Results 601-620 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to debate this important topic about aviation. Where I come from, in Limerick and in the mid-west region, aviation plays an important role. Airlines are very complex and need to be realistic with flexible plans in terms of reopening and getting back up and running. While passenger airlines are to the fore and will therefore be discussed a lot, I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I rise to welcome two things relating to Limerick. Fáilte Ireland and the council had a joint collaboration yesterday, which was two years in the making, whereby Limerick city is now identified as a gateway city of the Wild Atlantic Way. While the Wild Atlantic Way has been a great success, urban tourism destinations like Limerick city were losing out. That it has now been included...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Acting Chairperson. I thank the Minister for being here today for this very important debate. I get worried when I hear Senator Conway talk of Limerick and light rail and so on. I am thinking, "Is he moving to Limerick?" I certainly welcome his comments. I will speak a little about that too. In 2018, Ireland was ranked seventh worst out of 28 EU member states in terms of its...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: Senator Seery Kearney raised the issue of hate crime and I happen to know personally the priest who fell victim to the abuse and the online abuse over the weekend. He is a Limerick man who is in charge of a church in Dublin. He has always been very inclusive and tried to work with people, including the most vulnerable in society. I therefore think it is time we had a debate on hate crime....

Seanad: National Maternity Hospital: Statements (2 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: The development of the new national maternity hospital is an issue that we cannot ignore. While there is no doubt that the issue is complex, we must find a solution. The debate largely receives media attention in correlation to the religious association but we must recognise the commitments the religious order has made. The commitments in the national maternity hospital vision statement...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Payments (5 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: I am delighted to see Senator Flynn in the Chair and wish her all the best in her role. I thank the Minister of State for coming this morning. I call for an examination of the earnings of carers, whether family carers, informal carers or carers in general, and social protection for them. Carers have prevailed in the most difficult circumstances during the Covid-19 pandemic. We all have to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Payments (5 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response. He has to acknowledge that carers work many hours that are not accounted for. Many of the people who provide care at home for a loved one never apply for carer's allowance. They save the State so much money. This needs to be reviewed. People need to be asked to work with the Department by informing it of how many hours they provide care...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Payments (5 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: My concern relates to section 20A(3)(a), which states that regulations made under this section shall not apply to an employer with fewer than 50 employees. Gender pay discrimination is a serious issue. As we know, the Bill aims to tackle the existence of pay discrimination but could this section permit employers with fewer than 50 employees to legally discriminate against employees on a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: I also want to welcome good news. I am chairperson of the board of management of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh. The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, announced the building project for the school can now go to tender. We have been waiting for this news for two years and it is fantastic. We will have a 26-classroom school for 650 students. While I am on the subject of Gaelcholáiste...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank Ms Embleton and Mr. Moriarty for their presentation. I have two questions. I am from Limerick, like the Chairman. Shannon Airport is key for the region. A report showed recently that the top 40 companies use Shannon Airport for staff coming in and going out for meetings and so forth. A commitment has been sought from Ms Embleton with regard to the Heathrow slots and the early...

Seanad: Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Bill 2021: Second Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: The Minister of State is welcome. Before I start, I wish him and Aideen all the best for their wedding day on Thursday and a long life together. I welcome the Bill. I come from a small business background and I am aware of the plight of small businesses, especially in times of Covid. We are starting to come out the other side. I have been working with many small businesses that are either...

Seanad: Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions Bill) 2021: Second Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Much of what I had intended to say has been said, but I welcome the Bill and the fact that it will strengthen the Workplace Relations Commission and deliver more transparency to the eligibility of adjudication officers, particularly through the amendment of section 40 of the 2015 Act. I welcome the amendment to section 40(c) of that Act, which...

Seanad: Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive explanation. It is very clear from his response that micro companies and small businesses are at the heart of this recommendation. That is good to hear because I am aware that small businesses have found it very hard, especially in the past 12 months or so. The fact that the Department is willing to work with them and that there has been...

Seanad: Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: Now.

Seanad: Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: Now.

Seanad: CervicalCheck Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: My thanks to the Minister for attending for this important debate. I begin by welcoming Vicky Phelan home after six long months in the United States where she received treatment arising from her misdiagnosis under the CervicalCheck programme. No individual should be required to leave her family, as Vicky did so bravely and amid a pandemic. She had to go through this experience alone and...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second and Subsequent Stages (16 Jul 2021)

Maria Byrne: I echo the words of Senator Ward. People say I have a vested interest here as I grew up in the hospitality industry and we have a gastropub at home. It is run by my brother and sister-in-law so I have nothing to do with it but I understand the challenges they are facing. I hear from my family members on a daily basis about staff and the different issues surrounding them but we must try to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Chairman and all the witnesses for coming in. As has been acknowledged, an awful lot of work went into the plebiscite and the delivery of a directly elected mayor of Limerick. It has been mentioned, particularly by Mr. Moran and Ms Ryan, that people were expecting much more and there must be much more. I pay tribute to Mr. Tim O'Connor and his committee, which sat for ten...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Maria Byrne: Anyone who would like to pick up on it, because there are issues that should be included. It is about the guidance as to how people think it should happen, or a condensed version of that.