Results 1,801-1,820 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: No pressure. There is a challenge whereby individual schools have their own recruitment and application systems. If a student applies, say in the case of Gorey, to each of the three schools and is offered a place in each, they normally have a period in which they have to make up their mind. For certain students who have not been offered places, it is concerning to be told they are on a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I am raising an issue with which the Minister of State will be familiar, namely the Rosslare rail line and the continued failure by Irish Rail to invest in the service. I appreciate the Minister of State is taking this on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The Minister of State will know only too well that the Rosslare rail line has suffered from a long period of under investment. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I really am disappointed at the lack of ambition in the long-term development of the Rosslare rail line. There is no discussion here around a significant number of additional services going from Wicklow south. There is no discussion around new rolling stock being made available on the existing line. While it is a very beautiful train line - one of the most...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I am sure the Leader and all Members of the House will join me in expressing solidarity with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, over the disgraceful scenes outside his home last week. There are plenty of places where people can protest about any aspect of Government policy or any other issue, but doing so outside an individual's home is not appropriate. I hope the House will join me in...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I congratulate the Minister on his appointment as this is the first time he has been in this Chamber in his new role. I-----

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Yes. I encourage him to be as forthright and direct in his new role-----

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: -----as he was during his time as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. It is essential that this legislation align with the provisions within the HEA Act. Contrary to Senator Higgins's comments, we spent extensive time discussing that Act. There was a lot of pre-legislative scrutiny. The Minister at the time engaged a lot, as I am sure will be the...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree to Senator Higgins's suggestion.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: It is obviously important that there are views that are reflective of the arts, humanities and social sciences community as well as the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, community but also increasingly the interdisciplinarity of research whereby we are not just appointing people because they come from a particular background. The purpose of this new agency is to...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister. He was very clear about the need for the broad level of representation. Given the experience of certain people sitting on State boards, there is a reluctance on the part of some of the best people at present to sit on these boards. It is important, therefore, that we encourage the best people to apply. I also welcome the fact that the Minister said we should...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I am not sure if "The Simpsons" amendment to the Bill is going to be proposed at some stage. It could certainly be considered. Returning to the point, I am always reluctant to be overly prescriptive. If we look at the objects of the agency that are outlined in section 8, they are sufficiently broad. Section 8(c) covers "to promote and support the contribution made by research and...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works (24 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I congratulate Deputy O’Donnell on his new role and I wish him the best of luck as the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. He has always been willing to come before this House and I am appreciative that he has come in for this Commencement matter. I raise the issue of the Coast Guard station at Courtown. My own...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works (24 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte anseo roimh na scoláirí freisin. I thank the Minister of State for that response. There is nothing new in it bar the last paragraph, and we had heard rumours to that effect. While I appreciate it is at a commercially sensitive point, I ask the Minister of State for assurance that there will be a Plan B, should Plan A fall through on this site. I also ask that...

Seanad: Smartphone and Social Media Use: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I thank the Minister for being here for this very important debate. I thank the Fine Gael Senators for tabling it. The Minister will recall we had a lot of engagement privately, and in the Chamber, about the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, which established what is rapidly becoming perhaps the most important and powerful regulator in the State,...