Results 8,961-8,980 of 9,903 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am giving notice to the Leader, the Minister for Finance and NAMA that, as a taxpayer and as a legislator, I will seek legal advice on what NAMA is doing and whether it has the power to write off debts in the way it is doing. There is no debt write-off for ordinary people. This was not the function of NAMA and it better stand up and take notice of what people who supported and encouraged...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I endorse the call of my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, for a debate on the issue of barracks closures which goes beyond any issues of cost because the cost will increase when barracks begin closing down and staff are moved. The staff are the biggest cost and they are protected by the Croke Park agreement. I raise again the issue of health. It is not being taken seriously by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, he wants to take that responsibility, which I admire but-----

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It is actually worse because if we look at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, in September 2010 a total of 331 patients spent time on trolleys. I accept that is too many. In September 2011, under the Minister's new board in the HSE to which he appointed all his own civil servants from his Department, and therefore he is effectively the boss, 842 patients were on trolleys. We have...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I propose that an amendment be made to the Order of Business providing that the Minister for Health come into the Seanad today to discuss the serious crisis affecting the accident and emergency department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Thomas Byrne: There is a vote on that after the Order of Business so we look forward to the Senator's support.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Too late.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Lifestyle choices for poor people.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: "Let them eat cake" is what Fine Gael and the Labour Party says to the poor people of Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: We are not voting for the magician Higgins.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The first 100 days is over.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I also welcome the benefit the Solheim Cup brought to Ireland at the weekend and particularly to County Meath. There was a significant tourism spin-off in the county as a number of hoteliers have confirmed to me. It was wonderful to see it being such a success. I am calling for an investigation into the leaking of a private social welfare file to a Labour Party Senator as reported in...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am talking about an article which appears on the front page of the Irish Examiner. There is also an article in the Irish Independent, as well as coverage on the Newstalk radio station. Senator Harte has claimed a couple from Bosnia is receiving €90,000 in social welfare payments every year. If that claim is true - the Senator has said someone in the Department of Social Protection gave...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I want the Leader to arrange a debate on data protection and social welfare files. Whether this is true or not, it is a serious breach of privacy. We are talking about a family with allegedly two disabled members, with at least one or probably two orphans living in the house as well. If this is true, they are easily identifiable. It is the principle in this case that the Labour Party...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: That is the truth.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I will quote from the newspaper: "Mr. Harte, who received the information from the Department of Social Protection-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am calling for an investigation into this, because it is a very worrying precedent.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I second the amendment to the Order of Business on the anti-rural septic tank charge.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Thomas Byrne: We have considered Senator Mullen's amendment, but, unfortunately, we will not support it. I say "unfortunately", because Senator Mullen brings a good knowledge to the debates in here. There is a tendency among Ministers to dismiss utterly anything that comes from this side, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has shown a slight tendency to do this today. That is unfortunate...