Results 2,041-2,060 of 2,663 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: With him at the head of it.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. He will be familiar with the fact that last summer there were two very serious E.coli outbreaks, one in Ballymore Eustace, which provides much of the water supplies of Kildare and Dublin, and the other in my home town of Gorey. There were 52 confirmed illnesses, and potentially more, as a result of those outbreaks and the difficulties...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I welcome his stance and that of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. We were proactive in addressing this issue and we have seen progress from Irish Water as a result of the audit of those 26 water treatment plants. When will it be extended to all of the other water treatment plants, many of which serve smaller communities? I note that 35% of the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I will start by agreeing with Senator Kyne. Several of us have been calling for debate on the Passport Office. It is now becoming a matter of serious urgency, so it could be arranged in the next week or two, it would be appreciated. Yesterday, I referred to the appointment of the expert panel that is due to be set up to examine how an individual complaints mechanism could operate with the...

Seanad: Final Report on Impacts of Brexit of Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I am sharing my time with Senator McGreehan.

Seanad: Final Report on Impacts of Brexit of Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister, not just for coming to the House, but for all his work and that of his officials on this matter. At times he must be tearing his hair out because it can be very frustrating. Every time we seem to move one step forward, another challenge arises. Genuinely, his work in this area deserves much praise. I join colleagues in complimenting the Chair of our committee,...

Seanad: Local Government (Surveillance Powers in Relation to Certain Offences) Bill 2022: Order for Second Stage (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Local Government (Surveillance Powers in Relation to Certain Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to listen to the debate on this legislation. A lot of work has gone into this over more than a year. I put on record my thanks to the parliamentary legal service, the Data Protection Commission, with which I engaged, and the many councillors and local authorities around the country,...

Seanad: Local Government (Surveillance Powers in Relation to Certain Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. It was always intended to be collaborative legislation. In fact, there was almost a race between me and Senator Wall to see which of us could get legislation in first. I did not begrudge the fact that he was able to bring his legislation before this Chamber last March because the view we all expressed was that we did not care whose Bill it was; we just want...

Seanad: Local Government (Surveillance Powers in Relation to Certain Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Although I am tempted to say we should take it now, I propose that it be taken next Tuesday.

Seanad: Local Government (Surveillance Powers in Relation to Certain Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Ms Doherty rightly referenced the Puttnam report with regard to digital policy. We have moved into the digital space but a criticism here has concerned RTÉ digital policy, its expenditure on digital and the frustrations most people felt when trying to use the RTÉ Player. Some of those are being addressed. The RTÉ Player is competing against Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon. What...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I will ask a specific question about funding. We are now considering the introduction of a content levy on some of the streaming services. RTÉ is happy with that proposal. What model would Ms Forbes favour?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Tá ceist eile agam. Cén todhchaí a chíonn RTÉ do chraoltóireacht agus do léiriúcháin Ghaeilge ar raidió ar an teilifís agus ar líne. What future do our guests see for content creation and broadcasting through the Irish language on radio, television and in the digital space online? It is telling that story.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I know that as part of the model, one of the issues RTÉ has been addressing relates to staff reduction. Ms Forbes might be able to update us on that, if she can. I am conscious of another issue that may fall beyond the remit of this meeting. Is there a compulsory retirement age within RTÉ? That emerged as an issue a few years ago.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I am conscious of the time limits. I would like an assurance that there is no compulsory retirement age in RTÉ.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Okay. I will move on to some of the slightly more controversial issues on which the committee has written to and engaged with RTÉ. There is the question of the party that took place. That issue was raised at this committee. I want assurances that there was learning from that. I will also make a comment arising from a matter Ms Doherty raised relating to governance. We also take...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: My only other question related to the RTÉ party. Ms Forbes may wish to answer that. I asked were there learnings and actions taken on foot of that.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Ms Forbes is beginning to sound like Boris Johnson.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: The next speaker is Senator Michéal Carrigy