Results 7,241-7,260 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Passenger Name Record Data: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We are not going to object to the motion being referred to the committee today but we expect a full but short debate after it has been discussed there.

Seanad: Passenger Name Record Data: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Chair can take it that a debate will be required at that stage.

Seanad: Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (Amendment of Schedule) (Annex 19 to Chicago Convention) Order 2013: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The same terms will apply to this motion.

Seanad: Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (Amendment of Schedule) (Annex 19 to Chicago Convention) Order 2013: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, these matters relate to functions of the Seanad where we have equal power with the Dáil. We have no 90 day function, we have equal power. If we do not approve of this motion it does not get passed.

Seanad: Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (Amendment of Schedule) (Annex 19 to Chicago Convention) Order 2013: Referral to Joint Committee (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is as simple as that. We need to take our responsibility seriously or not exercise it.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I raised it on Tuesday.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Assets (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am disappointed with the response. I did not table this matter to attack the Minister's local government strategy but to raise a specific problem that has arisen as a result of it. That problem is acknowledged by all parties in Kells and, indeed, by many of the officials I have spoken to in Meath County Council. I urge the Minister to examine this. I am sure there are similar cases...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Assets (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, as ucht an deis a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a árdú ar an Athló. I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for allowing me to raise this matter and I thank the Minister for being present. This is an issue that has an impact countrywide and I wish to highlight one example. I am talking about municipal authorities, in effect,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: What does it mean in practice that mortgage interest supplement is being phased out? Are there any other provisions the Minister can use to stop payments where ordinarily they would not have stopped, other than the provision being inserted that it should not be paid after 1 January 2018? Is there anything else that can be done to phase it out or is it that it will come to an end, as it...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister listened to my argument.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: What does "phase out" mean?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: He was a close personal friend of mine.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister hits the nail on head in a way. This money should not be spent indefinitely. However, such a scheme should still be in place for cases where someone is temporarily out of work. Let us suppose a person loses his job on 1 February and is out of work for three months. A payment like this could be crucial in keeping that person in his home. I agree that it should not be a...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister effectively abolished the mortgage interest supplement last year. Did her initiative last year, which required people to have worked for one year with the bank, lead to a collapse in applications? I would certainly have expected them to have reduced, but I do not know. I can see the logic behind not giving hard-pressed taxpayers' money to the banks by removing mortgage...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister made an allegation that I defended the banks. When I asked her to substantiate that, it boiled down to a defence of Brian Lenihan as Minister for Finance. I am very proud that I defended and supported him at the hour of his need and at the hour of this country's need.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am very proud of it. If I could have given him more support, I would have been delighted to do so. I only wish the Minister and colleagues when in opposition gave him the same sort of support. None of them is fit to lace his boots.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party opposed 3% of the bank guarantee which relates to subordinated debt. None of that was paid on foot of the guarantee, so its objections to the bank guarantee are irrelevant.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to continue on the section.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: As my former, deceased colleague would have enunciated, cuts had to be made. I accept that cuts have to be made by this Government. My fundamental difficulty with what the Government is doing is that the Minister is saying it is only €30 million and so is a modest cut, but it has a disproportionate impact on certain sectors of society. There is not a whole lot to say, other than to...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, it was the Minister who brought Mr. Brian Lenihan's name into this debate.