Results 281-300 of 1,990 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Culture Policy (7 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin. We are all looking forward to seeing our museums and galleries opening next week, but I am hoping that it will not be too long before we see our other centres of culture, such as music, drama and entertainment venues, throughout the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Culture Policy (7 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: It is important when the Department of Health makes announcements around the reopening that the arts and culture are not forgotten. It is right and important when one talks about what is happening in sport that the sporting organisations have clarity. Unfortunately, when many of the national announcements are made, those in the artistic and music community do not seem to receive the same...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate Examinations) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today. I agree with what Senator Ruane has said. We should be ambitious in these Houses, in this country and in the Department of Education. We should make this the best little country in the world in which to be a young person and a student and to provide those opportunities. From the Minister’s own experience as a teacher and as a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Now we are seeing the resumption of inter-county travel and I hope we will start to see people holidaying at home this summer. However, I want to raise an issue that affects many of our coastal communities and the wonderful beaches we have, and that is coastal erosion. Because of climate change, we have seen this problem manifest itself to a far greater degree over recent years. There are...

Seanad: Future of Banking in Ireland: Statements (10 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the House for this discussion. The theme of the statements is the future of banking but, with the exception of Senator Keogan's comments, much of the discussion has been about the banking model that has existed during the 19th and 20th centuries. If the pillar banks of Bank of Ireland, AIB and Permanent TSB continue to operate as they do now, I predict...

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement: Motion (10 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I propose to share time with Senator O'Loughlin.

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement: Motion (10 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I have been privileged to listen to the contributions of a number of colleagues this evening. I slightly disagree with Senator McGahon. It is important that we hear Border voices, but we need to hear more voices on this island from people from a diverse range of backgrounds. We often hear the same voices in this debate again and again. The more voices we can hear on this discussion, the...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Customs Checks and Trade Flows in and out of Irish Ports: Discussion (10 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all the witnesses for their attendance. We have to prepare a report at the end of this period and we will make recommendations on making life easier for Irish businesses. Are there any specific legislative or regulatory changes that the witnesses believe that we, as legislators, should examine in the coming years to ensure business can continue as smoothly as possible? On...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Customs Checks and Trade Flows in and out of Irish Ports: Discussion (10 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: May I ask one quick supplementary question about the staffing and skills levels? Now that the country is beginning to open up, we are hoping to see an increase in business activity. Will each of the agencies represented here have sufficient numbers of staff to help things move smoothly? Many of us have not had to deal with customs and so on for quite some time. Is the required level of...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I have two sets of questions. The first is for Dr. McAuley around the question of advertising and micro-targeting of children online. I have a particular concern in this regard. I am rather frightened by the news that Facebook is now talking about developing Instagram for kids, and I think it is an appalling idea. I would be grateful to hear...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Professor O'Mahony may want to come in on this. At present, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has specific codes around advertising and children, and dealing with issues like junk food and other areas. I am looking for clarity on what we should have in the legislation around those areas of advertising but, obviously, in regard to specific platforms. I am frightened by the idea of...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I asked Dr. Culloty about algorithmic decision-making.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (12 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to tease out some of those issues, as they will be crucial questions around an individual complaints mechanism. We would be concerned if such a mechanism was part of the media commission yet the regulator had to deal with complaints in the first instance. In those circumstances, we will be looking at drawing up codes and setting a statutory duty of care on some of the platforms....

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all of the witnesses for their testimony. I agree this legislation is incredibly important. As legislators, one of our core functions and responsibilities is to protect all of our citizens, particularly those most vulnerable of our citizens, in the public space, of which the online area is now part. We need to take action. I strongly agree with the testimony of the witnesses and...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I ask Ms Ward and Ms Cooney to comment on how we can specifically build in a voice for children and young people when the new online safety commissioner is set up. It is important that they have influence, particularly over the shaping of the codes that will be drawn up. I want to talk about advertising and micro-targeting of children and young people. At present the BAI has quite a good...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I have one final question. Everyone on this call wants technology to be used safely, particularly among our children and young people, and this is very important legislation. I want to ask the witnesses what success would look like and what will make a difference for us. When we have implemented this legislation, when the media commissioner is in place and when we have the online safety...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am glad Senator McDowell and others called for a debate on technology and cybersecurity. This is an issue I have raised a number of times in the House. Until we start to treat data like gold, we will not realise the scale of how important this is. Some 30% of the European Union’s data is stored in Ireland. That is how serious an issue this is. We must begin to take this issue...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am being careful. The issue is in the public domain. I am talking about it on the basis of an affidavit. The reason I am asking what is happening in the context of Bóthar is that this is not the first time individuals at the top of siphoned off money from a charity for which they were responsible. This type of thing breaks the heart of those who go out and raise money for charity....

Seanad: Young People: Motion (17 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming in. I thank him also for today's announcement of the capacity building grants which help a lot of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans people around Ireland. It is noticeable that, with the exception of Senator Boyhan, all those in the Chamber so far are either women or gay men. I hope we will see a number of our other colleagues taking part in what is a...

Seanad: Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel: Statements (17 May 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for taking this important debate and for his leadership and that of the officials in the Department on this issue. I agree with the views expressed by most of my colleagues. What is needed is more than just words. The full might and pressure of the international community is needed to ensure there is a de-escalation. Following on from Senator Ward's points, Ireland is...