Results 8,161-8,180 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: A stream of Opposition speakers have made their contribution. In all my time in the Seanad it has never happened that nobody-----

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Contributions has gone from one Opposition speaker to another.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Nobody from the Government has offered and that is evidence that they have been banned from speaking. No Government Senator spoke and that is the evidence. It is a shambolic day for democracy in this country.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is revenge for two Government defeats in the Seanad this morning. It was a good jolt to remind the Government that this country is a democracy and run by the people and not as my colleague, Senator Marc MacSharry said, by 15 people around the Cabinet table. I urge the Leader to get his colleagues into the Chamber to offer their views no matter whether they are for or against the motion....

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We have had more Committee Stage debate immediately after Second Stage than ever before.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: As I understand it, the guillotine was rarely used-----

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The guillotine was rarely used in previous terms of the Seanad. There is a specific commitment in the Programme for Government to have at least a week-----

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: -----between Second Stage and Committee Stage and between Committee Stage and Report Stage. That rarely happens. I acknowledge that the situation has slightly improved. The commitment to reform by the Government side has been shown for the sham that it is.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is smoke and mirrors. The impression of reform has been given but things have got far worse. Never before in the history of a European democracy have Members of Parliament been told by their Government not to speak. It is incredible and never before has it happened. Shame on Fine Gael and the Labour Party for allowing it to happen. Little more needs to be said. I hope that the Seanad...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, is nobody from the Government offering? Some of them did complain.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They were banned.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear. It is a shambles.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That is unconstitutional at the least.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The enforced silence.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Again, I rise in this House to offer the full support of the Fianna Fáil Party for the motion to continue the operation of section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. I say that in light of our majority here today, but also in light of the fact that the Labour Party opposed this legislation in 2009. In fact, Deputy Tommy Broughan lost the party whip for voting with the then...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Or for changing your mind.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Shame.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I assure the Minister that despite the Opposition defeating the Government twice in the Seanad this morning, the Fianna Fáil side wholeheartedly supports the Bill and will ensure that it is passed. I find very little done by the Government to be persuasive but the Minister's speech here has been extremely persuasive, not that we need persuading. He clearly outlined the security situation...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I give notice to the Government that the Fianna Fáil Party will adamantly oppose the Gaeltacht Bill. It is the latest example of cronyism and jobbery from the Fine Gael Party. Members opposite can laugh.