Results 6,821-6,840 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Planning and Development (Temporary Moratorium) Bill 2014: First Stage (15 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Tomorrow.

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: While I congratulate the Minister on his appointment, he is new to the job and has come in at the very last Stage. I urge him to examine the legislation and listen to the pleas of my colleagues, Senators Darragh O'Brien and Power, who have actively fought against this aspect of the Bill in particular. The Minister has the opportunity, through the commencement order, not to give effect to...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I second Senator Mark Daly's amendment to the Order of Business. I also propose my own amendment, namely, that No. 21 be taken before No. 1. No. 21 is a Bill I drafted - I thank my colleagues, Senators Mark Daly and Diarmuid Wilson for co-signing it - in respect of what is a very live issue. Last December the then Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (8 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Will they apply to a planning application that is already started?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (8 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Okay.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (8 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State has been tipped to be the next Minister for Education and Skills. She would do a very good job. I wish her the best of luck. I saw it in some of the newspapers over the weekend. Senator Cáit Keane will have a head start on her matter if the rumour turns out to be true. I wish to raise a very serious issue and I am glad the Minister of State is here because...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (8 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The reply raises a number of other questions. When will the guidelines actually be published? There were rumours they would be published this week. The problem is that an application for planning permission under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act may not take very long. Preplanning consultation is taking place in this case. We are told a formal application for...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Has the proposal been agreed between the Whips? I do not know whether the spokesperson is aware of the proposal.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That is fine. I just have not spoken to a spokesperson. Are they available now? I presume they are.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I thank and congratulate the Minister for shepherding this legislation through the Houses. Many of the problems that governments and society are dealing with relate to things being hidden and stories not being told and crimes being committed that nobody knew about. It also relates to people being afraid to speak out and voices being silenced by pressures in the all-powerful society. I hope...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I am at a loss here because I do not have the Dáil amendments, although I have read them. I thank the Minister because I recall that debate very clearly and I am glad the Minister listened. It reminds me of the Seanad referendum when they said the Seanad did nothing and that amendments were never made to Bills, but, of course, this is the way the debate happens. The debate takes place...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Was there some chopping and changing in respect of An Garda Síochána?

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That is further on?

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That is not true.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I call for an urgent debate to be arranged on the independent commission on electricity transmission, headed by Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness as chairperson. The commission was tasked with looking at Grid West and Grid Link in terms of an underground solution. I believe an underground proposal for the west of Ireland route was made subsequent to the setting up of the commission. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Thomas Byrne: That is what he tends to do during elections. It is the second time this has happened in north Meath. The issue of wind turbines was treated in exactly the same manner. One thing is said before an election but there is a different scenario post-election. This is a really serious issue. The people of the north east have been treated with disdain and contempt and are now effectively...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Reform) Bill 2014: Second Stage (25 Jun 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I pay tribute to Senator Quinn for bringing this important legislation before the House which, I hope, will lead to an important debate on this issue. Fianna Fáil welcomes this Bill as an important contribution to the debate on addressing what is now a serious crisis in health insurance. Health insurance is seen by some people as a luxury for the well-off but the reality is that almost...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I rise to express the support of Fianna Fáil for the motion. Section 8 is a very important section of the 2009 Act. I was delighted to be a Member of the Oireachtas which passed the Act. We received the support of Fine Gael at the time, although there was some dispute among the Opposition. Most elements of the political system supported the legislation. Gangland crime is a serious...

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Thomas Byrne: We support the Government in this motion. We wish to send the strong message that the Irish State and its political system is united against terrorism. We understand and recognise that the continuation in operation of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, which was brought in after the Omagh bombing, is a vital legislative tool in the battle against dissident Republican groups...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2014)

Thomas Byrne: What madness drove the Seanad leadership to have statements today on the 750th anniversary of the so-called first Irish parliament? A parliament probably met in Castledermot, County Kildare, 750 years ago today, but we have no idea whether it was the first.