Results 381-400 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Ms Quill and Mr. Shanley for their work on this to date. They can understand the frustration of my colleagues. I would worry if this Bill were to come before the Oireachtas before we have concluded our prelegislative scrutiny. Many of the key issues we are debating will end up being debated on the floor of the Dáil and Seanad. There are still a number of fundamental issues we...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Can Ms Quill clarify why that research cannot be done? Why must we wait until the commission is established before that research can be carried out?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the commission will have a role in its implementation but I do not see any reason the research could not be done. We have heard considerable evidence and some of it is competing. Other countries have made a decision. I do not accept the argument that we have to wait until the media commission is established before a content levy can be established. I appreciate there are...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that but Ms Quill's point on the research was that the commission would need to be established. I accept there has to be a statutory basis for it to come in but we can have all the research and everything done so that almost on day one the button can be pressed.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I do not accept this. Other member states have faced the same challenge and have introduced different models. We have been asking what the most effective content levying model is. I cannot figure out why we are under pressure to get something done quickly in one area, yet in another area we have to wait until the commission is set up. I appreciate that but this is an issue that we may...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: In recent weeks, we have seen from Amnesty International and a number of other global human rights agencies, further details of the continued genocide against the Uyghur people by the Chinese Communist Party. The oppression of a minority, of course, is nothing new. We know how the Tibetan people have been subjected to brutal persecution and repression for decades. We have seen throughout...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I would like a bit of clarity on what current international carbon-recording practices are, because they can be quite vague and generalised. The OECD has done some work on this, but it varies as to what exactly the definition involves. I favour us exploring an emissions trading scheme. I say this because it is important, in the context of this legislation, that we bring people with us. I...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (9 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Like Senator Moynihan, I welcome the Minister of State. Senator Moynihan said she is almost tired of seeing the Minister of State and the senior Minister in the House. That is reflective of the Government's commitment to addressing issues around housing. Senator Garvey pointed out well the broad range of issues. We are talking about legislation that will unlock unused public lands for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House to address this issue concerning vaccines which have not been approved by the European Medicines Agency, EMA. I acknowledge the enormous success of the vaccination programme to date. We are jabbing more arms in Ireland now for the size of our population than anywhere else in the world. Everybody involved in that operation deserves our...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. There is an urgency to addressing this matter. We are speaking about potentially thousands of Irish citizens who, in good faith, took the vaccine their company or the country where they were working offered them. They received it and they want to be fully vaccinated. They want to follow the rules but they also want to be able to come home. It would be very...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I join with the Cathaoirleach in wishing all French citizens in Ireland, and indeed, the ambassador and staff at the Embassy, a happy Bastille Day. Of course, French was the second language used in the First Dáil after Irish when the Declaration of Independence was read out in French by George Gavan Duffy. Bonne fête nationale ce mercredi à tous. I also echo colleagues in...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with my colleague Senator Casey. The importance of the legislation relates to the flexibility. I know of specific similar cases in Wexford where in order to get the development up and running, we will need to attract in a private developer, and that will mean allowing for a mix of types of housing on the land. We could say about some of these sites that we will be very ideological...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with comments from my colleagues. I know Senator Moynihan is genuine in her belief about the provision of public housing but I was disappointed with the Labour Party's approach to this. It stated that following the establishment of the Land Development Agency, it would have compulsory purchase powers and would be able to take over large tracts of land in areas such as the Phoenix...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: One would not be let.

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with colleagues and with what Senator Fitzpatrick said. It is important that there be accountability and transparency but there is also a need for education among the wider public so that people can understand what the agency is doing, its purposes and its objectives. The mapping will be interesting. As citizens, we should be able to access maps and know what purposes are assigned...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: -----but it is directly relevant to the point, which relates to communication-----

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: -----because the SPCs have a crucial role in informing councils and local communities.

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with colleagues and welcome the extension to August 2022. As Senator Martin said, it allows us sufficient time. If we do not see the necessary recovery happening by August 2022, consideration can be given to extending that. Everyone has talked about why it is important to get the tourism and hospitality sector back up and running. It must be remembered that significant numbers of...