Results 7,021-7,040 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I apologise for my absence as there was a vote in the Seanad. The Minister has spent much of the meeting muddying the waters with all sorts of red herrings. The issue of Insomnia and Spar has been a complete red herring. He has dismissed the Wi-Fi issue when in fact GSOC explained in its briefing to the Minister that it was a concern. The tenor of the Minister's contribution has been to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I explained that I was at a Seanad vote-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister is muddying the waters again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The point is that GSOC had genuine concerns.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister does not seem to have the same level of difficulty with that report-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The issue about Insomnia and Spar was just added in to muddy the waters. GSOC said in its briefing to the Minister that it did not have a Wi-Fi network. The Minister described a Wi-Fi system but GSOC had a Wi-Fi device which was connecting into someone else's Wi-Fi network.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister has been referring to the Wi-Fi system. GSOC was concerned as a result. The Minister said that because it emanated from Spar or Insomnia, there were no concerns, but in my view this does not change the situation. I refer to the precedent for the inquiry. The last similar inquiry was the Lourdes hospital inquiry into sexual abuse chaired by a retired High Court judge. Is that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Surveillance Issues: Minister for Justice and Equality (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I have not mentioned Garda misconduct in my question.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator does not have privilege at Labour Party Parliamentary Party meetings and, therefore, he is right to use it here.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I suppose we had all better make declarations. I was not on the trip to the Japan either in case any questions arise and I would not have had the time to participate. I hope that the Cathaoirleach got on very well on his trip and represented the country well, as I am sure that he did. I wish to raise the issue of the so-called review of what happened at Capel Street last week. Is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: How did Mr. O’Brien feel when he heard the Taoiseach on the media on Monday demanding that he level with the Minister for Justice and Equality, as well as stating the commission had misquoted the law as to its legal obligations? How did a commission, required by law to be independent in the performance of its duties, feel about these statements?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: Surely, Mr. O’Brien and the commission heard the Taoiseach?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The commission really needs to think seriously about how it deals with media and political pressure. Some of the political pressure was completely inappropriate, as was some of the media pressure. The commission will have to learn to live with it, however. It must also comply with the law to be independent in its functions and do the job we want it to do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I apologise for my absence for part of this meeting but I had to be in the Seanad Chamber. If I raise an issue that has already been addressed, the Chairman can feel free to interrupt me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: If I raise something that has been raised before, I urge the Chairman to tell me. I apologise for missing the last hour of the meeting but I had to make a speech and cast a vote in the Seanad. The Garda Síochána Act requires that GSOC should be independent in the performance of its functions. How does Mr. O'Brien's expression of regret to a Minister qualify as being independent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I think the public would be happier if they found out that GSOC was investigating these matters privately in what it considered the best way of doing so. That is obviously what GSOC thought at the time; that this was the best way to deal with the matter. There has been an immediate change in attitude and I am disappointed. I am supportive of GSOC and the Garda Síochána and am not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Security and Protocol Issues: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The worst mess up in the office of the DPP - I cannot think of any off hand - or a decision not to prosecute is never apologised for. The DPP makes decisions independently. The DPP never explains or apologises because the office cannot do so. It is not that an explanation or apology is not desirable or that we would not like to find out the reasons for the DPP's decisions but under our...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Defence Forces Deployment (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: As usual when one receives a response on an issue such as this, there is great detail in the response and it is difficult to absorb it all in a short period. I accept the Minister of State's statement that there are no plans to relocate B Company 27th Battalion. We have heard this before, but I have been hearing otherwise and I feel it is important to raise the issue. The Minister of State...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Defence Forces Deployment (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I was referring to the officials in the Department as well. I said "the mandarins and chiefs".

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Defence Forces Deployment (12 Feb 2014)

Thomas Byrne: A number of serious issues of concern were raised with me this week by family members of soldiers working in Gormanston Army Camp in County Meath. I live very close to the camp and know many of the people who work there. Various family members are regularly in touch with me about the camp. It has been put to me that the Army bomb disposal team, which is based there for convenience and...