Results 681-700 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all of the witnesses for their useful testimony. Dare I say it but the question of higher education funding is the modern political equivalent of draining the Shannon. It is something that everyone thinks might be a good idea and it is kicked to touch and pushed down the road. It is perhaps reflected in the fact that there is not big turnout among Oireachtas Members at this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Let me throw out a further question for which I ask for a quick one-or-other answer. The Minister for Finance might say he has very limited resources. If they had to make a choice between the abolition of fees and significantly reforming and increasing the money available under the SUSI grant system, what would our witnesses do? I ask each of them to respond in ten or 15 seconds.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with Ms Horan on core funding to provide existing services. One of the big challenges we will increasingly face is that because of the rapid pace of technological change, we will all be required to upskill and reskill. Programmes such as Springboard have been effective - and there have been some moves - but in terms of the scale of what we will need to do and the amount of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: When does Mr. Horgan think the breaking point will happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: It is about us shaping the future rather than predicting it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I would like to echo Professor Rogers's point that we tend to think of students as being in a particular age cohort so I should take out my student card and point out that I am one of those impacted. It comes to questions about participation rates and Deputy Conway-Walsh’s question about what makes Ireland different. We should be proud that we have one of the highest participation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: The complexity of the debate around participation is important. It is about allowing those pathways from further education into higher education and in the reverse as well. My worry is that there is a simplistic view around the debate that we would abolish the €3,000 fees and that will dramatically increase access. It has to be around ensuring that pathways and access programmes are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I would love both but it is about priorities.

Seanad: Election of Acting Chairperson (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I propose Senator Ned O'Sullivan.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this item which concerns the pension entitlements of those in the research sector. I am sure that, like me, he agrees that for our researchers it is essential that there is a very strong and clear career path for them and that as part of that, their pension entitlements are clarified and indeed that they are entitled to pensions. One of the things...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Pension Provisions (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. There is very little I would disagree with, except that the answer that has been prepared for him does not respond directly to my question other than to say that his Department is continuing to work on this matter and that there will be an answer shortly. The researchers who are impacted by this situation are concerned because many of them have...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I will raise three matters. Today, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, announced a series of welcome reforms to the leaving certificate. I ask for a debate on those reforms in the very near future, which I am sure can be facilitated. I particularly welcome the introduction of two new subjects, one in the area of drama, film and theatre studies, and the second in the area of climate...

Seanad: Impact on Farming Sector Arising from the Situation in Ukraine: Statements (29 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. A number of points were made by colleagues that I would certainly agree with. I agree with Senator Lombard about the implications for global food security. We are seeing rising grain prices on international markets, particularly in Turkey and the Middle East. I have concerns that half of the wheat used in Lebanon is imported from Ukraine, 22% of that used...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I will start by thanking Senator Boyhan for his kind words and by welcoming the publication of the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022. Having had discussions with the Minister and the officials, I am quite happy that many of the measures contained in the Bill I proposed on allowing local authorities to use CCTV and other technologies...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Sinn Féin does not talk about its support for Maduro, Putin and the Chinese Communist Party when it has its $1,000 a plate dinners at the Trump hotels with its American backers. It should not come in here and question my party’s record on foreign policy. We have always supported a peaceful solution, a two-state solution in Palestine, and we have always supported multilateral...

Seanad: Support to Ukraine: Motion (30 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I commend my Fine Gael colleagues for a well-considered motion. As it was being proposed by Senator Seery Kearney, I agree with her words. It is a comprehensive motion and reflects in many ways the concerns of the Irish people and our desire as a nation as to how the world should function. I am happy that President Zelenskiy has received and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Children's Hospital (31 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I am particularly glad he is here because I know he is a straight talker and will be clear in his answers. In many ways, the issue I raise today is a quite straightforward question but it is one about which the entire country has a concern. I ask him to outline the progress on the building of the national children's hospital, the costs to date,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Children's Hospital (31 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that there will always be external factors that will have an impact but many of the factors contributing to the cost spiral happened prior to Covid-19 and the invasion of Ukraine. I am assured by the Minister of State's comments that the building will be substantially completed by the end of 2023 and that we will have an opening date in 2024. He...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with colleagues. Senator Mullen's choice of phrase when he referred to "so-called transgender rights" was inappropriate.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: In a republic-----