Results 1,081-1,100 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Flood Risk Management: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I am delighted the Minister of State is here. I thank my Green Party colleagues for tabling the motion. I know how committed the Minister of State is to his Department and the work he has been doing. Where I live, I am surrounded by the River Shannon and most of my electoral area is surrounded by the river. Last May, I read in the newspapers that the OPW in conjunction with Limerick City...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Staff (14 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: The Minister of State is very welcome. I support the Neurological Alliance of Ireland with regard to the shortage of neurological nurses. I will speak specifically about University Hospital Limerick. The last time a neurological nursing post was advertised and filled was 2019 when a nurse was needed for multiple sclerosis. As we are aware, there are many neurological conditions. A report...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Staff (14 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: That is perfect.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Staff (14 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for her words on behalf of the Minister but also for her own words. I fully agree with her. While it is wonderful that two nursing posts are being advertised and filled, the Government should make this a priority. I thank her for saying she will take the issue back to the Department and put emphasis on it. If the positions were filled, fewer people would be...

Seanad: Finance (European Stability Mechanism and Single Resolution Fund) Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: The Minister is very welcome here today. I congratulate him on a very busy 48 hours. That is a very short time but I know the Minister put in a lot of work previously. Well done on the budget and best wishes for the future. We are here today looking at amendments to the Eurogroup agreements that were signed off on last November. These relate to the European Stability Mechanism and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I wish to bring up two issues, one of which is the takeover of Lufthansa in Shannon by the Atlantic Aviation Group, AAG. While 300 of the staff will be subsumed into the new company, it is uncertain what will happen with the further 180 staff. I call for immediate Government intervention in regard to this. The unions are due to meet in the coming hours and I hope the Government will not be...

Seanad: Budget 2022: Statements (12 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House on this historic day. The Government has a proven track record in managing the economy and helping Ireland to recover from the economic crash. We were beginning to recover back in 2011. Then, when the pandemic struck in 2020, because our finances were in such good stead, the Government was able to bring in exceptional measures such as the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Enterprise Support Services (7 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. He had a successful visit to the local enterprise office, LEO, in Limerick recently. When I was a member of the local authority, I served as a member of the local enterprise board, the precursor to the LEO, and saw the benefits of same to business. In recent times, however, I have become aware of the fact that the LEO mainly deals with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Enterprise Support Services (7 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. It is welcome news that there is keen interest from the Government in that grey area. The LEOs and Enterprise Ireland are doing fantastic work. The supports, the level of support and the mentoring they give are important. However, there is a fear factor, as Minister of State said, among people who are in the middle category. They realistically do not fit...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I rise to agree with the national neurology strategy and that we need an extra 100 neurology nurses. On Tuesday, 16 April 2019, in this Chamber I raised the issue of neurology services in regard to University Hospital Limerick as it awaited the recruitment of three or four specialist neurology nurses. On that occasion I was told such appointments were part of the national clinical programme...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Group: Chairperson Designate (7 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: Mr. Ó Céidigh is very welcome here. It is good to see him. I have many happy memories of our time in the Seanad together. I congratulate him on his imminent appointment and thank him for coming in. Shannon Airport is very important for the region. Coming from Limerick city, I know it is important to many businesses in the region. I had to speak in the Chamber and I apologise if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Group: Chairperson Designate (7 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: That is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Group: Chairperson Designate (7 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank Mr. Ó Céidigh and wish him all the best in his new role.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: When I raised an issue about the M20 yesterday, I called for the Minister to come to the House to discuss the important road projects in the national development plan. I will add today that a number of businesses on the south side of Limerick, including in the regeneration area around Southill, and the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership, are hoping that as part of the M20, the...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021: Motion (6 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister to the House today. I support the idea of giving the Minister the option of extending the restrictions if necessary when the time comes. Certainly, we have all been through a very turbulent time. On the Order of Business earlier today, I made the point that in Limerick, as part of mental health week, they are floating white roses on the River Shannon on Friday to...

Seanad: Dyslexia Awareness Week: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this evening to discuss this important issue. I will begin by complimenting her on the work she has done since taking over responsibility for special needs and on her contribution to special needs schools and to children with disabilities and learning difficulties, including those with dyslexia. As has been pointed out earlier, dyslexia is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I rise today to raise two issues but I will also raise my concerns over what is happening at University Hospital Limerick where we have the highest number of people waiting to be seen in the hospital. This did not just start today but has been going on for quite a while. We put in 60 replacement beds and many things have happened but the numbers are not going...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2021)

Maria Byrne: -----where the second and third largest cities are not connected. These are the only two such cities. I appreciate that we are not connected with Waterford either but that is another day’s wait, which I understand is being raised by Senator Cummins. The M20 is very necessary. It is mentioned in the NDP document, as it has been for the past ten years, and the road has now gone to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Airport Policy (30 Sep 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State and join in wishing her a happy birthday. I wish to raise the issue of Shannon Airport, which has been through a very turbulent time in regard to Aer Lingus and a number of routes being closed down. That said, there have been many announcements by Ryanair regarding many holiday destinations. Many businesses in the Shannon area, however, that is, in Limerick...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Airport Policy (30 Sep 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for her response. Yesterday, I welcomed in the House the appointment of Pádraig Ó Céidigh as the new chair of the board. I certainly believe that his experience of aviation and business will be a big asset. Shannon Airport has suffered a lot more than the other airports. With regard to Aer Lingus, it was the staff who suffered. Jobs were cut,...