Results 2,101-2,120 of 2,806 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I note that all three witnesses have slightly avoided answering my question. I am going to ask Mr. Donohoe directly-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: My next question is for Dr. Smyth because I know the ESRI has done a lot of work on this. One of our objectives is to ensure we have an adequately funded higher education system that does not inhibit access in any way. What measures do we need to take, apart from the overall funding issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with the comments by a number of those on the research side with regard to precarity but I do not want to go into that now. I have submitted a Commencement matter for discussion in the Seanad this afternoon on the question of researcher pensions. Do the IRC, SFI or the researcher representatives want to comment on that question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: There is a problem that some researchers, particularly in the TU sector, have been excluded from the pension-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that but the issue of funding includes the pension question and, dare I say it, a number of my colleagues have drifted beyond the core issue, which is the critical question of funding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: To go back to the overall question, Mr. Donohoe mentioned that it is six years since the Cassells report was published and we are still waiting. Why does he think a decision has not been made yet?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: As Mr. Donohoe will be aware, the Minister has floated the idea of cutting student fees. I have significant concerns about doing that, particularly if they are cut without the underlying funding question being addressed. If he does proceed, what is Mr. Donohoe's view on that? I will ask the other witness to respond to that too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I am conscious Dr. Smyth is nodding. It is interesting that we had representatives from the sector here last week, including from some technological universities and universities, who said we were coming close to the tipping point, while Mr. Donohoe says we have gone beyond it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: The Minister has floated the idea that we cut the €3,000 fee. No one is opposed to cutting fees if the necessary resources are put in place but from an economic point of view, what does Dr. Smyth foresee will happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree.

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming here to take this issue. He is, on a personal level, deeply invested in addressing the questions of direct provision. This is not an either-or matter. He has shown that he is deeply committed to resolving this problem and that there is a compassionate response to an appalling human tragedy. I am extremely proud of the approach that the Taoiseach and the...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I congratulate Ms Curtis and Ms Craig on their recent appointments. It would be appropriate for this committee to write to formally thank Pauric Travers and Michael O'Keeffe for their work and public service. I wish to take up the staffing point. Perhaps it is about the numbers and scale of staff. Will the witnesses outline to us what are the current number of staff with the BAI? Given...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: The BAI staffing is currently at 36. When the committee was considering pre-legislative scrutiny of this legislation and speaking with the Department, it was indicated to the committee that the commission would need to grow to at least the level of the Data Protection Commission, DPC, at present, which is about 180 full-time equivalents. We are certainly looking at least at that size, and...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that but Ms Craig will understand our concerns. The commission will have the potential to be one of the most powerful regulators in the State, given the scale of what is involved in regulating the social media companies. The commission will need teeth, and that is the concern of this committee. As Deputy Mythen has said, this will require highly qualified staff and also...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: An area of particular interest to members is political advertising, including online. We are establishing an electoral commission and this will be crucial. The BAI has extensive experience of regulating political activity in the traditional broadcast media. What is its vision for that? For instance, I cannot take out a radio advertisement on my local radio station, yet I can flood social...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to focus on where we are going regarding the regulation of some of the social media companies. In a sense, I have great admiration for the challenge being taken on, but I am not sure if its scale has been fully realised in respect of the convergence of new technologies and the regulation of social media companies in that context. Moving on the matter of the metaverse and augmented...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree. It is a challenge for us as legislators to deal with this issue as well, given the convergence of new technologies, and to explore how we can ensure our people are safe in this space. Will the relevant powers in this context be devolved to the new media commission and will it be taking on this responsibility? I do not say this lightly, but the media commission will be one of the...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree. That approach would be very welcome. It comes back very quickly to my earlier question and the response has been around political balance outside of election time. The BAI has had a significant role but in a diverse media that is going to be increasingly challenging. All of us as politicians would have criticisms. I would frequently be critical of RTÉ's current affairs...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Diplomatic Representation (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for taking this issue on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs. I am conscious she is busy today taking a lot of issues for other Departments. I have enormous respect for all officials within the Department of Foreign Affairs for the work they do and our ambassadors. My question is about how we appoint our ambassadors. At present, the...