Results 221-240 of 1,308 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment: Discussion (20 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: I need to go to speak in the Seanad Chamber. I have a few questions, including one for Mr. Ó hAiniféin, which I might ask now because I might not be here when he makes his presentation. We acknowledge the problems related to shortages, substitutes etc. However, 5,000 full-time jobs have been created in the past two years. Is this adding to the problem in that people are in...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: The new health centre in Limerick, Barrack View, was opened last Monday week. There has been a rise in the incidence of measles in Limerick and the wider region. Today, free vaccinations are being given at the centre from 12 p.m. onwards. It is quite frightening to note the number of people who die from measles each year. I encourage people to avail of the opportunity to acquire a free...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (21 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank him for the very positive day we had recently in Limerick. He met many people from rural and urban areas of the county. He is aware of a number of ongoing issues, and I would like to highlight some of them. During the meeting we discussed embankments and areas where there had been flooding and there is ongoing work. I compliment the...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (21 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank Senator Conway for introducing tonight's motion. I know people living with disabilities, especially with blindness. Senator Conway referred to street furniture that is in the way. A number of people who live in my area have guide dogs and an amount of investment and training is put into the training of guide dogs. I understand the process takes three to four years. The motion is...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: I pay tribute to Andy Lee from Castleconnell, County Limerick, who has announced his retirement from boxing. He won 35 of his 39 professional fights. He was a fantastic amateur and professional boxer for many years. He represented Ireland at the Olympic Games. I wish him all the best in his retirement. The 34th Limerick Literary Festival will take place this weekend. It is being opened...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: I note that the engineering and technology event, Limerick for Engineering, that was to be held in Shannon Airport this coming Thursday and Friday has been cancelled due to expected adverse weather conditions. However, it has been rescheduled for next week. Over 2,500 primary and secondary school students have been encouraged to attend this event which is related to innovation and...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2018)

Maria Byrne: I too pay tribute and thank the front-line staff, the in-house staff and those who worked in hospitals and were out clearing roads and all the volunteers as well as the Army, the Civil Defence, the Garda and council staff - everybody who was involved in the clean-up right around the country. I pay compliment to them and the many volunteers who joined them. Yesterday was a historic day in...

Seanad: 100 Years of Women's Suffrage in Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Madigan, to the House and thank her for all the fine work she is putting into the Vótáil 100 programme. I also compliment all our senatorial colleagues, and especially Senator Ivana Bacik, as a the chairperson of the committee. Many worthwhile projects have been put together to date. I recently attended a seminar in the Royal Irish Academy, at which...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2018)

Maria Byrne: We had a great weekend of sport with Ireland winning the grand slam. I was there when we won it in 2009 but I was watching it on the streets of Limerick when it happened this year. It was wonderful to see a Limerick man presenting the trophy to the team and we had two Limerick players on the team, Keith Earls and Conor Murray, whom I congratulate on being short-listed for player of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2018)

Maria Byrne: I again raise the outbreak of measles in Limerick and the mid-west. There are now cases affecting more than 25 people so it is quite serious. They are giving out free vaccinations in the Lord Edward Street primary care unit this afternoon from 3 p.m. onwards. I encourage people, especially those aged from 20 to 40 who have not yet been vaccinated, to attend the clinic for a free...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2018)

Maria Byrne: I wish both Munster and Leinster the very best of luck in their two quarter finals this weekend. The matches are taking place on Saturday and Sunday. They will certainly put Ireland on the map, and hopefully both teams will win. It was Daffodil Day last Friday. We often speak about parking charges for cancer patients at hospitals, but University Hospital Limerick, along with the hospitals...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Mar 2018)

Maria Byrne: I attended a briefing this morning organised by Senators Humphreys and McFadden concerning the Parkinson's Association of Ireland. I learned that over 12,000 people in Ireland have Parkinson's disease. While I know there are many regions with their own association, the Parkinson's Association of Ireland runs a helpline where a specialist nurse phones people with medical queries back because...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I congratulate Joy Neville on becoming the Rehab sportsperson of the year. Joy is from Limerick. She is a neighbour of mine and I know her well. She may not support the same rugby club as me but her brothers do. Joy played for Shannon and UL Bohemians, as well as Munster and Ireland This latest accolade adds to her Grand Slam achievements in the past and her 70 caps for Ireland. She has...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (19 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I appreciate that the issue I raised has been chosen as a Commencement matter. A number of people who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and are taking heavy medication to deal with the pain find that their condition is not included in the long-term illness book. I wish to ascertain whether rheumatoid arthritis can be included in the long-term illness book. I also am calling for an...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (19 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne. While I appreciate that the Government is committed to reducing the costs for people, especially those with long-term illness, I certainly would appreciate the Minister of State's bringing to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Harris, that there are a number of illnesses where people are on medication in the long term and perhaps a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (19 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the fact that Aerospace Asset Trading has recently purchased a warehouse in Shannon Airport and plans to expand. The company will join a cluster of 60 aviation companies, which is most welcome. Aerospace Asset Trading is a Florida based company that operates in Shannon Airport. When the company purchased the warehouse recently it stated that Shannon Airport gave it great access...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the panel for their comments. To start with Fr. Connell, he referred to the five-day rule. Has he any suggestions as to how that can be changed or what should be proposed? I understand that the five-day rule is causing a problem for some schools. We have referred a great deal to the shortage of substitute teachers. The fact that 5,000 full-time posts have been created over...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (25 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I tabled my Commencement matter, on a Garda station for the Castletroy area of Limerick, because I have had a number of calls recently, especially from older people in the community, about the fact that they have to use the Garda station in Henry Street in Limerick, which is approximately 5 km away from where they live. They are conscious of how busy gardaí are and those in Henry Street...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (25 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I appreciate the Minister's response. I regularly attend the joint policing committee and I will engage with the chief superintendent and members of the joint policing committee. Castletroy is the fastest growing suburb in Munster. It is expanding at a huge rate. There is a case to be made. I will engage with the joint policing committee. I thank the Minister for his response. When I...