Results 1,261-1,280 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Developing Rural Tourism: Discussion (3 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all the witnesses. Some of them make regular appearances before the committee. I would hope in the same way that a judge dismisses a jury after a period that it might be a while before they appear before us again. We know that all of our witnesses are very passionate about their business. Hopefully, they feel the same about what we do as a committee. One of the big issues we have...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Developing Rural Tourism: Discussion (3 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: On the night-time economy as well, dare I say, once people are outside the major urban areas, they can forget about looking for late-night transport.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Developing Rural Tourism: Discussion (3 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I did want to steer clear of that because we could get into the question of why consumers are paying some of the highest hotel rates in Europe as well. I want to come to the question about the incentives for other types of accommodation being provided. I am looking at the role of glamping, self-catering, B&B and the supports for those types of accommodation as well and without...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Developing Rural Tourism: Discussion (3 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Mr. Keeley should forgive me for slightly counteracting what he suggests but in the past when we examined section 23 and other tax incentive schemes, some were more successful than others. I am looking at Government incentives and schemes. Does Mr. Keeley believe we need to look at introducing those kind of specific schemes to incentivise accommodation?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Developing Rural Tourism: Discussion (3 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: That is always very welcome.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Developing Rural Tourism: Discussion (3 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: My apologies because I am caught between attending a couple of meetings. It is important that we commend the work that all of the organisations present are doing in tourism provision but, unfortunately, I have not heard the full discussion. However, it would be remiss of me if I did not welcome my good colleague, Mr. Seán Connick. I encourage everyone to visit tourism attractions and...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Developing Rural Tourism: Discussion (3 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I am sure Mr. Connick and his team would mind us.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Mairead McGuinness, European Commissioner (9 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Commissioner for being here today and also for her service. I would like to follow on from Senator Chambers's comments and refer to some of the Commissioner's remarks about the future. Along with many of my colleagues, I believe that the EU Artificial Intelligence Act will perhaps be the most important piece of legislation this decade. Specifically within the Commissioner's...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo Senator Wall's remarks, and equally those of Senator O'Loughlin concerning the foster allowance. I would like that we would also invite the Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with responsibility for disability, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, to address the question of disparity in pay which exists between section 38 and 39...

Seanad: Ireland's Application for Membership of CERN: Statements (9 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I would also like to welcome members of the research community who are present. There is an enormous interest in this issue amoung the research community in Ireland, particularly those who are engaged with physics but also I think more widely because of the importance of investment in science and Ireland's participation in multilateral...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (10 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. This weekend marks the second anniversary of the largest ever cyberattack on a State institution or agency. As far as we know, it is the largest cyberattack ever in the State. The attack in question was, of course, on the HSE and resulted in up to 7,000 patient appointments being delayed or cancelled. As we now know, up to 100,000 letters have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (10 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response. He has provided us with pretty eye-watering figures. We know that to the end of 2022, simply for response and recovery, the State has had to spend €89.7 million. In addition, as part of the service plan to upgrade the systems, we are looking at the spending of almost €55 million. It has not stopped yet. As the Minister of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I too would like to welcome the students to the Chamber. I hope they enjoy their day in Leinster House and experiencing our democracy. I wish to speak about two primary schools I visited in County Wexford recently, which show how the diversity of our school population has changed. I visited Kilrane National School near Rosslare Europort. I was brought around by the excellent principal Tom...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Research and Development (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Minister of State will be aware that modern Irish economic policy has been based on two things, namely, tax and talent. The emphasis on tax has become less important in recent times. Ireland is a talent-driven economy and society. We know the key economic and social driver for this country into the future is investment in talent. In fact...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Research and Development (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his answer. In his EU affairs brief, he will be aware of the importance of European Research Council, ERC, grants, how competitive they are, and how wonderful it is when researchers in Ireland are able to access them. If our researchers do not have the basic equipment with which to work, they can move with those ERC grants to anywhere within the EU. For us...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to congratulate Ms Eileen Morrissey, the Wexford county librarian, on her election as president of the Library Association of Ireland. We all know the importance of libraries in our community and how they operate to support learning and all sorts of new activities. I wish Eileen and the team the very best of luck. I am very conscious that we have raised previously in this House the...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media: Statements (11 May 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this debate and for his to date on this report. As colleagues have mentioned, we have worked in a highly collegial way in producing this report and its 11 recommendations. They were built on discussions we had with the sporting bodies, referees and representatives of players. They are intended to be constructive and I acknowledge the Minister of...