Results 261-280 of 1,308 for speaker:Maria Byrne

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

Maria Byrne: I will ask that a message be sent to the Chairman as soon as the vote is called.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the fact that there are over 200,000 people in employment to do with tourism. I agree with colleagues in respect of some of the abuse of the 9% VAT rate. Many cities, towns and rural areas are not abusing the system and find it very useful in terms of employment. However, certainly in Dublin it needs to be monitored. I am volunteering this weekend in Dublin with Special Olympics...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: Ar 10.30 maidin amarách.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: Apologies but we have to go because of two committee meetings clashing.

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister and the Bill. I have been involved in schools for many years. People have lost out on places or have not been able to get a place because a school is oversubscribed. The Bill is very open and transparent. I highlighted two phrases in the Minister's speech, "transparency" and "fairness". The Bill is very much geared towards those terms. Many schools have been...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greenways Development (14 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Ross. I am delighted that he has come here for this matter which calls for the inclusion of the Shannon greenway in the greenway strategy is part of the Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework. I cannot claim any credit for this proposal. I would like to welcome Mr. Eoin O'Hagan from Scariff in County Clare who is in the Public Gallery and who is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greenways Development (14 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for his positive response and his welcome for this proposal. Even though Mr. O'Hagan is the chairman of the Clare tourism board, this proposal is of such a scale that it encompasses many counties and local authorities. Perhaps the Department could become involved and consider this proposal as a pilot scheme. The route would travel right down the centre of the country,...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the good news announced by Limerick and Clare ETB regarding an apprenticeship programme it is putting in place along with Clenn Construction, an American company, to build eco-friendly homes. They are coming in and training people in how to build homes in an eco-friendly manner. We hear a lot about climate change and our housing crisis. More than 100 people have been accepted on...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: -----Knock, Galway, Shannon and Cork. The airports in these locations are very much open for business and competition.

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (19 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to engage with us on this important issue, which concerns employment and SMEs. As he is aware, I come from a small business background. My family has been involved in business for over 60 years. The supports being put in place by the Department are to be very much welcomed. Many SMEs struggled for a long time. The fact that there is...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I understand entirely the sentiment behind what Senator Ruane is proposing in attempting to put in place safeguards in respect of the vulnerability of the child. The Minister might table something that would look after the needs of the child and allay Senator Ruane's fears.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Election of Acting Chairman (21 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I propose Deputy Thomas Byrne.

Seanad: Education (Digital Devices in Schools) Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister to the House. I congratulate Senator Craughwell on bringing forward this legislation. I know he has put a lot of work into his Bill and wish him well. I am involved with a school that is the only Apple accredited school in Ireland so I know that the students use iPads on a daily basis. People can download books and use technology to learn. The pupils only use their...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the fact that there will be 37 extra special needs assistants, SNAs, in Limerick in both primary and secondary schools in the coming academic year. It is a 42% increase on 2011 and will bring the number of SNAs in Limerick to a total of 606. Education is vital for the future of primary and secondary school students and this is very welcome news. This week, the Minister for...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2018)

Maria Byrne: I wish to let people know that the Pride parade is on in Limerick at 2 p.m. on Saturday. We would welcome anybody who wishes to come along to support it. It is meeting at Merchant's Quay in Limerick. I wish to raise is a concern about University Hospital Limerick and the report that was issued today. The son of a lady who is in the hospital was on the radio this morning. I will not...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Maria Byrne: I will raise the issue of Shannon Airport and its collaboration with ESB on the plan to reduce its carbon emissions. Climate change is something we are all very concerned with. Over the next 18 months the airport will bring down its electricity use by over a third, which is welcome. There was a report on small breweries in The Irish Timestoday. Their drinks have become popular, especially...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2018)

Maria Byrne: I agree with the point made by Senator Máire Devine on the call from the leading oncologist, Dr. David Fennelly, on trialling the drug, Pembrolizumab. I listed to Ms Vicky Phelan being interviewed on radio recently where she spoke so passionately about her health. Certainly it has been shown that her tumours are reducing in size. Nine new cases of cervical cancer have come to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2018)

Maria Byrne: I rise today out of concern at the fact that St. John’s Hospital in Limerick had to close its small minor injuries emergency department yesterday. This was helping to relieve the significant pressure on the accident and emergency department at the University Hospital, which is overcrowded again today. It is because there were not enough staff to manage the unit, albeit it reopened at...