Results 2,021-2,040 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I would like to follow up because I was very conscious that Ms Bergin said in her opening statement that one of her key aims was to capture the share of inward international production but in response to my question her focus was on supporting the development of a creative indigenous sector. I am not saying that the two concepts are mutually exclusive but having a focus on attracting...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Engagement with Screen Ireland (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am just not hearing about the focus on attracting the international investment.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing the Coach Tourism Transport Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. Apart from the necessary financial supports requested by the CTTC, what actions are needed to be taken by State agencies, in particular, Tourism Ireland, and, to a certain extent, Fáilte Ireland, to promote your members' businesses and to get agencies to respond to the point raised by Mr. Buckley about engendering confidence in people to use...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing the Coach Tourism Transport Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I raise the question of the school transport challenge. We are considering the learnings from this period. How would Mr. Barton change the school transport system, having operated in this area? It is not specifically related to this debate but can he offer us any advice on that?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Pollution (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to raise the contamination of the water supplies at Gorey and Ballymore Eustace recently. The Minister of State will be aware of the report of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, which was quite damning of the failures of the relevant authorities. What is particularly important is the need to restore public trust in our public water supply. I will refer to the incidents in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Pollution (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, who is aware that reports will come quite soon from the HSE on the scale of the medical problems that arose in the course of this period. We know that at least 52 cases have been reported but there may be more. I hope the report will be published as quickly as possible.It would be appropriate at that time for the Minister of State or the Minister, Deputy...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Senator Hackett waxed eloquently about the towns in the midlands on The Irish Timesshortlist of best places to live. I remind Senators that Gorey is also on that list. However, I will let its reputation speak for itself. During the summer, we experienced the passion and joy of the Olympics. On behalf of the House, I congratulate all our Olympians and Paralympians on their achievements and...

Seanad: Bullying and Sexual Harassment in Third Level Institutions: Motion (21 Sep 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Like others, I would like to compliment Senator Ruane, not just for bringing forward this motion but for her continuous work within this area. I know to praise the Minister as well because he has taken a specific leadership role on this. It is essential that our universities and higher education institutions, as Senator Dolan has said, are safe spaces, regardless of one's background,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister and Minister of State for contributing to the meeting. I echo the comments around how they have helped make the new Department a success, particularly given the challenging year we have had. For the entire system to work as effectively as it did over the past year is testament to the efforts of staff and students and indeed all the Department and agency officials as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister. I appreciate the funding levels for higher education have increased but as he has pointed out himself, the numbers going into it have significantly increased as well. I wish to quickly raise a number of other issues. I agree with Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's point around the change in design. With our capital works, the matter of how we can improve ventilation is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (22 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Chairman's point but it is important to say there is an obligation on academics and those in the academic community. We must respect freedom of expression and freedom of thought and I am a big advocate for academic autonomy but that autonomy is undermined when evidence-based research is not followed.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Ms O'Sullivan and Professor Crowley for coming before the committee. I thank Ms O'Sullivan, in particular, for sharing her story again. A lot of us have had the honour of hearing her story. She has shared it and has been exceptionally brave. As she said, she is just one person. This is a challenge that many individuals are facing. As a committee, we deal with laws and...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am coming from a legal perspective. The crucial issue is the threshold at which the witnesses think an individual complaint could be made. They will appreciate that this is the challenge we are facing as legislators.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the commissioner and Mr. Dagg for their presentation, as well as for their ongoing work. As the Chair has said, they have taken the lead in this area. The evidence, as I know from speaking to people in Australia, is that they are having an impact. I have a couple of questions. One of our challenges here is the threshold for reporting of individual complaints. We are going to have...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I also had a question about the extra-territoriality.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I have a quick question about something that has been noticeable during the pandemic. The commissioner looked at data around online harm that is happening. An issue we will look to address related to media literacy is fake news, particularly with regard to Covid. I wonder how the commissioner responded to that. I am thinking about stories, which the commissioner may or may not wish to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: It is especially good to see some former work colleagues but that may mean I might herd all the sacred cows into the centre of the room to ask some of the questions. One of the crucial issues will be the relationship between the Department, especially the new Department, and the Higher Education Authority and how that will operate. I will ask Ms Kenny and Mr. Conlon, in light of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am sorry; could I interject? The crucial question is about direction by the Minister on any matter. It is really about the extent to which the HEA will be independent or whether it will be directed by the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Yes, I thank the Chairman.

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second and Subsequent Stages (16 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: May I offer the Senator a point of information?