Results 101-120 of 1,927 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Data Protection Regulations: Motion (6 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I compliment the Acting Chairman. As Senator Warfield said, it is good to see Senator O'Reilly in the Chair. It is long overdue that we have a female Chair for some of our sessions.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo the Leader's praise of RTÉ's coverage of the US presidential election, which exhibited public service broadcasting at its best. I think in particular of the montage piece put together by Jackie Fox, Meabh Kearney and Cliona Higgins. It used some footage of Mr. Biden speaking the words of Seamus Heaney and we are only too well aware of the importance of poetry and the arts in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: Like others, I want to pay tribute to Mr. Paul Roche, an amateur genealogist in Wexford, who discovered that Joe Biden's great grandmother, Catherine Roche, emigrated from Taghmon in County Wexford in the 1840s. Today is World Science Day for Peace and Development and we all appreciate the importance of science and evidence-based research in tackling the pandemic and also in dealing with...

Seanad: Living with Covid-19 Restrictions: Statements (10 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: We are all facing the challenges of living with Covid but it is really important that we give people hope. We are going to overcome this. As the Minister of State has said, there is good news about the vaccine. We must develop a strategy that builds on the community resilience we have had to date and looks at communities coming out of this. This is about our artistic, sporting and...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House again. As the Cathaoirleach has said, we are becoming friends in the context of debates on electoral reform. I am very happy to present this legislation to the House on Second Stage. To set it in context, one of the greatest achievements in society since the foundation of the State has...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo the remarks of Senator Garvey relating to ASD units. I also echo the remarks of Senator Ó Donnghaile. It was telling that US President-elect Biden called just six leaders last night and one of those was the Taoiseach. I hope that is a sign of the continued strong relationship between Ireland and the United States. I raise the question of the fair deal scheme and the...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Military Service at Jadotville in 1961: Statements (11 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo the views of my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin. The Minister will be aware that many local authorities have passed motions and supported this matter because of the interest shown in this House and the other House. I know the Minister is genuinely interested in this but what he is proposing is perhaps not the solution many of us would have sought. I urge the Minister to ask that that...

Seanad: Disability Day Services: Statements (11 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: It is good to see Senator Currie in the Chair. I note that I am the first male speaker in this debate, which is a message that needs to be sent out from this House. I encourage more of my male colleagues to come in and speak on this issue. I am particularly happy the Minister of State is in this brief. She has a real interest in and empathy for it. I know she visited a number of centres...

Seanad: Political Donations: Motion (11 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber again. An issue arises regarding the essence of our democracy. We have had the opportunity in these Chambers to discuss questions about political funding and outside influences in politics. There are a number of points I want to raise. First, a question has to be asked about the donation of €4.6 million. An issue arises over media probing. I...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the three contributors. I echo many of the comments made. At a local level, the contributions of South East Radio, the People group of newspapers and the Gorey Guardian, in my area, have been excellent. At this time in particular, it shows the value of trusted news sources, to which I will come back. I also compliment RTÉ. Deputy Cannon mentioned the lovely montage by Jackie...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: The three witnesses might respond on that.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: It is a serious issue.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Public Service Broadcasting and Impact of Covid-19 on the Media Sector: Discussion (11 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Data Protection (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: We need to start by acknowledging the important role that Ireland plays in the data sector. It is one that I hope will continue to grow. The question today is about how we manage those data and how we ensure citizens' data privacy. I hope that the Minister of State will express the Government's view about the recent judgment in the Schrems II case. Max Schrems and others would have argued...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Data Protection (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: Unfortunately, I have a slight problem. While the DPC is independent, the language the Minister of State is using is pretty much the language we heard in the run up to the financial crash, when people were told that the Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement were independent agencies and the Oireachtas could not interfere. Ireland is potentially facing a...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I formally second the proposal. In doing so, I pay tribute to Senator O'Loughlin for her work on this. She has been a passionate campaigner for the rights. I particularly commend her on moving forward with the Bill. Even though there is a commitment to address this matter in the programme for Government, I share her frustration that it has not been given the priority it deserves,...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: Shame.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I endorse the remarks of my colleague, Senator Chambers, on the actions of the Governments of Hungary and Poland and the continual breaches of the rule of law and the attacks on freedom of the press and on minorities. They are not European values. I certainly support the call for this debate. I welcome the arts and culture recovery task force report that has been published, in particular...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State on his weekly visit to the Seanad. I broadly support this legislation. We had quite a strong debate on the Bill I brought forward last week, the purpose of which is to enact the seventh amendment to the Constitution. The legislation before us relates to a broader question on our democracy and what we would like to see happen during the lifetime of this...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I am happy to share time with Senator Dolan. I will take only two or three minutes.