Results 661-680 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

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

Maria Byrne: I wish to be associated with the condolences extended to our colleague, Senator Currie, her mother, Annita, and the extended Currie family on the passing of Austin. I had the pleasure of working with him when he ran in the presidential campaign back in the 1980s. I knew him to be a thorough gentleman. He brought so much to the office of the Minister of State but also in terms of his work...

Seanad: Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2019: An Dara Céim - Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (10 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: The Minister is very welcome. Unfortunately, like the previous speaker, I had good Irish in the past but my ability to speak it has diminished due to a lack of use. There is a lesson in that for all of us. I compliment the Oireachtas on providing Irish language classes. I attended them in the past; I did not sign up to them for this term but I will in the future. I compliment the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise two issues. I welcome the report that was launched today by the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding a directly elected mayor for Limerick. I pay tribute to the committee for its work on the report and to the witnesses who presented to the committee. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill lasted for quite a while. I also pay tribute to the...

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

Maria Byrne: I rise today to follow up the conversation we had yesterday on University Hospital Limerick. I know it has been raised in the House a couple of times already today. I know it has been suggested there are a lack of resources and investment from the Government, particularly the Fine Gael Government, but I remind Senators on the other side of the House that more than 110 beds have been...

Seanad: Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland: Statements (17 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank him for being here to discuss this important issue. I compliment him and his team for their extensive work over a lengthy time in terms of the negotiations and discussions on Brexit. The Minister is correct that Northern Ireland did not seek or vote for Brexit. That is very clear. The protocol was the only option post years of discussions...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I compliment the more than 400 salons in Limerick that have signed up to the partnership between the National Women's Council and the Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation. It is very important. European research has shown that one in four women has been abused. I compliment the salons that have voluntarily decided to get involved in the campaign. Many women confide in their hairdressers...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: The Taoiseach is very welcome. I pay tribute to him and the Government for their handling of a very difficult situation over recent months.It is certainly something that has affected people all over the world. On the Covid vaccine booster roll-out, I welcome the fact that the over-50s group and the most vulnerable in society will receive their boosters soon. I have been thinking about how...

Seanad: Paediatric Scoliosis Services: Statements (23 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming here to listen to the debate on this very important issue. I compliment all the people who have sent us emails highlighting their experiences and what their children are going through.We are all here as legislators but, at the end of the day, children and their futures are really important to all of us. Scoliosis and other orthopaedic problems can...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I often give out about what is happening at University Hospital Limerick but there was a very good occasion yesterday, which was the retirement of Bonnie the therapy dog. She has worked with the paediatric unit in the Children's Ark over many years and brought great joy to the children. She has been involved in calming the children and playing with them. This is a programme that should be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I second the suggestion made by Senator Buttimer that the commission should take the lead and put together a proposal for the secretarial assistants. I lend my support to all of my colleagues who raised that issue. I welcome the fact that today is the International Day For The Elimination Of Violence against Women. I also welcome that will be 16 days of activism to highlight the matter. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Enterprise Support Services (30 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for attending to have this all-important debate. I know how committed he is to this area and the work he has been doing. Alarm bells rang through my head when I read a newspaper report on Limerick and the wider Munster area and how there had been a 4% drop in business start-ups. I will preface my comments by saying that local enterprise offices, LEOs, are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Enterprise Support Services (30 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: The uncertainty due to Covid is affecting businesses. I agree that we have had significant expansion of multinationals and that employers are trying to keep experienced employees in their employment. I would like to get the message out about all the support that is available. I accept the times are uncertain, but I encourage people to have faith in themselves and to get out there. There...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising the fact that it is disability week. ParkMagic, along with the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland, launched its app this morning and Limerick City and County Council is the first local authority to avail of it. A number of service users have used the app and they stated that when they come into town they have to plan their journey because...

Seanad: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to this debate. The national development plan is important to all of us. I regret what the plan states about the N20 and M20. When Project Ireland 2040 was launched by the previous Government in 2018, it referred to the M20. In this plan, it refers to the N20 and M20. I cannot reiterate enough how important this road link is. I recently met...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2021)

Maria Byrne: I wish to lend my support to the businesses that are being affected by the pandemic, in particular those in the hospitality industry. As late as this morning, I heard that a small boutique hotel within my own area in Limerick has been hit by a number of cancellations. The owners had employed staff to facilitate what was expected to be a busy weekend. It is people's personal choice to...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Health): Statements (1 Dec 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for attending to discuss this important issue. I compliment the Government on the job it has been doing to date. Little did we think in February 2020 that we would be in the same situation in December 2021. I compliment those behind the roll-out of the vaccine programme. The vaccination centre in Limerick moved to a location just up the road from my house. Its work...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Dec 2021)

Maria Byrne: I called yesterday for the reinstatement of the employment wage subsidy scheme. All of us in the Chamber are concerned about the hospitality and tourism industry. Last week I spoke about supporting local businesses on Black Friday. We should really get the message out there that people can support hospitality and tourism by buying vouchers and support local businesses by buying their...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Education): Statements (2 Dec 2021)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad for this very important debate. I compliment her and all the officials who have worked so hard over the past 18 months, which has been a challenging time. The Department is dealing with many schools with different issues, so it is certainly not an easy task. There needs to be communication. I know the Minister has had a lot of communication but...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise two issues. First, I join Senator Fitzpatrick in respect of the undocumented. I compliment the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and all involved in the launch of the campaign that will allow people to register in January. I met constituents over the weekend who fall into the category in question. They have been studying and doing everything under the radar and want to...