Results 1-20 of 1,882 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (14 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, for attending to deal with this issue on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. He will be very aware that the Minister initiated the first large-scale review of the school transport scheme since it was established in 1967 and that the report on the review, School Transport 2030, was published on 27 February. It is very...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (14 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I thank the Minister of State for the response. I guess what I was hoping to hear within it would be more details around the planned pilot scheme. Where the Department states details to the areas to be included will be available shortly, what is defined by "shortly"? Are we to expect this within the next couple of weeks? What...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to deal with this legislation and I praise him for how personally invested he has been. It is a very significant piece of work, and I thank him for engaging. The number of contributions here reflects the very legitimate concerns in this House but also among the wider community. This has taken a long time to come into being. As the...

Seanad: Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, on her appointment and wish her the best in the role. She has shown herself to be very capable and I am certain she will represent us very effectively at discussions in Brussels and other European capitals. I also welcome her officials. The Minister of State is very fortunate in having some excellent officials in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (8 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Like others, I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish him the best in his new role. I know he will put his heart and soul into it. The issue I raise is the HSE cyberattack. Next week is the third anniversary of the detonation of the Conti ransomware, which caused widespread disruption in the health service at the height of the pandemic. This was the result of a malware...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (8 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for the response but I am afraid it does not tell us a lot more than we already knew from the reply I received this time last year. I am worried that issues like the elimination of the Windows 7 estate are still appearing as part of the process. There is a lot of emphasis placed on the leadership of a chief information security officer within the HSE but if one...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Unfortunately, I was not here on Thursday but I join colleagues in expressing sympathy to the family of the late Michael D'Arcy Sr. I had the privilege of serving with him on the former Gorey town council. In fact, he was the last chair before town councils were abolished. Michael had a passion for his community and politics. You could disagree with him at a meeting but once the meeting...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Tomorrow at 9.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 8 be taken ahead of No. 1. This is a Bill that the Fianna Fáil group of Senators is introducing around the protection of retail workers. The Bill would make it an aggravated offence to attack retail workers, particularly where they are carrying out work on behalf of the State, including age verification. It is based on Scottish...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: The Clerk of the Seanad should take note.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: The Leader has a good relationship with the Minister.

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2024: First Stage (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 to create specific offences for assaulting or threatening retail workers carrying out their employment.

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2024: First Stage (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to respond to what Senator Mullen has said. Older people and vulnerable people should not be afraid about going into our hospitals. We have an excellent healthcare system in this country. I join with the Minister in thanking all healthcare professionals. When it comes to healthcare, they are the ones to whom we should be listening first. This is significant legislation. Unlike...

Seanad: Loneliness: Motion (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: It is a lonely Chamber, given the topic.

Seanad: Loneliness: Motion (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Like others, I welcome the Minister of State and wish him well in his new role. I commend my Green Party colleagues on bringing forward this motion. When we think about loneliness, any of those who have ever gone canvassing or knocking on doors will have encountered the case of the door you knock on and the person who wants to keep talking to you. It is not that they are supporting the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (30 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. I acknowledge that the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, has been providing a strong lead role, on behalf of the Government, in this area but I am concerned about how long it is taking to put the necessary measures in place to combat the problem of illegal dumping and littering. The Minister of State will be aware I introduced...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (30 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: The Minister of State talked about the length of time it has taken to get to this point. The response the Minister has provided to the Minister of State makes it very clear that this is the responsibility of local authorities and that legislation now gives them the power to take action in this space. I would encourage local authorities to act on this basis. Some are telling me that they...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: The amateur theatre community in Ireland is very much alive and is going from strength to strength. I congratulate Kilrush Drama Group which won the all-Ireland confined drama finals in Mountmellick, County Laois, last weekend. The group is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its foundation. For a small drama group to have this success is an amazing achievement. To the the cast, the crew...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: While I have some sympathy in terms of the principle behind what Senator Clonan is talking about, it needs to be remembered that this agency is not just dealing with universities. It is also dealing with research more generally within the State. There are a number of amendments here where I would argue efforts are being made to amend the objects of the agency but which would actually be...