Results 741-760 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Defence (Restriction on Use of Certain Titles) Bill 2021: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all Senators who contributed to this discussion because it is an important matter. Any time we have had a debate on defence matters, the Minister has come into this House regularly. He takes his responsibilities with that portfolio very seriously, as he does with his responsibilities in foreign affairs. For that, we are grateful. Like colleagues, I look forward to those debates on...

Seanad: Defence (Restriction on Use of Certain Titles) Bill 2021: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Next Tuesday. We have a bit of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I apologise that I have another meeting so I will have to leave at 12 noon. It is no reflection on the discussion and I thank the witnesses for their work. This is a discussion around the general question of higher education funding. I refer to what Ms Murphy and Dr. Morning were speaking about. At present, funding of services such as counselling comes from the core grant. In the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Do any of the others witnesses wish to comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Do others want to come in specifically on this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Mr. Smyth raised the specific issue of the shortage of counsellor numbers. I do not think we can create a Springboard programme within the sector, but is there anything we can do in the short term to address some of the challenges?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: It is interesting. Dr. Morning made the point about the need for SUSI grant reform. It is my view it should be a priority, but the Government has to make difficult investment and spending choices. Dr. Morning will be aware there is a proposal being floated around cutting student fees. My personal view is that if there are resources to be made available at higher education level, it should...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: If I were to put Dr. Morning in the roles of Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, does he believe the priority should be on the SUSI grant scheme?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Working Conditions and Skills Shortages in Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all our guests for their attendance. I note that Ms Campbell has just been elected to her role. I compliment the entire sector on the work it has done over the last two years. It has been extraordinarily difficult for everyone in the tourism and hospitality sector. All public representatives will have got calls around the various schemes and I do not think a day went by when...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Working Conditions and Skills Shortages in Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I have a related question for Mr. Kelly. We can provide as many programmes and courses as required but how can we attract people to careers in the tourism and hospitality sector?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming in to address this issue. We are coming up to the seventh anniversary of the publication of the Cassells report, which outlined the crisis facing higher education funding at that time. A number of options were presented in that report. Three options were presented very clearly to the Government, namely, that there be a dramatic increase in public...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Minister of State's comments. The timing of this matter is opportune but, with respect, this has been a seven-year process. As the Minister of State mentioned, the urgency of this situation was realised when the Cassells report was published, yet nothing has really happened bar kicking it to a committee and DG REFORM and a series of statements. I welcome that the Cabinet...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: We were fortunate to welcome the Ukrainian ambassador, H.E. Ms Larysa Gerasko, to Gorey yesterday. It was an emotional day during which she met local families who have been supported by schools in the community and by voluntary activity. There is a drop-in centre at Gorey Youth Needs Group where people come to provide information. Active groups have sprung up around the county, including...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: We have tabled amendment No. 100 on a related issue. It would remove the ban on political advertising on certain forms of media. We have the odd situation at the moment where if I wish to place a political advertisement, I can take one out in a newspaper, in the cinema and on any social media website, including that of my local radio station, but I cannot place one on television or on...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I understand the concerns that Senators Sherlock and Higgins have expressed. At the outset, I should have thanked the Minister and her officials. A great deal of work has gone into this Bill and we are grateful for all their assistance. In this amendment, we are talking about a level playing field. The reality at the moment is that Amazon has no problem with taking out adverts on all...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Minister’s sentiment around amendment No. 100. However, as Senator Higgins pointed out, the Minister said that the language is simply based on the 1997 Act, and the media landscape and environment has changed enormously. I appreciate some of the Minister’s concerns that perhaps an extremist group could then be allowed, if our amendment was accepted, for...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I have to support Senator Higgins on that because this is a particularly important area in terms of the regulation of algorithms. This is a debate about whether it is specifically in the legislation or not. I do not accept the argument that it can be ruled out on an additional cost basis. This is about a regulator which is going to be set up to do a particular job. This is just a question...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that but I would support-----

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: These amendments are important because they relate to the power and function of the commission. We are going to be setting up this new regulator and must consider the guiding principles under which the new regulator will operate. Our big debate is around how we ensure freedom of expression while at the same time protecting the rights of individuals. With the purchase of Twitter by Elon...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (26 Apr 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the point the Minister made regarding specific constitutional rights but the corollary is true in that, very specifically in this section, regard is had to the rightful liberty of expression, which is something we believe should be upheld. In the same way we talk about the importance of freedom of expression, that must be balanced by the right of an individual to his or her...