Results 8,201-8,220 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: My ancestors did not have a vote.

Seanad: NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I second the motion. I thank my colleague, Senator Daly, for doggedly pursuing this issue which is of great concern to him. I remind the Minister and his officials that the last time Senator Daly used parliamentary privilege - which I presume he is using in some of his statements - it was a very effective use of Seanad privilege and has resulted in a Garda investigation of child sexual...

Seanad: NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, every time a Fianna Fáil Private Members' Bill is put before this House, the Constitution is invoked against it. It is an abuse of the Constitution. Every time we write a Bill and get senior counsel to advise us on it, it is a disgrace and a shame to come up with constitutional reasons against it.

Seanad: NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: This is a different Bill.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Fine Gael seems to know what is in it already.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am not accusing the Labour Party.

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. While my party supports the Bill and is supportive of a rationalisation in the local government sector, the Minister of State would probably admit the Bill is limited enough in its scope. We are speaking about the Limerick regeneration agencies being merged in tandem with the merger of the local authorities in Limerick. The Local Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I apologise for arriving late for the Adjournment debate last night through my own fault. I am grateful for every opportunity to raise a matter on the Adjournment debate which is one of the most important opportunities available to Senators to elicit information from Departments. On that basis, I was disappointed to note that the Department of Education and Skills issued a factually...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I referred to the continuing attacks on the commuter belt by the Labour Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: No, I was referring to Garda districts within the commuter belt.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I was referring specifically to a recent decision to amalgamate the Garda districts in the part of the commuter belt in which I reside.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: As there are two Independent groupings, it is difficult to table matters on Private Member's business.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to raise the issue of the treaty referendum as I am greatly concerned by how the Government parties in particular are dealing with it. The Seanad must hold further discussions on the referendum in respect of the debate that is under way. There is a lack of information and the old adage, which I will not repeat, in respect of not knowing may well apply to some people. I note some...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He was. However, he is doing this in the best interests of our country and it is about time-----

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He is not doing this for Fine Gael but is doing it for Ireland. It is about time each member of the Cabinet did the same and put aside their party political views for the duration of this campaign to do what is in the best interests of Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Members were not meant to know the details.

Seanad: School Enrolments (2 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I raise a very important issue concerning which I am not sure the Department is fully apprised. The balanced patronage of our schools is a topical issue and was discussed in some detail in the Seanad yesterday. It is also an emotive issue. Equally important is the right of all parents to send their children to a school of their choice. As...

Seanad: School Enrolments (2 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State has thrown a spanner in the works as regards the situation in Ashbourne. His response will probably cause fear in Ashbourne. At least seven streams of junior infants classes are required and the Minister of State says that at least two will be provided in schools with a multi-denominational ethos. People had understood there were at least two streams in one of the...

Seanad: School Enrolments (2 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am not convinced that the research has been done to make that absolutely certain. I attended a meeting of 120 parents and most of them did not have a place for their child for this September. We were informed by the representative of Educate Together who is doing great work and who also attended the meeting that they had allocated 30 places and they expected to open another classroom. My...

Seanad: School Enrolments (2 May 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State should not forget the second issue, that of patronage, which is very important for many parents.