Results 7,361-7,380 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Was there any independent consideration? The British can do what they like, but have we ever thought that this is so serious that we should sue to try to stop it? It seems that the arguments are set out cogently by Britain and by the Council legal services. Did we independently consider this as a risk to thousands of jobs and decide that we had better stop this in some way?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Do we have to stay neutral in the discussions when we were chairing the Council?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Was there not somebody else from the Government representing us at the meetings, such as Ministers of State?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Officials attend, but perhaps they put forward our point of view. We have a dual role chairing the meetings but we also put forward our own point of view.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Have we changed tack since then?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Am I right in saying that we do not have a veto on enhanced co-operation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: There are no votes on a Council wide basis, but it is simply the countries that are participating.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: Has the Department advised the Minister to join the legal action the British are taking, or to institute similar legal action?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The reasons set out by the British and confirmed by the Council - described here by Ms McVeigh - will have fairly serious effects for us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The Revenue may have to change its processes. There will be revenue loss to the countries. Am I right in saying that Ms McVeigh is saying that we will just stay out of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: We will not stand in the way of it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: That is the Minister's policy on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I agree with Ms McVeigh about the risks for Ireland and Europe on this. If every major western country introduced the FTT, then I could accept it, but I must say that the Government approach on this - it is a political matter and not for the witnesses - seems to be very lackadaisical. The British seem to be very concerned about the impact this would have on the City of London. We have a...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: There are differing opinions.

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I am merely advocating that we do our job, look at problems in society, fix them and where there is division or diversity of legal opinion that it be checked in the normal manner, as has happened on numerous occasions. I commend Senator Quinn on putting this issue on the agenda again - I feared it had fallen off since we proposed our own Private Members' Bill. When we were in Government we...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: -----whether other interests such as the banks have borne down their will on the Government and won this policy change. That is the only reasonable or rational explanation.

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: I sometimes wonder whether I am in the Supreme Court or in a House of Parliament because Members are debating whether the measure is constitutional, which is not their function.

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: It is not the function of Members to judge the merits or demerits of legislation from a constitutional point of view, particularly where there is divided opinion on the issue. It is clear that opinion is divided on this issue. Each Act of the Oireachtas passed has the presumption of constitutionality. If citizens have concerns, there is a protection in place whereby the President can refer...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: The issue was that it went too far and favoured a couple making a different decision themselves.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Thomas Byrne: A number of conditions in section 17 on the disclosure of information relate to Members of Dáil Éireann. Is there any particular reason Members of Seanad Éireann are not entitled to receive that information? They may be in a position to do so.