Results 9,221-9,240 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: After we raised it.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It was answered in a parliamentary question.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It was a parliamentary reply in the Dáil.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: We on this side of the House welcome any attempt to deal with unemployment. It is welcome that at the very least the Government has thought about and acted on jobs, even if we disagree with some of the things it is doing. It is welcome that the focus in the Seanad, Dáil and Bill is on jobs. The jobs initiative, which was previously called the jobs budget, falls well short of what was...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: On a point of order, Labour Party Senators are raising worthy issues, including MABS and mortgages. I am happy to sit here until late tonight to discuss those important matters, but Standing Orders require that Second Stage speeches should be confined to the general principle of the Bill. If the Labour Party tactic on difficult questions, such as targeting the pension pots of middle-income...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I ran for election.

Seanad: Progress on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language: Statements (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Ba mhaith liom féin fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit as teacht go dtí an tSeanad inniu. Níl aon amhras ach go go gcuirfidh sé an Ghaeilge agus na ceantair Gaeltachta chun cinn i rith a théarma. Bhunaigh an Rialtas deiridh, ina raibh mé féin páirteach, an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá an straitéis sin bunaithe ar thaighde agus ar thuairimí mhuintir na Gaeilge agus na...

Seanad: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: This matter derives from a large-scale campaign organised in County Meath to protect services at Navan hospital, which is greatly valued by people in the county. In following up promises made by Fine Gael in particular in advance of the general election, the campaign group permitted the Minister for Health a reasonable period to master his brief, but I understand he has not yet issued a...

Seanad: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister but I am disappointed that the Minister for Health has not committed to meeting the people of County Meath. This is the sixth time he has been asked. He has in the past committed to doing so but he has not made a commitment in this reply. While I regarded Ms Mary Harney as an excellent Minister for Health and Children, she could not have put this better herself. This...

Seanad: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The deputy leader can propose a constitutional amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Last week I raised the issue of nursing homes and in particular the ownership structure of nursing homes. I am not aware if it is a problem in this country but it is a major problem in Great Britain. While the situation in the Rostrevor nursing home was bad enough, imagine what the burden on the State would be had that company or family owned 40 or 50 nursing homes. That issue needs to be...

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The speculation engaged in by Fine Gael and Labour Party Ministers.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad to speak to the motion. It is important to recall its genesis, the genesis of the Hogan tax. We have heard of the Tobin tax and now we have the Hogan tax. Metered water charges are mentioned in all the manifestos of the main political parties. The Labour Party held out for a long time against them, but the Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, reversed course from one statement in...

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister is introducing a new tax. That is the point.

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: The Senator should be careful what he says. We are nearly at the figure of 100 days. Will the promises be kept?

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: By the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: Yesterday the Leader suggested that we could discuss a range of issues with the Minister for Finance during our debate on the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011. I am wary of that proposal because the Bill raises a number of important issues which deserve our attention in their own right. I would prefer for the Leader to arrange a separate debate on the economy, the finance portfolio and the EU-IMF...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: I second Senator Terry Leyden's motion to amend the Order of Business. I do not wish to join the universal praise for the formation of another group of Independents in the Seanad. The Croke Park agreement was mentioned in the context of duplication in the public and Civil Service. This is more duplication. In the Lower House, Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Shane Ross are in the same...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Thomas Byrne: It does not seem to be allowed.