Results 6,541-6,560 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: It is our duty to look at these motions and then vote on them in accordance with what we want. Let us forget about legal advice. There is nothing to stop us maintaining the ownership of Irish Water in the hands of the public. It is essential that everyone here does this. If Members vote against this motion today-----

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I am speaking, Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: If Members vote against this motion they are essentially supporting the privatisation of Irish Water.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: We will not take any guff from the Taoiseach and his promises to tighten up the legislation. That is nonsense, as I said yesterday. We must have a referendum.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: If Members support the maintaining of Irish Water and the maintaining of a healthy and safe water supply to the people, they must support this motion.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I do not believe the Government will end up charging for this period of time at all. I do not believe I will pay because one of the principles of taxation, or one of Adam Smith's canons of taxation, is certainty of taxation. Under the Constitution, the Government must tell people what taxes they owe but it has not told us. Nobody knows and it is a complete shambles. The Government must do...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I was listening to what the people were saying and it is a pity the Government has not done so.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: While welcoming the great Meath hero, Seán Boylan, and his wife to the Visitors Gallery, I am saddened to inform the House of the death today of another great Meath man, former Senator Jack Fitzsimons. He will be remembered by people in this House and throughout the country as a person who was highly influential in many spheres of life. I agree with Senator David Cullinane's call for a...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Bacik must be joking.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: They have not given any clarity; they have made it more confusing.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Martin had a walk-out at the time.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Can the Minister please explain in more detail the omission of "self-assessment" from the Long Title? He has explained it in a roundabout way, but will he state explicitly that "self-assessment" is gone? This was one of the key parts of the Bill as announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. I am not going to go over the argument, but this Long Title goes to...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: While I am not going to delay on this amendment, I believe the business community should be aware of this measure. This will bring about big changes after what was decided in the High Court. I object to what is happening in the Bill, and I have made this point time and again. I did not realise this fully because I did not read the admittedly helpful notes from the Government on this Bill...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Sports clubs are exempt.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I accept that.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I ask the Minister of State to be very clear about the purpose of subsection (b) in the new section. It refers to buildings or parts of buildings used directly or indirectly in the generation of income. Why is that provision being introduced?

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I was delighted. I welcomed the Bill, until I read this.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I am trying to minimise-----

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State referred to serious income. There is nothing about serious income in the amendment. He referred to commercial activity, but there is nothing about that in the amendment. It simply refers to buildings used directly or indirectly in the generation of income no longer being exempt. That surely sends out a message that any club which rents a pitch or dressing room will...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: -----and referred to golf shops and pro shops. I do not want to exempt a golf shop.