Results 1,661-1,680 of 2,806 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I begin by echoing the concerns expressed by my colleague Senator Ardagh. The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act will probably be the most significant legislation enacted this decade.It is the world's first comprehensive law on AI. I know we had a Commencement debate on this, but things are moving quite quickly. This week, the German Government agreed to support the new AI Act. It...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank my colleague, Senator Crowe for the opportunity to say a few words on the Bill. It is a technical Bill but it does have a number of important functions. It is critical that it is enacted by 17 February as we have discussed. This has to be seen as part of a suite of European legislation to ensure a safe, open, fair and innovative digital...

Seanad: Family Carers: Motion [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank Senator Seery Kearney and the Fine Gael Senators for putting forward this important motion. It is well known that the Minister of State is a champion for disability issues. I sometimes think she ends up bearing a lot of this on her own shoulders. A challenge in this space around disabilities and support for carers is that it has to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank him for taking this Commencement matter, which concerns the issue of Garda vetting. I am sure the Minister of State is quite familiar with the issue. We have a National Vetting Bureau and the legislation is in place. The Minister of State will understand the frustration of many individuals and organisations seeking Garda vetting. Let...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Unfortunately, the interdepartmental vetting review group was established three years ago. We have heard previously that the report was imminent. I think the Minister of State knows as well as I do the frustration many of the voluntary groups have with their volunteers having to go through this process. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could indicate whether mandatory revetting...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I also welcome the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive. The opening remarks of both Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly were very inclusive. I think we wish them all the best in their work. I also want to wish a special best of luck to Andrew Muir, a friend of mine who is the first openly gay Minister, as the new Minister for Agriculture. I know he has already set...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I am generally quite happy with the proposals for vetted researchers. I agree with Senator Ruane that it is important to get vetted researchers and that they get access. My concern is a more general one. If there is a desire to appeal against a decision of an coimisiún, the only way to do so is through a court challenge. I would prefer for there to be a quicker way. This may be...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 24: In page 38, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “(9) (a) The Commission shall permit an Appeal to a designated Commissioner on the determination under subsection (5) by- (i) the person seeking designation as a vetted researcher under this Section, or (ii) by the very large online platform or the very large online search engine named under...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 25: In page 38, line 39, after “parties” to insert “, which may include very large online platforms or very large online search engines”.

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: If we consider the traditional model of how media used to operate, we will note it was very clear that newspapers and broadcasters who reported on the news were subject to particular standards and expected to uphold them. The difficulty at the moment is that we effectively have the Wild West. This Bill and the Digital Services Act have been trying to put some guardrails in place. I agree...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: On a point of information, that is what the legislation provides for.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (15 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan. When the Minister of State and I were in school, we learned all about the Gulf Stream and the importance of the flows in the Atlantic. I am very alarmed by recent reports from Utrecht University on one of the longest studies of the impact...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (15 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response and I am glad the Government is looking at the potential impact across a range of sectors. As he said, this may not happen this century but there is a real risk of it happening. We are already seeing a lot of strange weather events as a result of climate change.I would be concerned if Government policy is that it will put Noah's Ark on top of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the decision of the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, to sign off on the regulations that will finally allow local authorities to use CCTV, drones and other technology to catch illegal dumpers and those who are engaged in fly-tipping. Members will be aware this has been a long-running campaign of mine and I am grateful to the Minister of State who certainly took it on board. When...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses. With regard to what Kevin Bakhurst has said, it is essential that trust in RTÉ and in public service broadcasting be restored. I look forward to the day when we are discussing the broader question of public service broadcasting and how we can support the creation of Irish content and the staff and independent production companies engaged in the good work that is...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. I am going to look at the McCann Fitzgerald report. I appreciate Ms Cusack's position and what she was dealing with. I know she was asked earlier whether she was afraid of Dee Forbes as director general. Does she feel she was misled by Dee Forbes?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. The McCann Fitzgerald report found that there were ten cases that potentially did not satisfy the requirements for voluntary redundancy under the relevant Acts. There were issues with Revenue in respect of those redundancy questions. With regard to the bogus contracts of self-employment, there is now a contingency plan in RTÉ with regard to the costs and the risks....

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I suppose I am asking what RTÉ's contingency is.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: RTÉ will have a contingency set aside, however.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that.