Results 121-140 of 9,358 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Written Answers — PDFORRA Conference: PDFORRA Conference (22 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 71: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on his attendance and address to the recent PDFORRA Annual Delegate Conference in Westport, County Mayo; his plans to address the issues that arose during the conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35125/08]

Written Answers — Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (22 Oct 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 61: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of times the Army bomb disposal team has been called out in 2007 and to date in 2008; the procedures in place for deciding to call them out; the number of hoaxes they have had to deal with since January 2007; the estimated average costs involved each time they are deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35124/08]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 483: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers sanctioned by his Department for County Meath as of 24 May 2007; and the number sanctioned for County Meath as of 6 October 2008. [37963/08]

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (4 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 484: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the capitation and ancillary grants payable to primary schools (details supplied) for 2008; and the capitation and ancillary grants payable to these schools in 2009 based on budget 2009 and assuming pupil numbers do not change. [37964/08]

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (4 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Question 485: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the purpose of the capitation and ancillary grants to schools. [37965/08]

Training Programmes: Motion (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I will continue with what Deputy O'Connor said about Barack Obama. Those of us who have been inspired by the civil rights movement in America, Booker T. Washington going to the White House and President Truman desegregating the army are aware that it is a fantastic time for the world when an African-American can become President of the United States. It is a moment of change, as Deputy...

Training Programmes: Motion (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: The issue we are discussing tonight is very serious. Over the past decade we have seen incredible growth in the economy. In the past 11 years, coinciding with Fianna Fáil being in Government, some 640,000 new jobs were created. However, right now we find ourselves in the middle of an unprecedented global economic crisis. One hears people describing it as possibly the worst since the...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: He did nothing more than cite the report.

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy does not like the answers.

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I must comment on the remarks made about new Deputies speaking in the Dáil. There was criticism of my colleague for coming into the House and welcoming and quoting from a report of a tribunal. If a colleague came in and criticised the tribunal's report or said it was wrong, that would be a matter of concern or disrespect. Young Deputies like myself are entitled to come in and speak. We...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I suffered a similar fate last week when a member of the Fine Gael Party asked what I would know because I was only a wet week in the House. It is disgraceful that this is the attitude among senior Fine Gael Deputies. It is important to make the point that all Members are elected for the term of the Dáil and, please God, if they run again they will be re-elected. They are all entitled to...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Perhaps we will get Deputy Durkan a slot on Ireland AM at some stage.

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: I started my apprenticeship as a solicitor in January 1999, which coincided, almost to the day, with the setting up of what was then called the Flood tribunal. The first matter I had to deal with in the office was to photocopy discovery for the Flood tribunal for a number of clients — clients who were cleared and who made a positive contribution to the tribunal. That was my first...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Discovery is what they were doing and they were paid a fortune for it. It is time that stopped. This legislation will go part of the way to stop it. The legal profession, barristers in particular, have a sin to answer for with regard to the expenses charged. It is very well to criticise it now, but while the tribunal was ongoing the Opposition had a full-time spokesman who digested...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: Deputy Durkan complains about the ability of people to go into court, throw around allegations and libel people without consequence. They can do so, but they can also do it at tribunals. People comment on tribunals. Members of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party have commented on such allegations before any decision was taken.

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: We adopted the correct decision, to wait until the tribunal reported, as indeed did some of Deputy Durkan's colleagues. One is criticised for standing up for what is described as the wrong thing, but it was the correct thing to do.

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: We must respect the work of tribunals. We might have difficulties with them, but the Oireachtas sets them up. We must accept what they say, regardless of whether we like it. Sometimes we do not like what they say. Perhaps we will not like the conclusions of the Mahon or Flood tribunals, or perhaps the Opposition will not like them. However, we must accept what the judges say. Members on...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: However, we have never heard about many others who were also paid significant legal fees. Some conducted background investigations but others merely reviewed discovery, which is time consuming work that could have been done at a much lower cost. This Bill is being brought before the House on foot of recommendations by the Law Reform Commission, which produced a detailed report on the current...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: They investigate policy issues, accidents and major disasters, allegations of corruption and the deaths of individuals where the organs of the State were involved, all of which are matters of significant public concern. In contrast to the lengthy proceedings of, for example, the Flood tribunal, the inquiries conducted in America in 2001 on the dotcom bubble and the collapse of Arthur...

Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Thomas Byrne: The committee was established to inquire into how King Charles II and his Ministers spent the taxes voted to them by the Parliament. That system, which we still utilise, is out of date and no longer works. Irish tribunals of inquiry were established to investigate the deaths of individuals in Garda custody, the accident off Whiddy Island, the Stardust tragedy and the Kerry babies case. I...