Results 9,181-9,200 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Business of Seanad (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: There is no motion. I have asked for the Minister to come to the House essentially to discuss an article in a newspaper last weekend.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am just looking for a figure. The Government last week presented figures and then we found out they were not the real figures. I want the Minister to come to the House to discuss that.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Without wishing to breach the sub judice rule I want to endorse what Senator Mullen stated earlier. I am very concerned about reports of current court actions concerning nursing homes in County Meath and the issue is worthy of further debate. I will say no more about the issue until a decision has been made but I would hope the courts will come to a decision on that very quickly because it...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Promises have been broken.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Fine Gael has broken its contract this time.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I spoke yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: What about Report Stage?

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It is a matter for the Government to provide speakers to speak on the relevance of the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, the Leader does not propose to allocate any time for Report Stage. This could be important, especially if amendments or recommendations are ruled out of order or not accepted.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I point out, on behalf of my colleague, Senator Terry Leyden, that the health issues raised by him and other Members were, once again, not addressed by the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The 100 days concept is much used by the Taoiseach and we are marking it today as a result of the remarkable actions of President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the height of the Great Depression. After he assumed power, on the second day he closed the banks for four days and within 100 days he had passed 15 Bills through Congress, which is still a record. Comparing the last 100 days or even the...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I move recommendation No. 9: In page 12, to delete lines 44 to 57 and in page 13, to delete lines 1 to 3 and substitute the following: "(a) a chargeable person who is an insurer pays an amount in respect of the duty in relation to a contract of assurance, the amount shall be deemed to be a necessary disbursement from the pension fund of the insurer. Notwithstanding that, the insurer may not...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I will not pursue the matter further. Suffice it to say that if Senator Jimmy Harte is concerned about administrators' and managers' charges, he should note the recommendation is an attempt to deal with them. While it may not be properly drafted, we certainly had in mind that one should not be able to cut people's benefits. The Taoiseach said one could talk to the banks or fund managers in...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: We have an equation to which the answer is jobs. All of us want more jobs to be created. The Government believes taxing the pension pots of ordinary workers to give a tax break to large and small businesses will generate employment. However, the Minister of State is unable and unwilling to provide a figure for the number of jobs that will be created by this measure. If taxing ordinary...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Will the Cathaoirleach please explain the reason? It appears the word "declaratory" does not require the Minister to do anything. Perhaps the Cathaoirleach might explain the meaning of the word in this context.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I understand my recommendations are ruled out of order, but it is important to highlight what is being done here. This specific part of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act reduces the VAT rate for a number of services to which a 13.5% tax rate applies to 9%. The difficulty I have with the section is that it applies only to a certain number of services, but it is for the benefit of...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I would like to clarify for Senator Gilroy the reason I am disappointed at this VAT relief, which we are not opposing and which we welcome. We are not opposing the section. We are concerned that the VAT has not been extended to other items that are included in Schedule 3 of the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act 2010. That schedule contains a list of goods and services. This Bill refers...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I agree.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I accept the Minister of State's rationale for the inclusion of hairdressing in the lower rate. My point was that it was something of a stretch for a Government Deputy to say on radio that it had been included because hair salons were increasingly located in hotels. Nevertheless, the Minister of State has made his point well. However, it is certainly a stretch to include the newspaper...