Results 1-20 of 103 for going forward speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (24 Apr 2024)

Maria Byrne: ...that there will be a knock-on effect. Insulin pumps have been a life-changing experience for people with diabetes, especially for children because many are involved in activities, sitting exams or going to school. The pump picks up when a person's sugar levels are low and it automatically gives them an injection of what they need to sustain themselves. As a result of the embargo to do...

Seanad: Cost of Doing Business: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank Senator Carrigy for sharing time. The Minister is so welcome here. I congratulate him on his appointment and look forward to working with him from here on in on the plight of small and medium businesses. Some 43% of employees are in businesses of under 50 employees. The Small Firms Association is looking for a PRSI rebate. That was discussed before and brought forward by the...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to discuss this important issue. I thank my colleagues, Senators O'Loughlin and Malcolm Byrne, for bringing this motion forward. It is an opportune time with September coming up as many people will be looking for school places. The experience from Limerick has been referred to here by many people. It works most of the time, but not always. That...

Seanad: Agriculture: Statements (16 Apr 2024)

Maria Byrne: ...We have all been in contact with farmers in our own localities with regard to the issues facing them over quite a while. Even on my way up to Dublin today, the rain was sporadic and was coming and going. It is certainly not helping the mental health of farmers and people working on their farms. I want to raise a number of issues. The fact of potato shortages affects retailers, a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Mar 2024)

Maria Byrne: ...Hospital Limerick, UHL, which I raise regularly. For two days in a row, all procedures at the hospital had to be cancelled. On "Morning Ireland" today, Mr. Bernard Gloster said that what was going on at the hospital was not acceptable. He questioned how financial resources were spent. This was a very strong message to hear. I pay tribute to the staff and people who use the hospital....

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (6 Mar 2024)

Maria Byrne: ...Women's Day to everybody present and especially to my female colleagues. We will celebrate the day on Friday. International Women's Day stated in 1909 in the USA. That is quite a long time ago and the day has been celebrated for many years. The Minister in his speech referred to how far we have come in terms of gender equality and addressing gender-based violence. I pay tribute to...

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important motion. I compliment our colleagues in the Labour Party for bringing it forward. The thrust of the motion is about stronger and safer communities. I was at a residents' meeting on Monday night and I would like to compliment our two community gardaí who attended. In the WhatsApp group for our area an issue...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: ...at Shannon Airport on Thursday, 7 March from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is a collaboration between industry, the ETB and the chambers of commerce. More than 60 different engineering companies will come forward to show what exactly they do. It is about encouraging students, especially, who wish to study engineering and showing them the different types of jobs available and what exactly they...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2024)

Maria Byrne: ...now these extra costs have been placed upon them all starting from the month of January. We have to have a proper debate about what can happen and what supports we can actually give to businesses going forward. It is really important to get that out there for businesses to survive.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Nov 2023)

Maria Byrne: ...related services, because it is something that so many people suffer from. Many people do not get the chance to get themselves tested. There needs to be more awareness about encouraging people to go and get tested and about the services that are available. I am a member of the cross-party diabetes group here in the Oireachtas. At our last briefing, people came from all over the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2023)

Maria Byrne: ...very vocal regarding the difference it has made to her life. She said that she has worked with so many influential people alongside her on a daily basis at work. She is earning a living, yet she is going on to study her degree, and she is learning so much every day from the people who are alongside her and those who are training her. This is something that we need to highlight more to...

Seanad: Crime and Policing: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this all-important issue and I thank Fianna Fáil for bringing forward this Private Members' business. I welcome the fact that the budget for justice has increased by almost 20% since 2020. This is most welcome. Only this morning, I raised the fact with our own Leader that the Garda Commissioner had...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Eligibility (13 Jul 2023)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I understand there is a comprehensive review going on. There are many key areas. I welcome the fact that the Minister and the Department have made an awful lot of changes, especially around agricultural supports. Farmers often must have a second job to compensate. I believe those changes have been welcomed. I also acknowledge the changes around disability....

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (21 Jun 2023)

Maria Byrne: ...and she was on the county council, they were great friends and did so much throughout the years. I was in Young Fine Gael in 1985 and, as Senator Cummins said, Mary was so interested in all that going on not only in Fine Gael but in Young Fine Gael as well. She was a great friend and mentor to many of us. When I first ran for election in 1999 Mary was elected cathaoirleach of Limerick...

Seanad: Capital Investment in the Health Service: Statements (1 Jun 2023)

Maria Byrne: ...might be 12 months away but training and so on needs to happen by the time contracts are drawn up. I understand the Minister confirmed the other day there would be no drawback in terms of the project going ahead. There was some scaremongering that projects might be halted. Will he clarify that? I have raised the better utilisation of St. John's Hospital with the Minister before. It is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 May 2023)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the ambassador and the rest of the team accompanied by Deputy Devlin. They are all very welcome on their day of celebration. I look forward to seeing them later this evening. I thank them for the role they play, the engagement they have with all of us, and the different visits they make to our constituencies, where they have met educational institutions and businesses. Long may...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Apr 2023)

Maria Byrne: ...the unit. The Limerick Person of the Year awards take place today. There are 12 nominees, each of whom was selected for one of the past 12 months. I wish all the nominees the very best as they go forward for this prestigious award. It is designed to recognise people who have done things for the benefit of others in their community and to promote Limerick. I wish all the nominees well.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Apr 2023)

Maria Byrne: ...it is the BIK adjustments. People working for a company may have a car in the company's ownership and, therefore, I welcome that a further €10,000 is allocated under the Bill, especially for categories A to D. This is positive for encouraging people to change their vehicles and go electric. Many changes have been made, but we need to encourage people to continue to make that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Prices (19 Apr 2023)

Maria Byrne: ...Families are also affected. If they have children playing sports, they are using showers every day. Running numerous showers and the other electrical appliances within the home drives up the bill. I look forward to hearing what the Minister of State has to say on how the Government is going to help to address this issue.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (29 Mar 2023)

Maria Byrne: ...here.I congratulate the Minister of State on his new portfolio. He is my constituency colleague in Limerick. I am delighted that we are discussing the important issue of housing. I compliment the Government on the work it has done to date in working with co-operative organisations and housing associations and on the number of social and affordable houses that have been delivered. There...