Results 8,421-8,440 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That is stark language.

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I would like the Minister of State to describe the transition teams that were set up to look at change. When were they set up, who are they and what is their role?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They are back to where they stood at the general election.

Seanad: Battle of the Boyne Site (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I will outline briefly the need for this playground project, which got the go-ahead under the Minister of State's predecessor, Dr. Martin Mansergh. East Meath is devoid of community facilities, although they are starting to come on stream. The Battle of the Boyne site, which is a major tourism attraction, provides the perfect opportunity to construct a playground for the benefit of east...

Seanad: Battle of the Boyne Site (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That is mixed news. I am slightly concerned that the decision will be reviewed when the tenders come in but I am heartened by the commitment shown by the Minister of State. A contribution by Meath County Council is reasonable. The council has had major difficulty in securing sites for the provision of playgrounds, particularly in the village of Donore, the nearest village to the site. It...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: What about the Senator's comments in The Sunday Times?

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator says one thing in The Sunday Times and another-----

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I also heard in the debate that the nearest school to Leenane is about 20 miles away.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: When the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, was a member of the Progressive Democrats, he supported our Governments through thick and thin.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am pleased to speak to the motion and discuss the track record of the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government, of which the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, was part for most of his political career, in providing education, in particular, as Senator Mooney noted, the capital education programme. On the one hand, my party has been criticised for tabling this motion while, on the...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Speaking on "Six-one" on the day of the public expenditure statements, namely, the Monday preceding the Budget Statement, the Minister stated he would ask schools to consider amalgamation. Those were his words and maybe different meanings could be drawn from them but what is the message they convey to schools? The Government has decided, on the basis that it did not receive many votes from...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: In County Meath, it was votes from this constituency that made the difference between the Labour Party winning a seat and not winning a seat.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: With all due respect to stag hunters, I am much more concerned about the issue of education in rural areas. My party will continue to hold the Government to account on its promises on stag hunting. Government Senators have not had the courage of their convictions on the issue of guidance counsellors, about which all of them have complained. We do not believe the promised review of DEIS...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: When my party was in government, an Administration supported by the then Deputy Cannon, we introduced broad based cuts. This Government has targeted a particular sector because it believes it will not be noticed in the electoral scheme of things. That is a shameful way to plan educational policy and reveals a complete absence of strategy. The decision it has taken is based on what it...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: While the Government may have got away with it politically this year, those who are affected by these cuts will not forget. The Government's projections are being lowered and worse cuts will be required. While I wish it luck in this respect, it must be as fair as possible. Its members should not say one thing in the media and another in the House.

Seanad: Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I also support the Bill and along with many doctors in my constituency I urge its passage as soon as possible. Given that we have rushed legislation on many items, I wonder why this is not being rushed. With so much apparent unanimity we could probably have completed Committee and Remaining Stages today to allow the Minister to enact it with his order. As Senator Healy Eames said, the Bill...

Seanad: Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am sorry, Minister. The record was of the five Fine Gael candidates at the time and the now four Deputies-----

Seanad: Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They made a statement to the effect that investors in a hospital project met the Minister and that these investors would build it within five years. This was to be done and it was manna for the people of Meath. They are waiting for the hospital. Money was not a problem because, according to Deputy Damien English as recently as three weeks ago, it was arranged to be a public private...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I discussed the issue of the fiscal compact with my leader since the debate and I propose, on his behalf, that group leaders in the House meet shortly to decide on the format for a debate. I propose we have a Committee Stage style debate on the fiscal compact, perhaps with time limits imposed, but these should be longer than one minute. While we do not need unlimited debate, we need to go...

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, is it in order for the tellers to agree, if they did so, that Senator Susan O'Keeffe's vote be counted? As a teller, she did not vote and the vote should not stand.