the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is away and cannot be here. We all supported A Vision for Change. It was our policy and I believe everybody agrees with it and always did. We want to see it implemented as best we can. If we read the Minister of State's script very carefully, we will note there is no actual commitment to maintaining Our Lady's Hospital,...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I was informed by my colleague, Senator Leyden, that when legislation is passed, the spokesperson is invited back to the office for a brandy or a whiskey. Those days are over, I think, at this stage. One feels like that after the lengthy passage-----

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State was not the Minister for the entire passage of this Bill. For the record, I will go through what happened with this Bill. It was published in 2012 and nothing happened for a year. Just before the referendum on the Seanad in September last year, it came to the House for Second Stage. Serious concerns were raised across all sides of the House. Senator Coghlan, being...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I want to speak on this because it was a huge bone of contention throughout the debates and, in fairness to the Minister of State, he has removed the issue as a problem, certainly in my reading of it and in other people's reading of it. The requirements are there but the subsection being inserted, subsection (4), changes it significantly and I hope any court in the future, when interpreting...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:“3. An occupier shall not be liable for any unpaid rates due to a rating authority if such rates were incurred during the occupancy of the relevant property by a previous occupier.”.