Results 181-200 of 2,918 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses for their work and contribution. Their objective is clearly to move Ireland away from fossil fuels. For that to happen, we need to have a sufficient number of renewable energy sources. My view is that we need an abundance of energy to be able to meet all of the needs of the country going into the future. Do the witnesses think as a State that we are moving quickly...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: When does Ms Donnelly reckon we might actually reach those targets if we continue going as we are at present?

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Ms Donnelly is saying that we will not meet the targets by 2030. If we are to meet the onshore targets by 2032, and I still hope we can meet the offshore targets by 2032, what are the three things that Government needs to do and prioritise?

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Why in Ms Donnelly's opinion are we not meeting our offshore targets?

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Does Ms Donnelly think that we can still make some of those targets and by when?

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: To follow on from the point regarding looking at future budgets and trying to project into the 2030s, that will be critical as we experience both a green revolution and a tech revolution, which are not mutually exclusive. On the private wires policy, it might be useful for the committee to write to the Minister to ask about the status of that policy to inform us. There are a couple of...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that but it can be a challenge to deliver all sorts of projects on time and on budget, not just in the energy space. It is about the principle. We have to create an abundance of energy. That is the principle. We need clean energy to do everything we need to do. It is the principle of Ireland possibly using nuclear energy in the future. We have talked about offshore...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I have to disagree slightly with Senator Higgins. It is as important for the developing world that it has access to artificial intelligence and its potential. I do not think we should be making it a binary choice between sewage treatment plants and access to AI in the developing world. It is the same in Ireland. A binary choice should not be presented between housing and our digital...

Nursing Homes and Care for Older Persons: Statements (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for being here. He is very much aware of the "RTÉ Investigates" programme and the work that was done by Aoife Hegarty and her team. It was an example of quality public service broadcasting. I know the Minister of State, like me and so many others, was appalled by what he saw on his screen. I know he wants to take action on foot of that. The Taoiseach...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Apologies have been received from Senators Dee Ryan, O'Donovan and Harmon. I am delighted to have with us members of the AI advisory council. Dr. Patricia Scanlon, chair of the advisory council and Ireland's first AI ambassador, will deliver her opening statement. Joining her - and I do not think he has left the building - is Professor Alan Smeaton, emeritus professor of computing at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Dr. Scanlon. We hope we will have time for two rounds. There are seven minutes for questions and answers from members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I will be generous and allow some latitude. I call Deputy Gibney.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I do not think it is ever a good idea to ask anyone or anything how many calories are in a dessert.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: AI will solve it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Witnesses have one minute each to answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Okay. I will allow some latitude but I ask that Ms Riordan and Mr. Blanchfield are concise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses. I will put four quick questions to them. I will follow up with Mr. Blanchfield. Regarding the introduction of a regulatory sandbox - he will be aware it is being considered here - how can we introduce one in Ireland that will benefit SMEs? How can it be done so we allow innovation? If Mr. Blanchfield were to design the regulatory sandbox, how might it look? Turning...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jun 2025)

Malcolm Byrne: Who would like to contribute on the question of the AI observatory?