Results 6,561-6,580 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Appointments to State Boards (7 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this important issue because it is has not been dealt with properly or appropriately over the past couple of weeks in terms of accountability to the people and accountability to the Oireachtas. Let us quickly and briefly go over what happened in the so-called McNulty affair. On 12 September Mr. John McNulty was appointed to the board of the Irish...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Appointments to State Boards (7 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I accept that. Mr. Michael McDowell, in the Sunday Independent, wrote:The cover-up and brazen peddling of lies to the public that we have witnessed even since the Taoiseach apologised and pretended to take personal responsibility for the affair shows that the interests of the Fine Gael party comes ... before ... political accountability and the maintenance of public confidence in the politics...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Sinn Féin waited all summer for that day and then messed it up.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for allowing the matter to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, on the Adjournment today. We all look forward to hearing what she has to say. Everything that has been done has been done in private and behind closed doors. It has been very unsatisfactory. I want to raise a very important issue affecting nurses, one I...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Who were the judges appointed today? We have not yet heard their names.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Those in government told us it was wrong but they continued to do it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 19: In page 79, to delete line 7.We held a good debate on this issue and the Minister is aware of the matters I have raised with him, including in private. I have nothing further to add except to emphasise that some of these authorities are akin to local authorities and should probably be subject to freedom of information legislation.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Do not get me into trouble.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister. This Bill has had an interesting passage that was not straightforward. There was a great deal of commentary from the Opposition, interest groups and some Members on the Government side. Significant changes have been made to the Bill since its publication. In light of the changes made in the Dáil, we support the legislation. In this case, the Dáil rather...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The equivalent provision in the United States criminal code provides for three years' jail and-or a fine. Although I have not had time to check, I am certain that if one does not keep records for the Revenue Commissioners as a taxpayer, one may well be subject to a criminal prosecution and maybe more than a fine.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 10: In page 50, line 11, after “member” where it firstly occurs to insert “of Dáil Éireann, Seanad Eireann, or”.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 3: In page 15, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:"(b) the Office of the President;".The amendment proposes to include the Office of the President and the financial functions thereof and not to include the President himself or herself. The Minister rightly pointed out the President's office is subject to the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Committee of...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: We will sacrifice that for the sake of peace for the time being. We will try to get it on the agenda the next time changes are being made.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I am not as upset about this matter as Senator Norris. With regard to amendment No. 10, there is a gap in the law regarding the private papers of Members of the Dáil and Seanad. What are the Minister's views on this?

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 1: In page 14, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:“(e) any correspondence electronic or otherwise even if such correspondence is not carried out on the official networks of the public body,”.We had a good discussion on this matter on Committee Stage. I raised issues that were in the press and I spoke to the Minister’s officials...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The UK has guidelines though.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Former British and Irish Administrations have used personal e-mails to conduct official business. Are there any penalties for Ministers and advisers doing this?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That process was introduced by Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (2 Oct 2014)

Thomas Byrne: We never used electoral fraud to get a candidate on a Seanad by-election ballot paper. That is what Fine Gael did.