Results 8,141-8,160 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am not sure if Sinn Féin fully understands the way in which the bond markets work but they have never done this country any favours.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Do not tell the Chair to relax.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Appropriation Bills pass through the Dáil - I presume they appear in the Seanad as well - whereby sums of money are appropriated every year for the provision of services and the payment of wages, yet we never debate them. This section enables us to have such a debate. Regardless of which side of the argument one is on, the sum of €11.1454 billion is staggering. The section authorises...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We support this Bill as it is necessary, although it is not perfect. My main concern is that I do not know whether our Government and other governments are doing enough to advance solutions to finally resolve this matter. There have been suggestions involving eurobonds, common banking regulation and a common fiscal set-up within the European Union, or at least the eurozone. These are not...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Norris can be entertaining at times but he is also boring on occasion.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am not sensitive.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: This is not perfect and much more needs to be done by the Government. Nevertheless, it is worthy of support. The last referendum result indicated that many people who oppose Europe are doing so for short-term political gain rather than the interests of the country. It seems this Bill deals with an insurance policy for the country, and although it is not perfect, no policy provides a...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Senator Cullinane raised the issue of rent allowance and that was not ruled out of order.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Former Deputy Pádraig Flynn is back.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Unfortunately, for the Senator, it is approximately eight months too late.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State has opened up a range of issues to which I feel duty bound to respond and I will do so as quickly as possible. I say this with all due respect to the Minister of State who has made a persuasive case to the House and who will rebut points made by some of the Senators on this section, but there are a number of issues that I must address. What the Government gave through...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State raised this issue and I am responding to what he said. The sale of State assets is an invention of the Government, it has nothing to do with the troika agreement. The Government has told the troika that it wants to sell State assets and the troika has stated it can put so much of the proceeds towards investment. I wish the economy was growing. The Minister of State is...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am responding to points the Minister of State made.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: If others were allowed to raise the issues of rent allowance and house insurance, I will refer to issues that the Minister of State raised on the section.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It came into his head as he was arriving in Citywest.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: You were banned from speaking.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Why are there no people here?

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Some of your other Members have said what the Government espoused.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I hope that my county colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, conveys the deep anger that has been expressed in the Chamber today about his party colleagues being banned from speaking in a debate. He would never want to be banned from speaking because he is outspoken and rightly so. They have been banned.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The evidence is there.