Results 1,541-1,560 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree. It was that particular point the director general raised that I was concerned about. The bigger picture here is around the future of public service broadcasting, which is the issue we were all looking at before the scandal arose in RTÉ and which our committee will be reporting on. The licence fee model is clearly broken. When Coimisiún na Meán's representatives...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. I know that with the TV licence technical working group it was a different environment but we are now in the situation where significant numbers of people are not paying their TV licence fee. We are going to reach a tipping point where those of us who are paying are going to ask why we are continuing to pay it when so many are not paying it. I would respectfully suggest...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: The Minister will be aware that the political clock is ticking and that we are going to be moving into a general election phase in a year or 18 months. If this is to be done in the lifetime of this Government, would it be fair to say that in the first half of next year, a decision will be made?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: That is great. I very much appreciate that. You could certainly see a body such as Coimisiún na Meán, operating at arm's length, managing a fund to allocate resources to public service broadcasting.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: On the Future of Media Commission report, the recommendation on the licence fee was the only one that was not accepted by the Government. The Minister might outline why she feels it was not accepted by the Government. Does she think events have perhaps changed minds at Cabinet?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I would argue that independence is protected by a number of arm's-length bodies already within the Minister's remit. The Arts Council is such a body, and it makes determinations. This is also done by Sport Ireland for allocations to sporting organisations. In a sense, by deciding what the level of the licence fee is, the Government makes a decision. I would respectfully suggest that that...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I have one final question.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ Oversight and Long-Term Support and Funding: Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (4 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the Minister's call for Dee Forbes to provide evidence to this committee and to co-operate with groups when she is in a position to do so. I assume that would also apply to Jim Jennings. From our committee's perspective it would be useful to hear from him.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Service (10 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cathaoirleach and cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I am raising the case of the Courtown Coast Guard station. The station serves both north County Wexford and south County Wicklow. It is one of the old rocket stations. The Minister of State is the third Minister or Minister of State to deal with a Commencement matter on this issue since I entered...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Service (10 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Most of that reply told us things we already knew but I do welcome the fact that there is an acknowledgement by the OPW that the current site is unsustainable. A number of potential sites were put forward by the Coast Guard but are no longer available. This is because the OPW has taken so long. Sites do not just sit around waiting for the OPW to make its decision. One identified site has...

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

Malcolm Byrne: I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding Irishman, by virtue of how he was recognised by the State, and that is Chuck Feeney. As people know, he grew up with an Irish-American family background during the time of the Depression and set up a global duty free business. He then discovered that by giving while living he could have a transformative effect on so many aspects of global...

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

Malcolm Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Finance): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming the Chamber. I was rather alarmed when I heard Senator Keogan criticising the increase in the overseas aid budget. The Government should be proud of our record of investing in overseas aid and supporting the most vulnerable on this planet. While I note that Senator Keogan’s friends were not protesting today outside Leinster House, the kind of...

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. This budget is quite comprehensive and it addresses not just the short-term challenges but indeed the long-term challenges and opportunities for Ireland. I will start by addressing specifically some of the areas within the Minister of State's own brief and where he has an interest. I welcome that under the circular economy an additional...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this matter. She is a champion for mental health. I know she is very much aware of the question that I am raising this morning. In September, the Mental Health Commission in its report on child and adolescent mental health services from 2022 to 2023, while it identified many positives about...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: -----there were ten patients, compared with 13. I quote from the report, which states, "The difference between the number of the waiting list for South Wexford (10) and North Wexford (99) and between Tipperary team 1 (68) and Tipperary Team 2 (8) shows an inequality of access to CAMHS services dependent on where the child lives (even within the same county) and requires urgent investigation...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State and am glad that we are finally moving towards the appointment of that consultant. That is very welcome news today. I do not doubt the Minister of State's commitment to delivering on this service and appreciate that on the recruitment side, certain elements are outside the Minister of State's control. It is critical to get assurances now from CHO 5 that it...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State.

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

Malcolm Byrne: Before I speak about the issue I am raising I want to say that I agree with Senator Kyne concerning the need for a discussion on CAMHS. This morning I tabled a Commencement matter specifically on CAMHS. One of the difficulties is the Eircode lottery.However, it is worth noting that we now have a mental health budget of almost €1.3 billion. Much credit must go to the Minister of...