Results 721-740 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: For a while, it was Dublin only. That is great. I will hand over to Senator Kyne.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: It is lovely to see the Acting Leader. I wish to raise two issues. In Limerick, the Coonagh to Knockalisheen road is due to be opened before the summer. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, said recently that it is "unsustainable" and "uneconomic" for phase 2 of the project to proceed.We will now end up with half a road going to half the section. The part that is needed for the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I want to express my sympathies to Senator Buttimer on the passing of his father. I have not had the opportunity to do so since his dad died and I just want to say that we are thinking of him at this difficult time. I rise today to draw the attention of the House to a study carried out by the University of Limerick. The study, which was actually carried out across 21 countries in Europe,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I support the call for a debate on retrofitting and I welcome the funding. It is wonderful to think that we will spend so much money and that people will be able to have warmer homes. However, some people may not be in a position to pay for it all in one go. There is talk of low-interest loans but I believe they will not be in place until some time around the summer. We need a debate in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the announcement in the Dáil from the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, that there will be an independent review at University Hospital Limerick carried out by HIQA. This is very welcome news because it is something I have been looking for for quite some time. I would like the support of the Leader for the publication of the report when it is produced. It is important that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (22 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for appearing before the House to discuss this important topic. I seek an update on the progress of the roll-out of the programme on women's health announced in budget 2022. Budget 2022 included a number of announcements relating to women's health, one of which involved the provision of free contraceptives for 18 to 25-year-olds. It is my understanding this is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (22 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for that positive response. It is great to know that the programme is on course to deliver within the timeframe. Regarding my first question, I am still unsure as to whether the free contraception programme will start in August. I assume from the Minister of State's answer that it will.The fact that it is to be reviewed for an older cohort once it is up and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to welcome last Friday’s news that the Tánaiste, the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and the Minister of State, Deputy English, launched the recent development plan in Nenagh, with €18 million in investments for businesses to expand, as well as to avail of services such as Innovate Limerick and to work with different projects. As Local Enterprise Week is...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (23 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the MEPs, Mr. Kelly, Ms O'Sullivan and Mr. Kelleher, all of whom collectively and individually certainly fly the Irish flag while out in Europe. As I served on the European Committee of the Regions for a number of years, I know the importance of that collaboration and of working with your colleagues right across the different countries. Quite often there is much commonality, to...

Seanad: Citizens' Assemblies: Motion (23 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to discuss this all-important issue. I acknowledge the passion. I was listening to Senator Ruane earlier and I know how committed she is to her community and to bringing forward ideas to frame things in a positive way and to work with people who need help. I commend her. We have proposals before us for citizens' assemblies on biodiversity and a directly...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, as has everybody else who has spoken. The war has started overnight and I think about what the people are going through at the moment. This week, the Tánaiste announced the terms of reference for the Shannon Estuary economic group. It is seeking expressions of interest in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary regarding what can be...

Seanad: Mental Health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Statements (24 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to discuss this very important issue. I have been working with a number of mental health organisations based in Limerick that do fantastic work, including the Limerick Mental Health Association. I thank the Minister of State for all she has done since taking over the role. I know her commitments and dedication to resolving the issues. When we look back at...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I join colleagues in expressing condolences for our colleague, Senator Paul Daly, and also for my colleague, Senator Jerry Buttimer, on the death of his father-in-law. I wish to have those recorded. Today is national self-harm awareness day. It is important to put it out there in regard to the stigma about self-harm and the fact there are organisations such as Pieta House and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise first to pay tribute to Ms Olivia Chan in Limerick. We have learned much from the Fridays for the Future movement and the suggestions that young people can bring forward. She suggested that following her learning experience through Covid-19, there should be a suggestion box for young people to put forward ideas on how to develop a better Limerick. It is something that should be...

Seanad: Credit Union Sector: Statements (2 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this very important topic. Credit unions are very much at the heart of their communities. Within half a mile of my house there are two credit unions. I took a look at their websites and what they have on offer. One of them was started by the Redemptorists. It is now an independent entity. It gives everything but it does...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: Today is World Book Day. It is also the 25th anniversary of World Book Day. The theme of this year's World Book Day is, You Are a Reader. It is about encouraging children to dress up in the clothes of their favourite character and to read a book. It is really important because of the whole educational aspect around it. Many bookshops have offers on today and reductions in the price of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I wish everybody a very happy International Women's Day. The reason I wish to speak about it is I have been working with many female carers, many of whom are agency workers. With the war going on and the increasing cost of fuel, they find the cost involved in driving from A to B is not making it very effective for them to work.The costs involved in driving from A to B is making working...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Victim Support Services (9 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this important matter. I thank the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State for their work and commitment in this area. So much has been done on gender-based violence, especially towards women. I am grateful for all the work they have done and I am grateful that it is a priority. It has been spoken about a great deal in both...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Victim Support Services (9 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for that detailed response. Translit in Limerick provides a training course for many interpreters in the context of the sensitive nature of this issue, and it is my understanding that it is the only company that does training in this regard. The Minister of State indicated that the Department is keeping this matter under review and is looking at different...