Results 7,321-7,340 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Government Members can laugh all they like at the disabled and the elderly who will lose their medical cards next year but the figure is €113 million. The Minister for Health could not say at his press conference how many people will lose cards but he intends to review them. We saw last week what had happened as a result of previous reviews.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Labour Party Senators can laugh all they like but they are supporting these cuts. They think they are engaging in a probity review of people who are defrauding the medical card system. They are now claiming sick and dying people are fraudsters.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: That is the description in the Minister's speech.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: What signal does it send about this Government that it is abolishing the mortgage interest supplement?

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It sends the signal that the Government does not care about people in mortgage difficulties. That chimes with the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2013, which allows repossessions and facilitates the issuance of tens of thousands of letters to people in trouble. I am pleased that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, was able to include Kilkenny...

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Bray in particular could do with some kind of incentive scheme. All these towns are larger than Kilkenny even if they are not called cities, and they deserve to be included in the initiative.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Last week I dealt with a couple of people who earned €1 above the limit.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I would like to see that allegation substantiated.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Irish Examiner claimed the Government is in denial.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Not for smaller primary schools.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We do not know what the changes are.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: If they change party, are they allowed?

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The adjustment is €3.1 billion, including savings arising from the Haddington Road agreement.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The changes were announced last year and will take effect from January. The Senator should read the budget.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Many families will be affected from January.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Did Senator Hayden read the budget?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (9 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am disappointed by the reply. It would be helpful if the Department and the pyrite board gave this information to homeowners on an ongoing basis. The feeling on the ground is that people do not know what is going on. It is helpful to know what is going on, as outlined by the Minister of State. Inevitably, there will be concern about the delay. Members of the Opposition will give...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (9 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Are they expected next week?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (9 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to the House. I have had a great deal of correspondence from citizens throughout the eastern region regarding the pyrite remediation scheme that was announced earlier this year. Like everybody, I welcomed that undertaking by the Government to take action to address this issue. However, I was somewhat surprised during the summer when I...

Seanad: Issues Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural Towns: Motion (8 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I found the justification by Senator Keane for breaking the rules by saying that two Fianna Fáil members had already spoken to be extraordinary. I hope this does not happen again. Towns themselves need to rise to the challenge. Kells in County Meath has car parking charges which work to the disadvantage of the town and are a disincentive to doing business in the town. I commend the...