Results 9,721-9,740 of 9,903 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: We are debating this legislation on Second Stage but only 20 minutes ago in this Chamber, Deputy Joan Burton made statements about the alleged involvement of Fianna Fáil in Anglo Irish Bank. She started saying this only last week, when the Opposition was smearing us. It is a lie that Fianna Fáil was intimately involved with Anglo Irish Bank over the last few years. Most of us had never...

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The Opposition should reserve its anger at the Government for a general election. That is the time to get even with the it and lay its cards on the table.

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: This energy being expended against the Government would be better expended in coming up with ideas as to how to get the public finances back on track. The Opposition has been short of ideas so far.

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: It has no idea how to get the finances back on track. Both Opposition parties have agreed the public pay bill should be reduced but they have not said how it could be done.

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The reality is that any worker who was let go from, say Dell, would take up a part-time job on €17,500.

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The Opposition talks about attacking the most vulnerable. Nurses and teachers are not vulnerable. They are public servants. Vulnerable persons are those who have lost their jobs.

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The term should be reserved for those who are genuinely vulnerable. Someone who has lost his or her job would gladly take a part-time wage of €17,500. I accept it may not be the best job and that it is a low wage but the Deputy referred to it as a part-time job.

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Howlin is detached from reality if he believes an unemployed person would not grab such a job in current economic circumstances. The shocking reality is that people are losing their jobs and the most vulnerable are not middle income public servants. The vulnerable are the unemployed who are struggling. Deputies Higgins and Howlin never referred to the fact that the people who are...

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Unless those private sector workers are working, there will be no taxes coming in to pay public servants. The majority of public servants understand this. We must get the public finances and the economy back in shape or nothing else will happen. I welcome the level of capital spending in which the Government has engaged. No other country in the developed world is spending such a percentage...

Stabilisation of the Public Finances: Motion (Resumed) (4 Feb 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I want more schools to be built in the constituency with small building firms getting the tenders for the projects. It has been brought to my attention that companies from abroad or larger companies — the big boys who did very well as we are constantly reminded by the Opposition — are now tendering for small building projects. I want to see a fairer chance for small local building firms...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Thomas Byrne: If he was sitting there as long as Deputy McGinley he would not be as good at it.

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Thomas Byrne: I ask the Acting Chairman indicate when my time has concluded.

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Thomas Byrne: Fine Gael would want to get a grip. I agree with Deputy O'Rourke that for Fine Gael, yesterday was all about insults. It is all Fine Gael seemed to be worried about. What is keeping me awake at night is the jobs situation in this country, not insults or not being involved in the process.

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The process we are going through at present is the correct one to keep all sectors of the economy and society involved. I am delighted to see the builders involved in it because I am sure they will have many ideas on how to spend capital money and create jobs. We had many jobs in construction and we need more construction work to be done. Last year, we saw a 2% reduction in national wealth....

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Thomas Byrne: ——is to spend that money as best it can. There will be cuts, as €2 billion must be cut from public expenditure this year. Private Members' motions will be tabled assailing the Government for doing what the Opposition has called on us to do, but in principle rather than practically. We must maintain our credit rating. Fitch Ratings affirmed it last week but other agencies are keeping...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2009)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy should stop lecturing us all. People are losing their jobs.

Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

Thomas Byrne: It is absolutely typical of the Opposition, at a time when inflation is reaching its euro-area target of 2%, to introduce a motion that is essentially about inflation and price increases. The real threat, of course, is deflation. There will be problems, in fact, if inflation goes below 2%. It is not good for the economy to have inflation at such a low level. It is a mistimed motion from...

Consumer Issues: Motion (Resumed) (10 Dec 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Prices are going down. That is a fact based on the statistics. This is a mistimed, mismanaged motion by an Opposition who would mismanage the economy if it had half a chance. Thankfully, the people have not given them the chance.