Results 701-720 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: With respect, in a republic-----
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: In a republic-----
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I assume the Leas-Cathaoirleach will be generous in time in light of the interruptions. Let us be very clear that within a republic, all citizens and residents deserve to be treated equally and with respect. That applies-----
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: That applies-----
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: -----to those who are transgender and choose to define themselves in that way. By the way, as far as I am concerned, there were no efforts on my part to shut down free speech. In fact, the interruptions were more a reflection of an effort-----
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I wish to move on to-----
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I do not intend to. I wish to raise the issue of Garda numbers. I have raised previously the fact that the Garda numbers for the Wexford division stood, at the end of November last year, at 341. At the end of February, the total Garda numbers in the Wexford division fell to 334. The reason I raised this matter specifically is because of the increased traffic at Rosslare as a result of...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: Every summer it is guaranteed-----
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Leas-Cathaoirleach's indulgence. Every summer and winter, the river is nearly always guaranteed to flood. I would appreciate if the Leader would raise the matter with-----
- Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I congratulate Ms Curtis and Ms Craig on their recent appointments. It would be appropriate for this committee to write to formally thank Pauric Travers and Michael O'Keeffe for their work and public service. I wish to take up the staffing point. Perhaps it is about the numbers and scale of staff. Will the witnesses outline to us what are the current number of staff with the BAI? Given...
- Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: The BAI staffing is currently at 36. When the committee was considering pre-legislative scrutiny of this legislation and speaking with the Department, it was indicated to the committee that the commission would need to grow to at least the level of the Data Protection Commission, DPC, at present, which is about 180 full-time equivalents. We are certainly looking at least at that size, and...
- Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that but Ms Craig will understand our concerns. The commission will have the potential to be one of the most powerful regulators in the State, given the scale of what is involved in regulating the social media companies. The commission will need teeth, and that is the concern of this committee. As Deputy Mythen has said, this will require highly qualified staff and also...
- Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: An area of particular interest to members is political advertising, including online. We are establishing an electoral commission and this will be crucial. The BAI has extensive experience of regulating political activity in the traditional broadcast media. What is its vision for that? For instance, I cannot take out a radio advertisement on my local radio station, yet I can flood social...
- Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I wish to focus on where we are going regarding the regulation of some of the social media companies. In a sense, I have great admiration for the challenge being taken on, but I am not sure if its scale has been fully realised in respect of the convergence of new technologies and the regulation of social media companies in that context. Moving on the matter of the metaverse and augmented...
- Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I agree. It is a challenge for us as legislators to deal with this issue as well, given the convergence of new technologies, and to explore how we can ensure our people are safe in this space. Will the relevant powers in this context be devolved to the new media commission and will it be taking on this responsibility? I do not say this lightly, but the media commission will be one of the...
- Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: Discussion with Chairperson-Designate (23 Mar 2022)
Malcolm Byrne: I agree. That approach would be very welcome. It comes back very quickly to my earlier question and the response has been around political balance outside of election time. The BAI has had a significant role but in a diverse media that is going to be increasingly challenging. All of us as politicians would have criticisms. I would frequently be critical of RTÉ's current affairs...