Results 301-320 of 1,308 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2018)

Maria Byrne: I had intended in my earlier remarks to distance myself from the statements of the presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Casey, regarding Travellers. I do not support his comments in that regard.

Seanad: Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2018)

Maria Byrne: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2018)

Maria Byrne: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Report on Positive Mental Health in Schools: Minister for Education and Skills (18 Oct 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister and thank him for his attendance. I wish him all the best in his new role. I know how committed he is to it. His very good opening statement addressed the importance of working together. The report of the committee addressed well-being and mental health and a significant amount of work was done by its members in that regard. A primary school in Moyross, County...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Child Benefit Eligibility (7 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Breen, to the House. He is my colleague from the mid-west and I am delighted he is here. Many people have come to my office recently who still have children in school at the age of 18. Children start school at a later age now and are usually almost five years of age before they start....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Child Benefit Eligibility (7 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: While I understand the additional costs involved, which would be significant, it was the case until 2010 that a child in full-time education in secondary school qualified up to the age of 19. In 2010, that was reduced to 18. Allowances have not been made for the fact that children are not starting school now until they are five years of age, which raises the age at which they finish their...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (7 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I know it is about quality of life. Every report shows that the early weeks and years are the most important in the development and growth of a baby. Many people have contacted my office to ask about when this Bill will come into force or how far off it is. I welcome its sentiments and the fact that in principle, the Government will support...

Seanad: Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (7 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise the issue of rent pressure zones. When the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government targeted rent pressure zones last year, Limerick was not included yet rents there have gone up by over 20% in the first quarter. This is the highest and fastest growing rent increase in the country. I would like the Minister to come to the House to debate the issue in terms of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Uptake of Apprenticeships and Traineeships: Discussion (15 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: As I had to go the Seanad Chamber to attend to quorum duties, I apologise if I ask any question that has been asked already. I thank the four delegates for their very informative presentations. To follow up on what Deputy Catherine Martin said about an apprenticeship expo, I know that in the mid-west there was recently an apprenticeship day. Free buses were provided which collected...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Uptake of Apprenticeships and Traineeships: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Chairman. I thank the four witnesses for their informative opening statements. I would like to begin by raising an issue that came up here last week as well. I refer to the disparity in the female take-up of apprenticeships. This is a huge issue because the percentage is small. There was a skills and apprenticeships day in Limerick and the mid-west last week. It was very...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I raise the report that was published this morning on the 51 private water connections where E. coli was found. This is very serious. I realise that at this stage many houses and group schemes are on the main connection but Irish Water will have to investigate all of the connections. The report states that more than 700 connections were not assessed. This is very important because E. coli...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Eye Care (28 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I, too, welcome the Minister of State. I am concerned about the provision of eyesight tests for children in primary and secondary schools, especially given that nowadays children spend an awful lot of time on consoles, iPads, phones and other forms of digital media. According to a report launched recently by a cancer society, there are concerns that children are developing digital myopia or...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Eye Care (28 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. While I understand what he has said, I continue to be concerned about the amount of screen time to which children are exposed. The cancer society has shown that screen time is linked not only with short-sightedness but also cancer.This issue must be kept on the agenda because children are destroying their eyesight. There should be an awareness campaign or...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome Maire Ardagh to the Gallery. I served with her on a regional assembly for several years. I know her late husband, Seán, will be honoured today in the Dáil. I am sure there will be a nice tribute to him. I congratulate Senator Ruane on her award yesterday. She has been commended by nearly every Member for her well-deserved award. I wish her all the best for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I apologise and withdraw it. Businesses in Murroe have closed down. With this construction project, a significant number of jobs will be created in the village. The village will also be developed as the driver of the area. The all-weather pitch will benefit all the villages in the surrounding area. We have further investment in urban regeneration developments. Funding has been given to...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the recommendation from the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs relating to the European Globalisation Fund. In the past, the European Globalisation Fund has been used for companies where there were redundancies of more than 500 people. The committee recommends that number be brought down to accommodate companies where 200 employees or more are made...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the good news that "Nightflyers", a series made in Troy Studios in Limerick, was released yesterday in the US. The Irish embassy in the US tweeted and congratulated the film-makers on the premiere, which was shown on 2 December. It is a series of ten films made in Limerick. It is important to acknowledge the number of people involved in the apprenticeship and training scheme...

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Maria Byrne: I fully support the sentiment of the Minister with regard to zero hours. The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018 will be before the Seanad tomorrow and I am aware that all of the Senators who are members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills have been contacted by teachers and different people who have not been given...

Seanad: Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2018)

Maria Byrne: Next Tuesday.