Results 121-140 of 1,308 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2017)

Maria Byrne: There are two issues I wish to raise, the first of which has already been mentioned by Senator Gallagher, that being to wish Peter O'Mahony of the Munster rugby team the best of luck. He has been instrumental in his play for Munster and Ireland. It is great to see a man from Munster captaining the Lions in the first test match. An issue which has been raised many times in the House is the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Farm Relief Scheme (28 Jun 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle. A number of young farmers spoke to me recently about the farm relief scheme. While it is positive and farmers are members of it, at present young farmers are finding it hard to get relief workers. People are not applying for the vacancies as they arise. A young farmer, who was going to a wedding one weekend, had to bring back somebody who was...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Farm Relief Scheme (28 Jun 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. More secondary schools are beginning to teach agriculture-related subjects and perhaps that is the route to follow in order that students can secure part-time employment at weekends and so on and help out on farms. It is a significant issue in the farming sector and I acknowledge the Minister of State is very much aware of it. Hopefully, it will...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the announcement made by the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, on free access to cultural and heritage sites for all children under 12 years. This is a very positive move. Children are the future of the country and it is important from an educational point of view to instil a love of culture and heritage in them. I...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 Jun 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank all five ladies for their moving presentations. There is a common theme running through all of them, namely, that those under 18 have fallen through the cracks because they do not fit in with adult services. The HSE report stated that only eight out of the 17 provide weekend services. That is something we need to focus on because, from listening to the witnesses, it is out of...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I congratulate the Leader and wish him all the best for the future. It is great news. The very best of luck to them both.I raise the issue of the new accident and emergency unit in University Hospital Limerick which is the most overcrowded emergency department in the country. Some 4,150 people have been treated on trolleys in the hospital since the start of January. Despite the opening of...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the fact that the national cancer strategy has been launched in the last few minutes following its approval by Cabinet. A great deal of money has been granted for the expansion of services. As Senator Swanick said, it is a proven fact that cancer is on the increase. While I welcome the fact that the age threshold for bowel screening has been brought down, I ask the Acting Leader...

Seanad: Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017: Second Stage (11 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister and thank him for coming forward with this proposal which I fully support. Having attended rugby matches in Ireland, elsewhere in Europe and worldwide for the last 40 years, this is a very positive move for Ireland. France and South Africa are its main competitors in seeking to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. Having attended the Rugby World Cup tournaments in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (11 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I, too, thank all of the witnesses for their presentations. I also want to raise a number of local issues. I have been contacted by parents in Tipperary who have to drive their children two and a half miles to the nearest bus stop. There are other children whose parents have to do likewise. It does not make sense that so many children have to be driven two and a half miles to meet the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to welcome the good news that Limerick Institute of Technology was granted its requested planning permission this morning. The new €14 million development at Coonagh Cross will be great, not only for the students and teachers, but also for the greater Limerick area. This comes on top of the good news that the Department of Education and Skills announced during the week...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (12 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State and acknowledge his passion for and commitment to his role in respect of school transport. He stated the system had been brought about in 1968 and further changed in 2012. There are 116,000 children availing of school transport daily, including 12,000 with special needs. I understand there is a recommendation that everybody on a school bus, including the...

Seanad: Equality of Access to Education: Motion (12 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after “That Seanad Éireann:” and substitute the following:“ - affirms its continued commitment to promote equity of access at all levels of the education system; - recognises the benefits to society and the individual, culturally and economically, of the State’s investment in educational opportunities for all of its...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Curriculum (13 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to the House and thank her for taking this matter. Recently I met a man who is in his 80s and he is caring for his wife at home. She is able to avail of a medical card. She has multiple medical issues and a number of carers come to the house on a daily basis. In terms of his own application for a medical card, they are over the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Curriculum (13 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate her response. In this case, the man applied and made the case of what he was providing at home but, unfortunately, he was refused. I will now go back to him to encourage him to reapply. Consideration needs to be given to the fact that persons in their later years are looking after their loved ones. I understand that there is a bit of leeway...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Curriculum (13 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: They have carers but they themselves provide extra carers as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I wish to refer to an incident that took place at Bengal Terrace, Old Cork Road, Limerick. The mains pipe burst and ten houses had to be evacuated as a result. As Irish Water does not have senior personnel on call at weekends, there was nobody available to deal with the incident. I compliment the social worker from Limerick City & County Council who turned up very early that...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the passage of this legislation and I congratulate Senator Lawless. I also pay tribute to our colleague and former Senator, Imelda Henry, who prepared this legislation in the previous Seanad. I welcome the members of the LVA and Dublin vintners today. While I understand Senator O'Reilly's point of view, a report published yesterday on the agrifood sector by Ciaran Fitzgerald, an...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: I encourage the financial sector to look at Limerick as an option for locating. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael D'Arcy, was in Limerick on Monday and we met many stakeholders in different business organisations. He highlighted that Dublin is at full capacity. He saw for himself that Limerick has a number of available spaces which could encourage financial institutions to come to...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Maria Byrne: I had to attend a meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills yesterday during the Order of Business, so I would just like to congratulate Birdhill on winning the Tidy Towns competition and Limerick on receiving its first bronze medal. It is a big boost to all the volunteers who are out weekly cleaning the streets and so on. The main issue I want to raise today is the...

Seanad: Mid-Term Review of Capital Plan: Statements (27 Sep 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State. I thank him for his speech that outlined his thoughts and plans. The regions have been spoken about an awful lot and my colleague, Senator Kieran O'Donnell, referred to the M20, which is very important. I shall return to what Senator Coffey said in terms of regional development. I, too, would like to support the M20 and the connection with Waterford. I...