Results 9,661-9,680 of 9,903 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The reality is this is very serious. The debate would be best served by a rational approach, not by instinctively opposing everything the Government has tried to do. The Labour Party opposed the bank recapitalisation, the State guarantee and the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank. It voted against that measure in the Dáil.

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party voted against the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank in the Dáil. That is on the public record. It is now calling for a temporary nationalisation of the banks. Deputy Gilmore makes a virtue of cleaning up the banks. Does he require a sweeping brush or a can of pledge, because he has not outlined what he intends to do?

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The NAMA proposal will clean out the banks. It will take all the good and bad debt out such that there is no argument over which is good and bad. Our proposal is to clean out the banks, to get the banking system working, to get the economy up and running and to get loans out to businesses.

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The banks are against our proposals too. Instead of calling it a bank bailout or builders' bailout the Labour Party would be better off taking part in a rational and constructive debate and to indicate what represents a good measure and what represents a bad measure. This is not the case, they simply instinctively oppose everything. It is not serving the country well. It may serve the...

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: We are in a serious situation. We have taken the lead in several areas. The State bank guarantee certainly saved the banking system. The recapitalisation is necessary but we should remind people that it is a loan which must be repaid at a relatively high rate of interest. That point is always forgotten and ignored. It is almost as if one's Christmas bonus is paying for the bank...

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: They may also ask who will win council and European seats. However, one will find the answer to who will get the economy back on track and who will get people back to work on this side of the House.

Banking System: Motion (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: They would seek legal advice anyway.

Leaders' Questions (12 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: What does the Deputy mean by "cleaned up"?

Leaders' Questions (12 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: There are no details. It is all bluff.

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (7 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the patient waiting times for MRI scans; and the actions she is taking to reduce these waiting times. [18276/09]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 151: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress of a proposed extension at a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and when he expects construction to commence. [18391/09]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (6 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 270: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Louth. [18032/09]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 597: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans to develop a new school (details supplied) in County Louth; and when he expects construction to commence. [17646/09]

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: We all know the problems.

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2009)

Thomas Byrne: There is no need to be bringing up that old one.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (29 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 139: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [16871/09]

Infrastructure Stimulus Package: Motion (Resumed) (29 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad Deputy Cuffe raised this issue of Fine Gael activities at a local level. While Fine Gael calls for electric grid construction, it has never outlined whether it is for or against putting these electric grid constructions underground. Councillors and some of my friends who are Dáil Deputies would give the impression that at a local level Fine Gael supports putting them underground,...

Infrastructure Stimulus Package: Motion (Resumed) (29 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: It has not said it in the motion. Fine Gael should make it clear to the people where the party stands on this because it is speaking from two sides of its mouth at national and local level.

Infrastructure Stimulus Package: Motion (Resumed) (29 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: That is commonplace but, unfortunately the issues are serious. That is best illustrated by this new NERA company, the Fine Gael "super quango", as I call it. The party wanted to abolish quangos, some of which do good work, and establish a super quango instead. It wants to privatise some of our most important State assets, and I assume the Labour Party will not support that. Privatisation...

Infrastructure Stimulus Package: Motion (Resumed) (29 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The Fine Gael motion refers to "a possibility of non-critical State assets being sold at a future date". That is privatisation from Fine Gael.