Results 741-760 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: International Women's Day 2022: Statements (9 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I am delighted that the Minister is here for this all-important conversation. I am also delighted that I can contribute to the debate on and recognise International Women's Day, which took place yesterday. It is a day for acknowledging not only our struggles but also our successes. While there is a lot that divides us, there is more that unites us. While we have differences, we should not...

Seanad: Brain Health and Dementia: Statements (9 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for coming to the House to discuss this all-important topic. Having served on the all-party group previously with her, I am fully aware of her dedication to the area. I also thank Senator O'Loughlin for organising the briefing yesterday on behalf of the all-party group. It really was a very enlightening briefing, particularly with regard to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Overcrowding Crisis in Hospitals: Discussion (9 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank all of the witnesses very much for their presentations today. I was watching from my office because I have been in and out of the Chamber. I will confine my questions to University Hospital Limerick, UHL. Senator Conway has already asked some of the questions I wanted to ask. There are 562 beds in the hospital. An extra 60 have recently been provided. It has been stated over and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (22 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: The Minister of State is very welcome to discuss this important issue. I will share time with my colleague, Senator Conway. Senator Ahearn sends his apologies. He has his own very strong views on the issue of overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick. From my own experience and from hearing from people in Limerick, I know that there are great concerns. Only today, I spoke to a man who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Overcrowding (22 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for her response. The staff work very hard but staff morale is at an all-time low. It is a question of safety for the staff and the patients. Once most patients get into the system, they have an excellent experience, but it is about getting into the system. It is not acceptable. As Senator Conway said, there has been a lot of funding and new beds, but there...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I would like to be associated with the remarks of Senator Ahearn and those of other colleagues yesterday. I knew David and had the pleasure of visiting the Scottish Parliament on the many occasions when our Oireachtas teams had meetings. There is great friendship and camaraderie between us. My sympathies are with his family and colleagues as well as our Irish colleagues for what they went...

Seanad: Humanitarian Support for Ukrainian Refugees: Statements (23 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad for this all-important discussion. Like many colleagues, I have been engaging with Ukrainians in my area of Limerick over the past while. Only last week, I met with a company called TRANSLIT, the CEO of which, Alex Chernenko, is from Ukraine. The company is offering free translation services and I assisted it in registering that offer of...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important Bill. I realise its significance in protecting the consumer. Like Senator Casey, Fine Gael will support this Bill. The primary purpose of the Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021 is to provide that any firm that offers credit under buy now, pay later...

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

Maria Byrne: I also rise to call for a debate on the reform of the leaving certificate. I was education spokesperson in the previous Seanad and have a keen interest in the area. I support Senator Malcolm Byrne's call. The main reason I rise is to raise a matter relating to the Revenue Commissioners. I have been inundated with calls from people who cannot get through to Revenue. There is a helpline...

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

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming here to discuss this all-important issue. I welcome the fact that the Department is providing €400 per ha to encourage Irish farmers to grow more cereals to offset the loss of Ukrainian and Russian grains. The aim is to increase the amount of tilled land by 25,000 ha. While I know farmers will be going out to sow the crops, my concern is whether we...

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

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise two issues and one of them is public consultation, which I have just come from, on the M20 motorway between Limerick and Cork. This is a very special day because it is the first time that we have seen the proposed routes. The public consultation will go live at 12 o'clock today. I pay tribute to the team from the Limerick City and County Council that were the lead on this...

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

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House discuss this all-important issue. I pay tribute to my colleagues, led by Senator Seery Kearney, for putting together the motion. I welcome all the Ukrainians who have come to our shores and the many who will come in the near future. So many people are arriving daily. As for the motion, significant stress has been put on education, and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Action Plan (31 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach very much indeed. The Minister of State is very welcome and I thank him for coming here to debate this all-important topic. We are all concerned about climate but one thing that I am very concerned about and on which I am hearing from some farmers is that they are looking for a clear pathway as to what supports and grants are available to them in respect of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Action Plan (31 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I know it is not the Minister of State’s Department and I appreciate the fact that there is grant aid being provided. However, I would like to see a greater variety of grant aid. Supports need to be put in place. The Minister of State spoke of the 2030 food strategy group that has been set up. Ireland is at a crisis in terms of our grain and feed suppliers. Farmers have been...

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

Maria Byrne: I rise to raise a number of issues. The census has been referred to. Question 23 on the census form relates to carers. Whether you are a paid permanent carer or a carer in the home, you are asked how many hours you contribute to caring for your loved ones. It is really important that people answer that question. Saturday, 2 April, is World Autism Awareness Day, and the theme for this...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: Now.

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Retail Credit and Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Mar 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his clear explanation of the Bill from start to finish and that has helped to bring everybody together. Well done.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Maria Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (5 Apr 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to discuss this important issue. The issue of skills shortages was raised and I, too, would like to raise it. I know, from speaking to many in the hospitality industry, that while the support that was put in place during Covid was most welcome and kept many businesses afloat, it has had knock-on effects. I am sure the Minister is aware of that. I note that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Apr 2022)

Maria Byrne: I will comment on this morning's sitting. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle for organising it. It was a very respectful meeting. We heard the President referring to what is going on in his own country and paid our respects. I was in an emergency hub in Limerick where 22 people have arrived in recent days, and more are arriving today and tomorrow. The services that are...