Results 1,261-1,280 of 1,864 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Acting Chairperson. I thank the Minister for being here today for this very important debate. I get worried when I hear Senator Conway talk of Limerick and light rail and so on. I am thinking, "Is he moving to Limerick?" I certainly welcome his comments. I will speak a little about that too. In 2018, Ireland was ranked seventh worst out of 28 EU member states in terms of its...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I rise to welcome two things relating to Limerick. Fáilte Ireland and the council had a joint collaboration yesterday, which was two years in the making, whereby Limerick city is now identified as a gateway city of the Wild Atlantic Way. While the Wild Atlantic Way has been a great success, urban tourism destinations like Limerick city were losing out. That it has now been included...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank Ms Embleton and Mr. Moriarty for their presentation. I have two questions. I am from Limerick, like the Chairman. Shannon Airport is key for the region. A report showed recently that the top 40 companies use Shannon Airport for staff coming in and going out for meetings and so forth. A commitment has been sought from Ms Embleton with regard to the Heathrow slots and the early...

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to debate this important topic about aviation. Where I come from, in Limerick and in the mid-west region, aviation plays an important role. Airlines are very complex and need to be realistic with flexible plans in terms of reopening and getting back up and running. While passenger airlines are to the fore and will therefore be discussed a lot, I...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the Bill, which is important. Having recently spoken to councillors who are in the middle of their development plans, they are finding many difficulties. It is very good that this extension is being offered. As has been pointed out, it is difficult to do everything online and have meaningful meetings online and get the true reflection of the members....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: Thank you for accepting my Commencement matter, a Chathaoirligh. The Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, is very welcome. I raise the issue of the costs faced by the over-70s and ask the Government to consider increasing the help provided to them. In 2018, a €2.50 weekly increase was introduced to assist those aged over 70 with their telephone line costs. This works out at...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am trying to highlight the fact that the cost of everything is increasing and we need to review the schemes in that context. People are finding it difficult to pay their bills, especially those on lower incomes. Many pensioners are solely reliant on the State pension of approximately €258 per week. I ask that the Department would...

Seanad: Counterfeiting Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State. Many questions have been raised in welcoming this legislation. We are supporting what has come from Europe. This Bill is about protecting the consumer and business people. As a former business owner, I am aware of people who had their cards stolen and used or who have been scammed. There has been a major increase in people using their cards and it is all...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive explanation. I have been listening to the debate, including what Senator Cummins said. I agree with what Senator Conway said. Where I live there is a proposal for 800 houses of mainly affordable and social with a mix of some private as well. We need to have a mix. While the Government is determined to deliver as many houses possible,...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: Not acceptable.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: Two important dates are approaching, namely, 2 June and 7 June, when the hospitality industry reopens. Hotels open tomorrow and outdoor facilities on 7 June. Close to 250,000 people are impacted in this regard. While there has been criticism regarding the expected cutting back of employment support payments from next September, it has not been highlighted that it is expected there will be...

Seanad: Search and Rescue System: Motion (28 May 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for being present. Having read the motion, I understand what Senators Craughwell and Boyhan are hoping to achieve, but I know from my own area the valid part played by the search and rescue service. I support the Minister of State in the context of the Government amendment because I believe it is about value for money. When we are looking at the value of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2021)

Maria Byrne: Last week, I raised the issue of vaccines and vulnerable people and called on the Minister for Health to come to the House for a debate on it, although I am pleased to say those people have since received vaccines. Having said that, I am concerned about the increasing number of Covid-19 cases detected in Limerick and the fact that many young people are being treated in the hospital. My main...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Common Agricultural Policy (17 May 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for being here this morning. The CAP reform negotiations that are currently under way were initiated in 2018 and Ireland had to make a submission by January 2020. I have met many young farmers in my own neck of the woods and have spoken to people from various sectors and there are two main issues at play. Farmers are opposed to any cuts and are concerned about...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Common Agricultural Policy (17 May 2021)

Maria Byrne: It is good to hear that farm safety is being taken seriously and is included in the CAP. I was delighted to hear the Minister of State's acknowledgment that he is working with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Feighan, on the issue of mental health. Stress has presented many mental health issues for farmers and I am glad the Minister of State acknowledged that....

Seanad: Young People: Motion (17 May 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for attending. I commend my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, and the Fine Gael group on bringing forward this motion. I have worked for many years as a volunteer with many youth groups and have also been involved in a secondary school. Only recently I attended a Zoom meeting with some students to speak about their experience during Covid. While some of them had the...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 May 2021)

Maria Byrne: The Minister is very welcome; it is good to see him here for this debate. I welcome that he is bringing the Affordable Housing Bill 2021 before the House. As someone who served on a local authority for 17 years and saw houses being built, and not being built and being built again, I am happy to say that in Limerick we are currently building local authority housing. Only in the past two...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2021)

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise two issues. When I called last week for the Minister for Health to come into the House to discuss the vaccination programme, I raised the case of two vulnerable people who had not been vaccinated. I am ashamed to say that a week later they still have not been vaccinated nor have they received a phone call, even though the respective Departments have given many promises that...

Seanad: Carer's Allowance: Motion (10 May 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Acting Chairperson for the kind welcome. I compliment my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, for tabling this motion. While I have been out of politics for the past 12 months, I have met many of my neighbours and spoken with people who have been involved in the caring profession. I pay tribute to the many people who have cared for elderly relatives and even for younger people...

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

Maria Byrne: I will start by offering my condolences to Senator Mullen on the recent passing of his father. I wish to discuss the vaccine roll-out programme. While it has been positive in many instances, I have been contacted by two families, one of whom includes a lady in her mid-80s who is bedridden but has still not received her vaccination. In the case of the other family, the mother is her early...