Results 241-260 of 1,308 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: Last Friday saw the launch of a new golf course at Adare Manor in Adare, County Limerick. It was also the launch of the J.P. McManus Pro Am 2020. When the previous pro am was held in 2010, it raised almost €50 million for charities across the mid-west. I compliment Mr. McManus and his team of volunteers who are involved in organising the pro am. Rory McIlroy, Paul McGinley,...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Murphy, to the House. He visited Limerick not too long ago and we had a very positive day involving the opening of the new housing development on Lord Edward Street. He met many people who worked there in the past and some new residents. Limerick was very lucky to have been in receipt of funding for social housing when other local authorities were not able to...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I congratulate our two new Senators and look forward to working with them. This is an historic day for both and I wish them all the best for the rest of the term. I join other Senators who raised the plight of Ms Vicky Phelan and discussed how brave she has been. As the House knows, Vicky comes from Limerick. I compliment her and her family on the strength and power shown in interviews....

Seanad: Commencement Matter: Health and Social Care Professionals (3 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to discuss this very important issue. I have been contacted by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, which has concerns regarding the review last year of a statutory instrument that is currently being drawn up and that will include a list of health professionals entitled to refer individuals for X-rays. The statutory instrument in...

Seanad: Commencement Matter: Health and Social Care Professionals (3 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. It is disappointing in one way that physiotherapists are currently not included and that there are no plans. I acknowledge it is up for consideration but they have the support of many organisations such as the triage steering group, the national clinical programme for rheumatology and the national clinical programme for trauma and orthopaedic surgery....

Seanad: Commencement Matter: Health and Social Care Professionals (3 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (3 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I join the Minister in paying tribute to Limerick woman Vicky Phelan and her family. She is very courageous for being prepared to fight for her rights and ensure that this serious matter became public. The women of Ireland owe her a deep debt of gratitude for exposing this dreadful situation. My thoughts are with her and her family, as they are with all women affected by this and the...

Seanad: CervicalCheck Screening Programme: Statements (3 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Sector Staff Retirements (9 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I have been contacted by a number of public servants over their concerns about the retirement age. They are in good health and are enjoying their job and would love to continue in their job after they reach 65. At the moment, the Department is looking at legislation and reviewing the situation but if these people were to go back into employment in the public service they would have to start...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Sector Staff Retirements (9 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I am delighted that this legislation is being prioritised. It is good news but, in the meantime, people want to stay on. I understand that the Minister has put interim measures in place and I would like to find out what they are. It is very unfair to expect someone to go back to point 1 on the scale. People who have given their time and commitment to a job need to be looked after. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: An information session was held today in the Great National South Court Hotel for farmers regarding the basic payment scheme. The closing date is 15 May and it is the first time farmers have had to apply online. I encourage all farmers to ensure they meet the deadline for their applications. Recently, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Michael Ring, and his Department...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (15 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I raise two matters today, both of which relate to education. First is Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, which is an Apple distinguished school. Today, it hosted an event selling its message to other schools about what it means to have that distinction. It is the only school in Ireland with that accolade and I congratulate it in that regard. Second, ESB has announced a number of bursaries to...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, at the University of Limerick, UL, of a €47 million investment between Science Foundation Ireland, funded by the Government, and the heads of industry. UL will be the lead partner in it and it will involve University College Cork, the Tyndall Institute, Limerick...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome an announcement made today on the Garda's use of pedal power. This morning, I attended a meeting with representatives of Retail Excellence Ireland at which concerns were raised about the visual presence of gardaí. In Limerick this morning, the Garda announced that 36 gardaí will be trained for deployment on bicycles. Of these, 12 are in training, while the remainder are...

Seanad: Rural Development: Statements (23 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Ring, to the Chamber this afternoon to talk about rural affairs and what he has been doing since he came to office. I compliment him on his work to date.I know the Minister is a man who is passionate about where he comes from. He lives in rural Ireland. I know from speaking to many of his rural constituents that they sing his praises about how passionate and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff Recruitment (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jim Daly, and thank him for coming here to discuss such an important issue. Tomorrow is World MS Day and in the past I was very involved in the Limerick and mid-west committee of the MS Society, so I am very aware of its needs. In 2014, the approved recommended number of MS nurses for those diagnosed not only in Limerick...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff Recruitment (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: Yes. The one point I would make is that while it is a neurological specialist nurse that has been approved, an MS specialist nurse is slightly different in that the medication patients with MS take is very specialised and they need a lot of monitoring and care. However, while there is still no MS nurse, it is a very positive response that a neurological nurse will be approved and put in...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I was alarmed to read in today's edition of theIrish Independentwhere it was alleged-----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I was alarmed to read in the Irish Independenthow some of the women affected by the CervicalCheck situation still have not been contacted and my understanding is that three women are involved. I call on the Leader to ensure pressure is put on the HSE to make every effort to contact these three women. It is unacceptable that, five weeks later, they have still not been contacted. On a local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I must apologise to the witnesses but I have to leave to attend another committee meeting. Unfortunately, two meetings are clashing today.