Results 241-260 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill (13 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: One of the proposals is that linear broadcasters and newspapers would be excluded from membership of the commission. People with extensive experience or who were serving in that capacity could be excluded, if I read the heads correctly. My question is on the types of individuals who are allowed to be involved in the work of the commission. This is about conflicts of interest and so on.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (19 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House to take this matter. When I tabled this Commencement matter prior to Easter, I was reflecting a frustration as I have been continuously raising this issue about the pension scheme for community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors, along with others, for quite some time but I am glad that we now see that we have had progress...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (19 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I appreciate that agreement must be reached with the trade unions, which will consider the matter today. It will be important that there is, as I said, clarity around the tax implications and what will happen for those who continue to be in place. I am happy that this looks like the end of a very long journey for nearly 1,300 supervisors and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to follow on from the remarks of the Minister of State, Senator Hackett. Having seen the departure of KBC Bank from significant parts of the Irish market and following the planned closure of quite a number of retail bank branches, it is very clear we are lacking competition in the Irish market. We know that Irish consumers are already paying interest rates roughly double those of...

Seanad: Water Quality: Motion (19 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State, who is passionate about trying to address the issues in the motion. I do not think there is any Senator, as Senator Martin said, who is more passionate about water and water quality than Senator Garvey. The Minister of State will recall that she and I tabled a Commencement matter on this last year. The commitment in the programme for Government on water and...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: New and Future Relationship Between the UK and Ireland: Discussion (19 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Mr. O'Ceallaigh for his presentation. I would like to focus on two issues. First, on completion of its work, the committee will produce a report and will need to make specific recommendations. One of the issues Mr. O'Ceallaigh touched on was the advantages arising out of Brexit for Ireland, in particular in the legal space. In terms of the committee's report, what specific...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: New and Future Relationship Between the UK and Ireland: Discussion (19 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with Mr. O'Ceallaigh, particularly in regard to the areas of arbitration and mediation. It is a matter the committee might look at further. If there is an opportunity for us to win business as a result of Brexit we should definitely explore it.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I have one question on sport and then I will focus on questions relating to the arts. I have raised my question on sport directly with the Minister and the Minister of State previously. It concerns the Winter Olympics in Beijing. I am of the view that Ireland should encourage moving the Winter Olympics next year from Beijing to deny the Chinese Communist Party propaganda opportunities. I...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Chair for allowing me back in again. I echo Deputy Crowe's suggestion that we invite the Tour de France back to Ireland. I am sure Deputy Mythen would agree that it would be most welcome if it was to start in Wexford once again, as it did 23 years ago. I wish to come back to the issue of the reopening of theatres. I know that the Minister cannot give a specific date but...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Key Priorities for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (20 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: What about museums, art galleries and such specific venues as opposed to theatres? Is there a confirmed or likely opening date for them? Are we going to look at May?

Seanad: Future of Gambling Regulation: Statements (23 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for their work on this long-needed reform of our gambling legislation. I know he is personally committed to it. My colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, has underlined many of the challenges around addiction and I will speak around some of the regulatory issues that will arise. It is important the new regulator's office will cover advertising,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Issues (26 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. North Wexford is one of the fastest growing areas in the country outside of the main urban centres. Gorey town grew from about 4,500 to 11,000 in the 1996-2016 intercensus period. We have continued to see rapid growth since. Many people from...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Issues (26 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am glad that the Minister of State has reasserted that this is not a case of the Government failing to deliver resources. The Government is committing money towards these projects. However, I am disappointed that even though we have a commitment that by mid-2022 Wexford County Council will provide houses at Ramsfort Park, we are still awaiting the master plan for St. Waleran's. This is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo the calls made by my colleague, Senator Warfield, for a debate on sex education. Such a debate would be useful. Equally, I echo the remarks made by Senators Carrigy and Blaney. It happens only occasionally that an interview comes on the radio and stops you in your tracks. Ryan Tubridy handled the interview with Andrew Geary, about his son Calum, this morning quite well. We should...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Responses to Brexit in Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (26 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister. I pay tribute to him and the officials in his Department, and indeed the HEA and the higher education institutions, which I know have been dealing with many of the challenges that have resulted from Brexit. We need to come up with the least worst option and where we can avail of opportunities, we should do so. I welcome the Minister's reference to further...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Responses to Brexit in Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (26 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am conscious that we were due to talk to the Minister specifically on Brexit-related issues, but that we have moved to a broader range of questions. I welcome the fact that the Minister is addressing the borrowing framework issue. I also welcome the indications from what he said about student access and the income thresholds for student grants. One of the biggest challenges is for middle...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Responses to Brexit in Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (26 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree. It is essential that we send out that message to incoming Erasmus and international students as publicly and loudly as we can.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Data Protection Regulation: Discussion (27 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Go raibh maith again, a Chathaoirligh, and I start by asking whether you agree with all the conclusions Mr. Schrems has made, and by acknowledging the enormous contribution he has made in putting issues around data protection and privacy on the agenda. I have two questions, one each for both Mr. Schrems and for Dr. Logue, on the operation of the DPC. Mr. Schrems asked about moving from one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Data Protection Regulation: Discussion (27 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I will be direct in my questioning. This dialogue is important. I will ask a question following on from that asked by Senator Ruane. Ms Dixon might outline the particular skill shortages and levels of staff shortages. Are there particular commercial or regulatory lawyers or specialists in particular areas of technology on the skills side that are missing? I also have a more general...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Issues Facing Women in Sport: Discussion (27 Apr 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses for their contribution. I have a question for Ms O'Connor. Much of the focus has been on GAA so far but will she share a case study or example of one of the other governing bodies that have successfully increased the participation of women in sport and any specific lessons that could be drawn across all the sporting codes from that? We will shortly consider the...