Results 8,041-8,060 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Credit Union Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Is it proposed to have a private meeting to discuss the report?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Credit Union Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We are not making recommendations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Credit Union Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I accept that. I was going to make this point until I heard-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Credit Union Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Did we make recommendations on the whistleblower's legislation?

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: No, because they did not do that.

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State is contradicting the science.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Credit Union Bill 2012: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, I found this submission interesting and persuasive. While at first glance one would question some of the suggestions to change the titles proposed, when one listens about it in-depth one can see the reasoning behind it.

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Climate change causes flooding.

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I did not come to the House today expecting to be shocked, but I am, because there did not appear to be a single reference to climate change in the Minister of State's speech. I can be corrected if this is not the case, but there was evidence in his speech that both he and the OPW are climate change deniers. He said: "There is no firm evidence that this level of variability is reflective of...

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The quote was "that this level of variability is reflective of anything more than natural variations in our weather."

Seanad: Flooding and Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Government, countries and scientists around the world have had massive studies carried out of climate change and its impact on flooding. An Environmental Protection Agency report from 2009 co-authored by Professor John Sweeney from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, contains incredible detail about the impact of climate change on flooding. Whether the OPW is going to start...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: What about the Fine Gael tent at Punchestown? I understand it is still open.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is all there in the Moriarty report.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: No effort is being made to put patients first. We had partisanship in the Chamber before the summer break. We decided that we would not accept an innovative proposal from Fianna Fáil to pass legislation in one day and that we would delay it until after the summer break. The cutbacks that we predicted happened. That is unfortunate, but it is a lesson for the Seanad that we must not...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I would like the Cathaoirleach to address the following issue with the Oireachtas ICT section. There is a problem, apparently, with the online publication of debates for external users. I would like to have it sorted out. It is a misunderstanding and there is no deliberate attempt to stop people from looking at the transcript, but as there is a lot of confusion, perhaps the Cathaoirleach...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Why are Labour Party Deputies out defending it then?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We do not support it. In fact, we completely reject that principle.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes. We want to save the taxpayer €100 million and stop ward closures.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: My remarks are not directly on the point but relates to the Top Level Appointment Committee TLAC terms to which the Minister referred. The TLAC made changes. TLAC was described to me before as being akin to the Freemasons - that is the way appointments are done. I think the Minister needs to go further. I would remove some of the civil servants who still remain on TLAC. Furthermore, I do...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I agree with the Minister. The position he has outlined is reasonable. Members of the Oireachtas are in a different position. Members of Sinn Féin often talk about the average industrial wage, but we have not seen much evidence of it. They have not set out their policy on the pensions-----