Results 7,981-8,000 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The view expressed by the Minister that nobody can be found to run the health service for ¤195,000 per year for three years is beyond belief, ludicrous and untrue. The Minister has not even tried to engage in a public appointments process. In one case in which there was a public appointments process, the candidate ultimately selected was unable to take up the position. In this case,...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister signed up for a programme for Government but this legislation goes directly against its provisions. I do not understand how the Labour Party, which is so concerned about the programme for Government, and Fine Gael can let this occur and laugh it off. The public is not laughing it off. The Minister talked about blame and suggested what the public is angry about. The public is...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (10 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That will really help the sick people of Ireland.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Public Transport (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I will be glad to do that. Stamullen is the largest town in Ireland with no public bus service. There is no private service either. The issue with the No. 109 route is a matter for Bus Éireann as there is no competing regular commuter service available to commuters on that route. Other parts of Meath have a regular private bus service that competes with Bus Éireann. The people who are...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Public Transport (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Tá mé buíoch don Leas-Chathaoirleach as an ábhar seo, maidir le seirbhísí busanna i gContae na Mí agus thart timpeall, a roghnú don díospóireacht ar an Athló. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment. In recent months, I have noticed many problems with bus services, especially in the commuter belt of County Meath. I...

Seanad: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Statements (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On the speaking order, I am reminded of a call I made previously for the abolition of the second group of Independents in this House. It is an issue which I intend to raise on the Order of Business. It makes a laughing stock of the Seanad that we have two separate groups of Independents and when one of them does not turn up the speaking arrangements for the day are upset. I wish to raise a...

Seanad: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Statements (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, should the next speaker not be from the Opposition?

Seanad: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Statements (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: In that case would it not be the practice for another member of the Opposition who is offering, such as myself, to be called?

Seanad: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Statements (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: My point is that if there is no Member from one Opposition group present a speaker from another Opposition group should be called.

Seanad: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Statements (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I do not mind but it is worth making the point that the Opposition speakers would follow the Government speakers if the Government-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I dtosach báire, ba mhaith liom cur leis an rún a chuir mo chomhghleacaí, an Seanadóir Ó Dómhnaill os comhair an tSeanaid. I second Senator Ó Domhnaill's proposal. I also welcome the farmers outside Leinster House. The contribution of the agriculture and food industries is key to our success. In turn, their success depends on the negotiated CAP outcomes achieved by the Minister,...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes. The Government is in charge and put this programme together in the full knowledge of the condition of the public finances. In fact, there was more revenue from taxation in those finances than was expected. It is about time the Government delivered on those promises.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That was 20 years ago.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Burke should withdraw his remarks.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Your own party or the Labour Party?

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Varadkar said that, not me.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: This morning I note the absence of many of the Labour Party Senators. Two are present - one has just arrived. The Deputy Leader is present. I wonder whether it has to do-----

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: What happened this morning is that we have put it up to the Government to provide a quorum in this House. For eight minutes it looked like the Government was not in a position to provide a quorum and the Fianna Fáil Party and the Sinn Féin Party Members came into the Chamber at that stage to allow the Seanad conduct its business for the day. It speaks volumes about what we read in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It speaks volumes about the choice the Labour Party in particular made between the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, and the former Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, in recent weeks. It also speaks volumes about the choices the Government, in particular the Labour Party, is making on health care. Serious questions have been raised as to whether the Minister for Health should have been...