Results 861-880 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick Raised in the HIQA Report: Discussion (21 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: On mental health services and children, there is no children's unit in UHL at present. Are there any plans around that? The second question relates to shortages. While the hospital is openly recruiting, there is also the increased capacity coming down the line with the 98 additional beds. Are there plans in place to find staff for that, including nurses, clinicians and consultants?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important topic and the Minister of State for coming to the House to address the issue. I recently met members of a concerned support group which works with diabetics in the mid-west. The issues they raised included long waiting lists, having to wait for appointments and insufficient staff numbers. As late as yesterday, I spoke to somebody who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State of her comprehensive response. I welcome the fact that staffing levels have increased. However, for quite some time there was a limited number of staff and that has created a fear factor among people who have the condition. As I said it is a serious condition but once managed, people can have a good quality of life. It is most welcome that staffing levels...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to highlight two issues. One of them is the launch recently of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, programme between Johnson & Johnson and the University of Limerick. It is a collaboration. This year Tús has been accepted into the programme. It is about encouraging young women to participate in science projects. It is also about...

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Finance): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for coming to the House to discuss this very important topic. I commend the Minister of State and the Ministers, Deputy Paschal Donohoe and Deputy Michael McGrath, on a very welcome budget. It is offering support and it is putting money back in people's pockets, but it is also helping employers and helping employees to be kept in jobs, which...

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Finance): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Public Expenditure and Reform): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I wish to share time with Senator Lombard.

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Public Expenditure and Reform): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss the budget, which I will address along with other issues mentioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I welcome the social welfare increases, one-off payments and lump sums. I welcome the fact that people over the age of 70 will now receive the fuel allowance because many of them did not qualify for it for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the news from Ryanair that it will create another 2,000 jobs between now and 2030. It opened a hangar in Dublin this morning. I often speak about balanced regional development. A total of 200 of the jobs will be at Shannon Airport where Ryanair is investing more than €10 million in a hangar. This is good news for people not only in Clare and Limerick but also in the...

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

Maria Byrne: I rise today to raise two matters. First, I welcome the business supports that we are putting in place in the budget to tackle the high energy costs and rising bills and other costs for small businesses. I know that they have to go to the Revenue Commissioners. I am going back to an old chestnut that I have raised here. The Leader wrote to both the Minister and the Revenue Commissioners...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming here to discuss this all-important topic. That Ireland is a strong supporter and is able to contribute to the IMF fund to help out other countries is an important message. As Senator Casey has said, this is a very technical Bill. It makes sure we are in the right position to be able to give support to countries like Somalia that are in need. The...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise to acknowledge the fantastic work done by carers. I do not know if any other Senators heard "Drivetime" on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday, where they interviewed a number of carers. We have to remember that one in every four carers is in receipt of carer's allowance or benefit. All the rest receive nothing. There are so many carers within the home who do not receive any payment.I think...

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

Maria Byrne: I rise today to raise two matters. First, I welcome that nine primary schools in Limerick have been accepted into the Creative Schools initiative, namely, Castleconnell National School, Donoughmore National School, Presentation Primary School, Limerick city, Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Scoil Áine Naofa, St. Canice's Special School, St. Clement's College, Thomond Primary School and...

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

Maria Byrne: I rise today to raise a number of issues. First, I congratulate the artist Mr. Roger McCarthy, a Limerick-born Cappamore artist, on his contribution to the Limerick Art Society on its 80th anniversary. He was awarded a silver medal recently at the society's 80th birthday celebrations for his contribution not only to life in Limerick but also to the greater mid-west and to Ireland. He had a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: Yesterday was World Mental Health Day. Every time we turn on the radio these days, people are talking about mental health issues. If we go back to what happened in Creeslough on Friday, we can see the outpouring of support for residents. I compliment the Government for coming out and offering support. This is going to have an awful effect, especially on students who went to school with...

Seanad: Report of Commission of Investigation (IBRC) into Siteserv Transaction: Statements (12 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss the important issue of the IBRC commission of investigation. The report was published on 7 September 2022. I would like to pay tribute to Mr. Justice Brian Cregan. He had a major task in terms of the work involved. The commission was established in June 2015 to investigate certain transactions, activities and management...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I also wish to raise the proposed closure of the post office in Castleconnell in Limerick. Residents have contacted me. It is not easy to get from Castleconnell to Newport. Residents are reliant on getting lifts. Many older people use the local post office for their banking facilities so I encourage the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to come to the House for a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I raise two issues, the first being driving tests and the long waiting times for tests. Recently, I was contacted by a person who is dependent on the use of a car for their job. They had a mishap on their first test and failed it, yet they had to wait 12 weeks for a second test. That meant three months of someone having to drive them to and from working and being on call to drive them to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (25 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for being here on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, to discuss this important issue. University Hospital Limerick, UHL, is in the headlines again today. It is the most overcrowded hospital in the country, with over 80 people waiting for a bed. There are approximately 670 people waiting for a hospital bed across the country but...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (25 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for her response, although I am disappointed that is a standard response. I am not blaming her for that. As the Minister stated in the report, he only met the team ten days or two weeks ago. The issue of an elective hospital was highlighted in the report commissioned by UHL and its CEO, Professor Cowan, and Professor Lenehan reiterated that when they were...