Results 9,721-9,740 of 9,925 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Garda Stations. (2 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I was prompted to raise the issue of Garda stations in County Meath by a petition some constituents from Dunboyne sent to me. It is not the first time I have raised the issue of Garda resources in my constituency in response to a petition. I acknowledge the great work gardaí do day to day in my constituency in the fight against crime and dealing with serious accidents. There was a serious...

Social Welfare: Motion (Resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to share time with Deputy Margaret Conlon and Deputy Charlie O'Connor.

Social Welfare: Motion (Resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I am pleased to speak on this motion, which relates to the most important issue we face as a country, namely, the joblessness situation. What we are concentrating on here is what we do in terms of an immediate response to provide some help to the increasing numbers of people who have lost their jobs. Currently, 11% of people are on the live register, 320,000 of whom are fully unemployed....

Social Welfare: Motion (Resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Thomas Byrne: ——but I am not moving house. I urge the Minister to deal with the issue as it links back into repossessions, one's ability to pay debt, helping families and the pressure on mortgage interest supplement. We should consider what people can afford to pay on their mortgage. One should not have to pay more than 35% of one's net income on a mortgage. The Government will have to take the...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (31 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 378: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the correspondence and meetings that have taken place between his Department and Meath County Council in respect of a library in Laytown, now closed, and a proposed new library in Bettystown, County Meath; the action he has been asked to take by Meath County Council in respect of the libraries; and the...

Road Safety. (26 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for road safety, Deputy Noel Ahern, for being in the House. I welcome this opportunity to speak on the national roads programme and road safety, particularly in light of an extremely serious road accident that occurred in my constituency in Slane, County Meath, on Monday. The accident involved a lorry, delivery...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy would not talk to the Taoiseach before he left Fianna Fáil, even when the Taoiseach wanted to talk to him.

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I picked up a copy of The Daily Telegraph earlier which is not something I do ordinarily, but it printed a picture of the new French Minister for Overseas Territories, Christine Kelly. Perhaps we should examine our diaspora in this context. However, I read a front page article and thought that a number of RTE's economics gurus had emigrated. The article states: There are growing fears that...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (24 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 492: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath has been removed. [12277/09]

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (24 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 626: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of an application for a Gaeltacht grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [10939/09]

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I welcome the principle of this Bill. It is very important to have strict spending limits for all elections. In the last election, I was vastly outspent by the Labour Party. I had no billboard or glossy advertisements on the side of the newspaper bins outside shops across the constituency, unlike the Labour Party. The idea that Fianna Fáil spends all the money, or that money gets one...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Spending money on food and drink for election workers was never part of the spending limits. I have not read the provisions of this law, but one would not need that much money to get elected to a town or borough council. Only a handful of votes are needed to get elected to town councils like Belturbet. I would have thought that a limit of €2,000 would be in order, but I will go with the...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I am talking about the island of Ireland. I am a republican, just like Deputy Lynch. I would have problems with people buying their posters in Spain, Turkey or Russia, but I understand that posters have been bought in these places before, although not by members of Fianna Fáil.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The 60-day period is useful and relevant. When the Taoiseach goes to the President to call for an election, many people have already made up their mind. Thankfully, enough people changed their minds during the course of the last campaign and we are grateful for that on this side of the House.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I could see many of them change their minds at their doors when I knocked on them. The 60 days give people an opportunity to interact with the electorate, and many people make up their minds in that period. Before that period, many people have no interest in local, European or national elections. I cannot see any of these limits causing problems. We certainly know of one Senator who spent...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: They probably were, but it has occurred across the board and it happened to me as recently as the last referendum. At that time a poster was repeatedly re-erected in a particular part of the constituency. It causes annoyance and I am unsure what can be done. It is very difficult for us to do anything in that regard. Rather than the council coming down hard on candidates, it may be...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Perhaps something can be done in that regard, but it should be done in practice rather than in law. The law must be clear. I commend the legislation. Will the Minister examine the limits, as I believe they are too high? He has examined the matter in more detail than I have and I accept his word on the matter. Following the local elections the Minister must examine how much was spent and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Question 447: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of applications made under the rural environmental protection scheme by persons (details supplied) in County Meath. [9624/09]

Public Finances: Motion (4 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Tá áthas orm labhairt ar son rún an Rialtais anocht. Bheinn sásta i ndáiríre labhairt ar son rún an fhreasúra seachas an chéad alt mar deir sé chuile rud agus atá an Rialtas ag rá le fada an lá. Fine Gael's motion is similar to the Government's amendment, with the exception of the first paragraph, in which it asks us to cut substantially the €40 billion borrowing requirement....

Public Finances: Motion (4 Mar 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Every interest group will be involved in lobbying. Earlier the Combat Poverty Agency appeared before the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs for the third time. Every agency whose budget has been cut by the Government will be supported by the Opposition when it appears before a committee. It is about time that stopped and the Opposition got real. That seems to be happening and...