Results 1,101-1,120 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (25 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: The Minister of State's response is somewhat positive. I think we all look forward to reading the All Island Strategic Rail Review. I think it will encourage a lot of debate about how we can more effectively use rail in this country. I think we could see the reopening of the railway line with a parallel greenway connecting to the very successful Waterford greenway operating over the course...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo Senator Boyhan's call for a debate on rail infrastructure. In the context of the all-island strategic rail review, which is due to be published imminently, a full debate in this House would be welcome. I will also talk about regional development but first, I will speak about the question of the regional uplift for film, television and animation production. This applies to any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister and his officials. Unlike Deputy Ó Ríordáin, my party and I had no doubt that the new Department would be a success.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: It was the right decision. The Minister and his officials have achieved an awful lot in a relatively short period, both in terms of what we have achieved with TUs, the higher education Act and some of the funding reforms. The Minister will appreciate that my job over the next five and a half minutes is not to spend my time praising him but to focus on a couple of the key outstanding issues....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: That is not going to make the full €130 million next year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. I have a number of other issues to raise. I do not know if there will be a chance for a second round of questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: There will. I will not go through all of them. I want to raise the question of student accommodation, which remains a critical challenge. We should be supporting our higher education institutions to develop as much as on-campus accommodation as possible. This would help to relieve pressure on the wider housing issue. As the Minister knows, there is a significant cost to higher education...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. There must be three elements to the research strategy. First, there must be the structural elements around how we operate research. Second, we need to address the levels of supports for research students, particularly PhD candidates. The levels are completely insignificant given what we are expecting of them, particularly where they are living. The third thing that is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I acknowledge the Minister's work on the South East Technological University on which he provided real leadership. I am glad he welcomed the work of Tom Enright on Wexford County Council. Like the Chairman, I know of the Minister's full commitment. I will pose five quick-fire questions, if I may.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: They are very quick. The Minister previously indicated including supports for part-time students under SUSI. Has there been progress on that? The Minister knows of the issue with the designation of the National College of Ireland under the Higher Education Authority Act. Has there been any progress? There has been considerable good news this week about UCD's partnership with the European...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I ask the Minister to come back to me on CERN because it is important that we get-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (19 Oct 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: However, in principle the Minister is in favour of our joining CERN.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Reliefs (8 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. As he will be aware, we are seeing a global explosion in content production, in film, television, animation and the new digital sector, and Ireland has been very much to the fore in ensuring we get a slice of that international pie. We have an excellent film, television and animation sector in Ireland, and one reason that has been the case...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Reliefs (8 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that he is only reading the figures given to him by the Department of Finance. It is clear that the Department is not committed to the development of a regional film and television industry on the basis of this response. That is quite disappointing. It is also clear that the Department does not understand the importance of section 481 and the...

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

Malcolm Byrne: I want to take up the last comment. I have enormous respect for Senator Keogan but we went through two difficult years with Covid and the vaccine scepticism of herself and Deputy Tóibín is not acceptable. The vaccines were what got us out of the difficulties we face and there was no effort on the part of the Government to prevent people from going for their necessary treatments....

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

Malcolm Byrne: I want to return to recent weather events. In Wexford we saw a number of events in the past week which were quite serious. In my hometown of Gorey we saw extensive flooding, including the motorway being closed. I saw the impact of what was a mini tornado in Foulksmills and Clongeen. Parts of buildings were demolished, roofs were taken off and damage was done to concrete in a number of...

Seanad: Safe to Create Programme: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with my colleague, Senator Clonan, on the importance of involving artists with disabilities. He has made his points very well. I know from talking to artists with a disability that they are concerns that are reflected within the sector. I thank the Minister because she personally is very invested in this matter. When she appeared before our Oireachtas committee, she provided real...

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

Malcolm Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I also thank him for his very kind welcome to the students from Tara Hill national school. I also wish to formally second the proposal of my colleague, Senator O’Loughlin. I agree with Senator Gavan on the pandemic payments. I have raised this issue with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who cannot figure out why these...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I, too, join in the expressions of sympathy to the late Vicky Phelan. I raise today the issue of fire services and retained fire services.As the Leader is aware, outside the main cities we rely very much on fire services operated by local authorities. As a result of the model that is currently in place, fire services across the country are experiencing many difficulties in recruitment and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Policy (16 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I appreciate that he is taking this matter on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs. When he was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on foreign affairs, he very much upheld a strong tradition of speaking about the importance of human rights. In our relationship with any country, and indeed in our engagement with multilateral organisations, human...