Results 61-80 of 2,047 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Thomas Byrne

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien sends apologies and has asked me to attend this evening in his place to address this important issue in County Mayo. I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for raising this issue and for allowing me the opportunity to outline the position regarding public water in Clare Island, and group water schemes in Mayo. As the Deputy will understand, the supply of public...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Lahart. Is ábhar an-tábhachtach é seo. I think you need more buses. There is no doubt about it. The Deputy has raised a lot of issues there and I will be happy to pass them to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and make it clear what Deputy’s constituents are saying. The Minister for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disease Management (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an t-ábhar seo a ardú anocht. I think all of us fully appreciate how devastating a diagnosis of a rare disease can be for patients, families, and carers. I believe that there is cross-party support for doing everything we can to help patients who live with these conditions on a daily basis. In February, on Rare Diseases Day, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disease Management (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for providing the opportunity to discuss this matter and I acknowledge his work in the area. Many rare conditions are complex and the impact for patients living with them can be severe. At times, it can be difficult to access appropriate medications and technology. The development of a successor to the previous national rare diseases plan is a key priority for the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta as an t-ábhar seo a ardú. It gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position on post-primary school places in Greystones in September of next year. I assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary levels, including...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and doing her job as a constituency TD, as I did myself in the Opposition benches and continue to do as a Minister of State in respect of similar scenarios. Her raising of the issue is a chance to outline the position of the Department. The Minister and Department are correct that there is a strong pipeline of project delivery for schools in the...

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: It is not.

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: It is not agreed.

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. We have had several debates on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in the House in recent weeks. It is clear there is genuine concern on all sides of the Dáil for the situation people in the region are now facing. I very much welcome that a truce, insofar as it goes, has been announced between Israel and Hamas...

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (25 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I am very pleased to join the debate on behalf of the Tánaiste, who is at another event during this part of the debate. I thank Deputies for their valuable contributions. I acknowledge that many people have been very consistent on this issue over many years, as Fianna Fáil has and this Government has. I welcome the recognition of former Fianna Fáil Deputy, Minister and...

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (25 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I am not saying Deputy Gannon was crazy in this context but he mentioned that Kosovans in this country do not want conflict. I am absolutely certain they do not; he is right on that. However, our peacekeepers in Kosovo have been cited by Sinn Féin in its policy document on neutrality as a threat to our neutrality and as an erosion of it. Peacekeeping in Kosovo is included in a list of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I will set out the position here. To be clear, I do not have the latest update from a meeting that took place at 5 p.m. I have been in the Chamber since then myself. The OPW is responsible for Castletown House. In 2008, it reassembled 227 acres of the original estate. The OPW attempted to purchase the lands from Janus Securities on several occasions, including in 2022 but it was outbid....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Heritage Sites (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputy Durkan for his long-time commitment to Castletown House and estate. Everybody recognises the efforts of the OPW and the State in the care and preservation of Castletown House. I will say that the OPW wants to continue to welcome visitors to Castletown House. However, the impact of the protest is that the refuse cannot be collected, staff are working without heating, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Probation and Welfare Service (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I reiterate what the Deputy and I have both said about reporting any crimes. It is important to always say that. Such reports will be treated seriously and sensitively. I will pass on the points the Deputy made to the Minister.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Children in Care (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. He speaks for all of us when he praises foster parents and families for all the work they do. Foster care is the preferred model for the care of children in care who cannot live with their families of origin. In recognition of the importance of foster care in contributing to positive and improved outcomes for children in care, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Children in Care (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge what the Deputy has said. I also acknowledge that what the Minister has done has been significant, although it is not exactly what everyone wants. However, he is committed to working with everybody, including Government partners, stakeholders and Tusla to continue to improve the supports for foster carers.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Weather Events (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge the community response. People tend to look after one another in a situation such as this. Politicians work together. The public certainly want to feel that people are there responding to the immediate need. The community has done that. I know that Sarsfields GAA club in Glanmire, for example, prevented further flooding from happening.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Weather Events (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: To be fair to Cork County Council, on foot of the warnings, work was done in anticipation of the flooding and I am sure that protected some people as well. As regards the Department of Social Protection, community welfare officers have been on the ground in the Deputy's constituency, in Midleton and Youghal, today. I am sure he has been touch with them and with other people all day. I can...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Weather Events (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The information I have is that people are on the ground. There is a humanitarian assistance scheme in place. There is a €10 million fund in place for that. Separately, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is ready to activate the flooding support scheme for small businesses and sports clubs that are unable to secure flood insurance and are affected by the flooding....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Probation and Welfare Service (19 Oct 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I apologise for the absence of the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I understand she is at a Justice Council meeting in Luxembourg at the moment. I sincerely apologise that she is not here to answer this. Deputy McAuliffe will be aware from previous responses to parliamentary questions submitted to the Minister that records indicate that two allegations of child sexual abuse have been made in...