Results 2,141-2,160 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I have sympathy with Senator Higgins in the context of where she is coming from. Again, this is not prescriptive. For example, there is no requirement that it shall include a nominee of employers’ representatives or particular grades of staff, whether academic or non-academic. It comes back to the core question around competencies. I disagree with Senator Higgins on one point. I...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I have some sympathy with the idea of An Coimisiún Toghcháin conducting research on who votes, but it is probably going to be slightly more challenging in Seanad elections given the nature of the electorate. For instance, An Coimisiún Toghcháin has already started to conduct qualitative research. Both in the local and European elections and during the referendums in...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to speak briefly because I am conscious we are out of time. I know An Coimisiún Toghcháin has been asked to look more generally at the issue of list systems rather than by-elections. I raised with the Minister the question of whether list systems will apply more generally and whether it is his view it should apply more generally, whether to other Seanad elections or indeed...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: These are not requirements that are too difficult. If you are not able to get 60 names to assent to your nomination, and I appreciate we want to encourage people to run, but 60 is not a huge number to get when we are talking about a potential electorate of up to 1 million. While we want it to be as broad as possible, if somebody is serious about contesting an election they will be either...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (23 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Curaim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I again wish to raise the issue of underinvestment in the Dublin to Rosslare rail line. I do so because of growing traffic volumes along the N11. Many car users in Wexford and Wicklow would quite happily transfer to the train if they knew they had a regular and reliable service. Unfortunately, that has not been the case for quite a long time. ...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (23 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. While I appreciate he is taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, in summary, there is no real progress, apart from the potential for additional services to Greystones and Wicklow. There is no promise of additional services for anyone south of Wicklow, but rather a promise of a "seamless" transition from trains. Those who will...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo Senator Cassells's comments about the immigrant investor programme. I know of one particular project that is held up and the decision of the then acting Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, to simply slam the gate shut on this programme was wrong. I raise the importance of local radio today and, in particular, as we approach a general election, we need to ensure we have trusted...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima (23 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I sincerely thank the mayor for his contribution and welcome him to Ireland. I also thank the embassy team, led by our good friend Ambassador Norio. The team has been doing extraordinary work building the strong friendship between Ireland and Japan. That can be measured in many ways. Japan is now Ireland’s fifth largest trading partner. We do €23 billion in trade every...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Recently, I met representatives from St. Aidan's advocacy group in Gorey. St. Aidan's provides services for people with intellectual disabilities. The St. Aidan's advocacy group, known as STAAG, represents the clients and users of the services and advocates on their behalf. In the context of the forthcoming election it has called for all political parties to have regard to those with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Safety (5 Nov 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I want to raise the question of support for community rescue boats, in particular Cahore Inshore Rescue Service. It is in a part of the world with which we are both quite familiar. It is a beautiful part of the world with a great deal of wonderful coastline. Cahore Inshore Rescue Service provides a vital service to the north Wexford community....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Safety (5 Nov 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Minister of State’s response. I could also ask about the Courtown Coast Guard unit, but we are specifically talking about the issue with Cahore. I welcome the fact that we have standards for these rescue boats, but in order to be able to meet these standards, we have to ensure the boats are in good condition. There is fundraising for ongoing regular costs, but it is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I hope we will be here tomorrow to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Martin Groves and all of the Seanad team and to thank them for their work. It is appropriate that this House acknowledges the passing of David Davin-Power. He was an outstanding, informed, balanced and insightful journalist whose funeral is taking place this afternoon. It is appropriate to mark his passing. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (7 Nov 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I have regularly raised questions in this House about the school transport scheme. While it was certainly welcome the Minister, Norma Foley, carried out the first review of the scheme, which was published in February of this year, the first review since the scheme was established in 1967, we still need to see some of the detail. I have raised...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (7 Nov 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State and appreciate that he is simply taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Department of Education, but I refer him to the answer I received regarding this issue six months ago. Except for two or three lines, this response is a cut-and-paste of that answer from the Department. Basically, in terms of the pilot, the only thing the Department has announced...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: We are fortunate that we live in a peaceful, safe and successful democracy. When we reflect on the many conflicts going on around the world - the horrors we are seeing in the Middle East, the tragedy that is Sudan and the fact that very shortly it will have been 1,000 days since Putin invaded Ukraine - it should be of serious concern that Russia and North Korea have entered into a mutual...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: How would such a group agree?

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Artificial Intelligence (22 Jan 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: 10. To ask the Taoiseach if his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if his Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if he will make...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (22 Jan 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: 33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the continued detention of the political prisoner (details supplied) in Hong Kong, on efforts made by his Department to raise the case with Chinese authorities; if he is concerned by the use by China of its national security law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46782/24]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (22 Jan 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: 34. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions taken during 2024 at international level by Ireland in support of Ukraine and against the illegal invasion by Russia; the number of public statements or press releases issued by his Department on Ukraine during 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46783/24]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (22 Jan 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: 35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline Ireland’s continued support for the United Nations 1967 Outer Space Treaty and Ireland’s opposition to proposed amendments by Russia to that Treaty in November/December, 2024; the position of Ireland on the development of space law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46785/24]