Results 7,221-7,240 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The record will show what he said. My recollection of a comment he made a few minutes ago was that they want to walk away with their pot of money and that is not what the system is designed for. The amendment seeks a deduction. I think my colleagues heard it similarly.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: There has been a dismissive attitude. If this issue was to capture media attention, which it has not really done, the Minister would be doing a U-turn in the same way he did a U-turn last week on freedom of information legislation. There will be no public support whatsoever. This would be particularly true in the case of Fine Gael because there has been such anger, such a hardline attitude...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: They were found out.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, it must be noted for the record that the Fianna Fáil group abstained en masse on the vote.

Seanad: Passenger Name Record Data: Motion (14 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Leader for facilitating this debate and I thank the Minister for his presence. The Seanad, following the referendum, is very conscious of its functions under the Constitution and I am particularly conscious of our functions in regard to the justice and home affairs sector. It was put into the Constitution that both Houses of the Oireachtas would have to approve our opting into...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We will not be doing the work we are obliged to do, in accordance with the Constitution, if we do not debate these particular motions.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: There appears to be a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the motions before us. This is not the type of EU scrutiny in which Senator Mark Daly engaged during the summer of a directive proposed to be implemented without scrutiny. These motions relate to the justice and home affairs functions of the European treaties. Ireland and the United Kingdom secured an opt-out from justice...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Seanad has the power, not the committee.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Constitution.

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister was going well until he blamed the bailout.

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Only Rush. Not from Meath people. There was not a word in Meath about it.

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Senator Mullen for tabling the motion. I also thank the Minister for being here because it is important to have a full debate on this issue. I am not going to go into the technology or health issues, about which I am not an expert. However, I will give the Minister my observations regarding what is happening on the ground, in an effort to be helpful. While the Government can be...

Seanad: Science Week: Statements (12 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome the opportunity to take part in this discussion. It is not a debate because most people are of one mind on the importance of science and the welcome role Science Week plays in connecting young people to the area of science. A wide range of events are taking place, with nearly 1,000 events listed on the website. Schools and libraries in County Meath are hosting a considerable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I do not require Ms Feehily to respond to this but it is worth reminding Members who voted for this legislation that they are the ones who inserted a due date or liability date of 1 November. They are also the ones who put in a return date of 7 November and a payment date on or before 1 January, which is a bank holiday and the seventh day of Christmas. That is what has happened here. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am not seeking a response from Ms Feehily.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I did not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Members of this committee know not to mess with the Chairman. We have all learned that over the past couple of years and it works well. I welcome the witnesses from the Revenue Commissioners and compliment them. I could not put it any better than Deputy Joe Higgins, who was absolutely right in regard to the use of an alibi. I said on local radio this week that these hearings were a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It was not put to the committee whether we would invite the Revenue Commissioners. The Chairman went on television to ask Ms Feehily to come in. We were never asked if the she should be invited. When the Government Deputies legislated for the tax they blamed it on Fianna Fáil, and now this is being implemented, they are blaming it on the Revenue Commissioners. It is completely...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: If one opts for the single payment with a service provider, when can it be done?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Report Stage (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I second the amendment.