Results 1,701-1,720 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. I am thinking of my colleague, Senator Cassells, who spoke the other day about political advertising and said that Deputy Catherine Martin hates puppies, which for the record, is not true. She loves puppies. This is relevant even in the case of non-commercial accounts through which one is able to influence others. It is not just about being able to commercially...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 49: In page 24, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: "(e) has an active personal account on a designated online service with in excess of 20,000 followers or subscribers.".

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 50: In page 26, to delete line 6. I am not sure why this amendment was grouped with the others, because it relates to the local authority issue.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 52: In page 27, to delete line 18.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Next Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for welcoming my colleague, Councillor Andrew Bolger, my secretarial assistant, Patrick Higgins, and Christopher, Conor and Joe to the Gallery. I also welcome the students who are here. It is very important that they hear about democracy and see democracy in action. I again raise the question of the voting age. As the Leader will know, I have raised on a number...

Seanad: Funding for Ukrainian Students in Irish Universities: Statements (27 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. There is a little bit of déjà vugiven we were discussing the question of higher education funding here yesterday. I will come to that presently. I begin with the situation in Ukraine and will raise a number of issues. It is important we put on record the strong support that has been made available by the universities, the technological...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming in to address this issue. We are coming up to the seventh anniversary of the publication of the Cassells report, which outlined the crisis facing higher education funding at that time. A number of options were presented in that report. Three options were presented very clearly to the Government, namely, that there be a dramatic increase in public...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Minister of State's comments. The timing of this matter is opportune but, with respect, this has been a seven-year process. As the Minister of State mentioned, the urgency of this situation was realised when the Cassells report was published, yet nothing has really happened bar kicking it to a committee and DG REFORM and a series of statements. I welcome that the Cabinet...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: We were fortunate to welcome the Ukrainian ambassador, H.E. Ms Larysa Gerasko, to Gorey yesterday. It was an emotional day during which she met local families who have been supported by schools in the community and by voluntary activity. There is a drop-in centre at Gorey Youth Needs Group where people come to provide information. Active groups have sprung up around the county, including...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: We have tabled amendment No. 100 on a related issue. It would remove the ban on political advertising on certain forms of media. We have the odd situation at the moment where if I wish to place a political advertisement, I can take one out in a newspaper, in the cinema and on any social media website, including that of my local radio station, but I cannot place one on television or on...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I understand the concerns that Senators Sherlock and Higgins have expressed. At the outset, I should have thanked the Minister and her officials. A great deal of work has gone into this Bill and we are grateful for all their assistance. In this amendment, we are talking about a level playing field. The reality at the moment is that Amazon has no problem with taking out adverts on all...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Minister’s sentiment around amendment No. 100. However, as Senator Higgins pointed out, the Minister said that the language is simply based on the 1997 Act, and the media landscape and environment has changed enormously. I appreciate some of the Minister’s concerns that perhaps an extremist group could then be allowed, if our amendment was accepted, for...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I have to support Senator Higgins on that because this is a particularly important area in terms of the regulation of algorithms. This is a debate about whether it is specifically in the legislation or not. I do not accept the argument that it can be ruled out on an additional cost basis. This is about a regulator which is going to be set up to do a particular job. This is just a question...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

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

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: These amendments are important because they relate to the power and function of the commission. We are going to be setting up this new regulator and must consider the guiding principles under which the new regulator will operate. Our big debate is around how we ensure freedom of expression while at the same time protecting the rights of individuals. With the purchase of Twitter by Elon...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the point the Minister made regarding specific constitutional rights but the corollary is true in that, very specifically in this section, regard is had to the rightful liberty of expression, which is something we believe should be upheld. In the same way we talk about the importance of freedom of expression, that must be balanced by the right of an individual to his or her...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: We will withdraw the amendment while reserving the right to reintroduce.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 12: In page 18, after line 40, to insert the following: “(ba) in particular, that the interests and safety of children are protected, and this inform all its policies and practices,”.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Amendment No. 16 does what it says on the tin and seeks to insert the term "socio-economic” as part of the categories.