Results 1,241-1,260 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: A Chathaoirligh, I wish to echo the compliments of others to you on your remarks for President Biden's visit here last week, and to compliment the staff of the Houses on their wonderful organisation of a wonderful occasion. The Leader will be aware that over Easter, there was a lot of discussion around the racist abuse of a Wexford sportsman, and indeed a national sportsman, Lee Chin. Lee...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Who will perform the ceremony?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all of the witnesses for sharing their stories and congratulate them on their successes. I listened to the point on having experience in an office and knowing one definitely did not want to work there. My first summer job was picking strawberries at home in Wexford. That assured me I did not want to have anything to do with horticulture or anything like that. In respect of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: My next question is related to further education and training. From their studies, do the witnesses think the education system values how we learn in a wide variety of ways? Is there too much focus in the education system on the academic side? What is the perception of the witnesses?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: The Future of STEM in Irish Education: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: How important are extra curricular activities such as the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition to a student's individual personal development? I ask the witnesses to draw from their personal experiences as much as their research.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. It is disappointing not one of the relevant Ministers or Minister of State can take this issue, but I appreciate that the Minister of State is here. I raise the ongoing problem of illegal dumping and littering. The Minister of State will be familiar with it in areas of west Limerick. It is the bane of local development groups, Tidy Towns...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, but there was no need for him to read the reply, because it is a cut-and-paste of the response I received in October 2022.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Indeed. It is almost the same response I received then, word for word. I am comparing the response I received in October with the one provided to the Minister of State. I do not direct this at him, but very clearly and in spite of all the talk, there is no commitment by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to move on this. There has been no movement in six months...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I join others in welcoming the publication of yesterday's report. It is crucial that action is taken. Every workplace should be safe. The members of Women of Honour deserve to be recognised for their whistleblowing. They have done the State great service in so doing. Like Senator Wall, I recognise the work of our colleague, Senator Clonan, and Katie Hannon for the radio documentary that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: It was the previous answer. It was the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 by name and by nature. I will give an example. The reply I received last October stated: In order to address data protection concerns, the Act also sets out a number of conditions that must be complied with prior to the introduction and the use of CCTV and other mobile recording devices by local...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: It is the circular economy. The Department is not taking the scourge of illegal dumping seriously.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. Before talking about the general housing question I want to talk about a number of specific issues or challenges we face. First, I want to talk about student accommodation. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, has signed an order that will allow the technological universities,...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Even Threshold, under questioning, accepted that point. We need to have evidence-based policymaking. One of the concerns I have around this debate is that far too often, we have numbers thrown around without sufficient levels of evidence-based policymaking. Tied in with that is that one of the problems we have in this country is a shortage of hotel accommodation. Paul Kelly of Fáilte...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Senator Flynn asked a question and I happen to talk to people who have been made homeless. I also talk to landlords and builders to try to understand what the challenge is. The reality is that 43,000 landlords have left the housing sector in the last five years. If it is so attractive, why are people not rushing to get into this sector to make 5% or 10% margins? The majority of landlords,...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Mr. Gibbons for his service and the work he and his team have done around Tourism Ireland. I wish him the best in his new role. I also acknowledge the work of all of the witnesses. Even though this is a challenging time for the tourism sector, I wish to thank the providers for all they have done in tourism provision and in responding to the humanitarian crisis. Some operators have...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I would appreciate that. If the concerns of this committee are taken on board and the balance is struck, that would be correct. Mr. Kelly used an interesting phrase when he said we are "under" hotels in Ireland. This is part of the broader challenge we face regarding housing and accommodation. In an optimal situation, how many more hotels or hotel bed nights do we need nationally and...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: It is about getting the short-term letting provision correct as well.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Over 5,000 rooms are needed, ultimately. Perhaps Ms Campbell can answer my next question, as she mentioned the energy support scheme. I know from talking to hotel owners that energy costs are the big issue. The scheme has been amended, but are there any specific changes to the scheme that Ms Campbell thinks would be beneficial to the sector? This committee is also responsible for the...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I can give Ms Campbell examples of hotels with a multiple of that also.