Results 7,081-7,100 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is good we are dealing with the Finance (No. 2) Bill now and the budget is not rushed in the several weeks before Christmas. It gives a certain amount of time to reflect on and deal with it. Some of the budget’s measures are grossly unfair, continuing a level of unfairness that has been the hallmark of the Government, an unfairness well documented by the ESRI and Deputy Stephen S....

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I will wait for the Minister to finish what he is doing.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I will wait until he is ready.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I will wait until the Minister of State is finished.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Thomas Byrne: If the Minister of State is not taking part in the debate, I am not sure what the point of it is then.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Pensioners were told this pension levy was a once-off for four years. For many of them, the levy has had a permanent impact on their incomes. The cut to pensions in some cases reached 10% and is not just for four years but forever. It goes back to the old law that when one introduces a temporary tax, it turns out to be very difficult to get rid of it later. No matter who is in power, they...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is a low tax system there.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: If Senator David Norris were to join the Labour Party today, where should his allowance go?

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: That is not what the Minister said when he was in opposition.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Was the Minister anomalous in the 1990s?

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The House has had exhausted debate on this issue. I remind the Minister that there is a precedent in this regard. When an Independent Deputy joined the Fianna Fáil Party in the previous Government, she was advised legally, as I am sure Fine Gael and the Labour Party are currently being advised, that she was entitled to keep the money under the legislation. Incidentally, the Minister...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tourism Industry Issues (27 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as teacht isteach sa Teach anocht chun freagra a thabhairt ar an cheist a leag mé síos. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. The gist of the motion is that I was contacted by Slane Community Forum and Slane Local Heroes about the Slane Hub. It is an office which serves a multi-function purpose. It is a meeting point and an...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tourism Industry Issues (27 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am pleased the Minister of State has given a positive response. I had a private chat with him outside and he appeared to be supportive. I understand a process must be followed but the forum has been in contact with Fáilte Ireland going back further than 19 November on the issue. I have been in contact with the forum on the matter for some time. The forum has been rebuffed for a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Tourism Industry Issues (27 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Could the Leader give a commitment that amendments will be accepted at least until after the debate this evening?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Seanad can decide.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, when this has happened on occasion we have objected to it, but it has always been the case that amendments were accepted until Second Stage was completed. It was always allowed by this House, not by some bureaucrat or the Bills Office. This House tells the Bills Office the rules. They do what we tell them. Let us tell them that amendments will be accepted until this...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Will the Cathaoirleach be disposed to do that?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Is the Cathaoirleach willing to do that?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach. We will send them in.