Results 2,081-2,100 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all of our witnesses. I particularly acknowledge Mr. Yurchyshyn who is joining us from Kyiv. Even the fact the electricity is going off there shows us the ongoing challenges faced by politicians and journalists. I want him to be assured of Ireland's ongoing solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of the most appalling aggression by Russia and particularly given the events...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I was going to ask him to outline-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: It might be useful for us to hear first-hand about some of the challenges for media reporting in Ukraine. I will touch on some of the issues regarding digital threats. Colleagues have spoken a lot about the challenges we see in conflict zones but there are also digital threats. As much as we as politicians see it, there are rising threats of violence online against journalists. This is...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Ms Evans also made reference to this. Does she want to comment?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: That is perfectly fine, do not worry. We are speaking about online threats to journalists and some of the challenges. Ms Evans made reference to it earlier. What can we do to address some of these challenges?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: When we talk about conflict zones, we frequently think of conflicts and wars between states. We might draw a parallel with gangland crime. Crime is international for criminal journalists. There are a number of high-profile criminal investigations relating to Irish gangs. Does Mr. Dooley want to comment on challenges facing journalists in those circumstances?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: It is fair and I agree. There is that opportunity with the new Government. The Tánaiste has raised this before so it might be appropriate for the committee to raise it with the Tánaiste. We sometimes take our free press for granted. Mr. Dooley has been in here regularly. It is healthy we have these public debates around the role of media in society and about quality, trusted...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Like my colleague Senator Boyhan stated, that is a very welcome move but we need these rural planning guidelines to be published as soon as possible. These have been a long time in the pipeline. The Minister of State knows rural Kilkenny as well l as I do parts of rural Wexford, and he will appreciate the problems that are created. I speak in support of my colleague Senator Chambers's...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I will speak specifically to the amendments and to the legislation. While I have some sympathy with amendments Nos. 155 and 156, I am not certain whether they should necessarily be included within the legislation. However, the guidelines adopted by local authorities when large-scale developments are put in place should have greater regard for community and social infrastructure.In fairness...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I appreciate that this is a busy day in the Department of Finance. I particularly appreciate the Minister of State coming to the House to take this matter. The Minister of State will recall that in June and July of this year, we dealt with the issue of a boil water notice in Ferns, County Wexford, which impacted more than 1,700 people. I want...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for outlining the process. I have learned from responses that when I hear from a State agency something is a priority, that tends to mean some time in the next five years. If I am told it is an urgent priority, it might be within two years and an imminent priority is sometime within 12 months. I appreciate and understand the processes as the Minister of State...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo a lot of Senator Lombard's comments on access to swimming lessons. The Ceannaire will recall that I previously asked for a debate regarding our coastal communities and, in particular, the question of investment in beaches. The Oireachtas committee on the arts previously raised the need to invest in musical theatre and theatre more generally throughout the country. After the GAA,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I commend Senator Conway on raising the issue of haemochromatosis. I have haemochromatosis and I am very aware of the importance of the screening strategy, given so many people are impacted by that disease. The issue I want to raise concerns the long-running and ongoing saga of the construction of the primary care centre in Gorey, which I have raised on a number of occasions in the House....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: In light of past experience, I am concerned that the Minister and the Department are being fobbed off again by HSE estates. The Minister of State will notice that the HSE said it will be advertising before the end of this year. That is obviously different from what I was told to the effect that it would be quarter 3 or quarter 4 at the latest. Our problem is that the HSE acknowledges that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Service (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. He will be aware of the Courtown-Arklow Coast Guard unit. It is one unit. I raise the question of the facilities for the Coast Guard stations in Arklow and Courtown. In the case of the Arklow Coast Guard station, the Minister of State will be aware that in December last year Wicklow County Council granted planning permission for upgrades to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Service (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response on the question of the Coast Guard station in Arklow. The fact that the contract will be awarded from Q1 of 2025 is welcome and good news. The Minister of State said that once the contract is awarded, there will be nine months of construction. Therefore, there is a possibility that all going well, the project will be completed by Christmas...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I join with others in extending our sympathies to the O'Rourke and Naughten families. I also agree with Senator Sherlock's concerns about somebody who is compromised in these Houses, if it is the case. It is a particularly serious matter. However, I note there are politicians who are not compromised but indeed are puppets for Putin and will quite clearly voice his talking points on a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome a lot of the announcements in the budget as well as some additional announcements, including the two new veterinary colleges, one of which will be the south east, which is very welcome, and the appointment of the chief scientific officer. There are a lot of positives. The fact that there is multi-annual funding for the universities now is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the grants to early stage and other researchers increasing from €22,000 to €25,000, but what action is being taken on basic research equipment? The Minister will be aware of the concerns that have been expressed about how one third of all basic research equipment is more than 15 years old. What measures are being taken to address this challenge?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I would highlight that Taighde Éireann covers more than the sciences. In defence, the humanities-----