Results 2,061-2,080 of 2,663 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

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 can allow the Senator some latitude if he has another question.

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: All members who on are on the call have contributed. I will allow any member who wants to ask a brief question to do so once they indicate.

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 do not think anybody else is indicating. I thank Ms Doherty and Ms Forbes for their contributions and engagement. When the Future of Media Commission report has finally been published, and there has been time to reflect on it, it will be useful at that stage for our committee to meet again. The point Ms Doherty made was very important. We may often disagree and we may take issue, but...

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 thank Ms Doherty and Ms Forbes for their presentations. It is important to acknowledge that, during the Covid period, the news team in RTÉ provided great public sector broadcasting in difficult circumstances. We are consuming much more content at home. I pay tribute to the work being done in the drama sector, which is provided by the independent production companies and 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: My issue is around the principle. There was correspondence that I do not necessarily want to go into. The concern on this committee was that our competence was almost being questioned around-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Most in this House will agree that, in the words of the Taoiseach, Friday was a good day. The extraordinary vaccination programme and its success led us to where we are. There may be a few twists and turns yet but there is an air of optimism around the country. I know plenty of people who abandoned their plans for dry January over the weekend, after the difficulties that we have had. We...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Is the Leader inviting us all to Coppers?

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: It is not an Oxford comma.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. Like Senator Kyne, I compliment him on the work he has done since taking up his brief. In particular, I compliment him on listening to the voices of the farming community and visiting the marts around the country. The latter was a useful exercise. Farmers are front-line workers in the battle against climate change. What farmers are looking for...

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Senator Mullen has been known for flogging several dead horses over the years. Maybe in this debate that was not a surprise.

Seanad: Climate and Agriculture: Statements (25 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: The Minister knows that peat has been an ongoing hot topic. I would argue that our horticulture sector is perhaps one of the greenest sectors in agriculture. Those in involved in horticulture and mushroom growing want to ensure that everything they do is done in a green and environmentally sustainable way. They want to make sure that their produce is green and branded as such. Now that we...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regulatory Bodies (20 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming in to take this matter. It is one that is of personal interest to him. As far as the consumer is concerned, there is very limited, and in some sectors no real competition, in banking, insurance and financial services in Ireland. The Minister of State will also be aware that there has been criticism among fintech companies about the approach the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regulatory Bodies (20 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with the Minister of State that consumers are voting with their wallets, so to speak, and moving on to new products such as Revolut and N26. They are moving into new areas of fintech. If he talks to any of the fintech companies, he will find that they do not feel that they are getting a level playing field from the Central Bank. The Central Bank obviously has to protect the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: This Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of when, on 22 January 1972, the accession treaty for Ireland to join the then European Economic Community, EEC, was signed by Taoiseach Jack Lynch and Minister for Foreign Affairs Patrick Hillery. They built on the work of Seán Lemass and others who very clearly argued that Ireland's future rightly lay in Europe. In May of that year, 83% of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Data Protection (19 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to speak to this matter. He might recall we discussed it in September 2020, when I raised concerns around the capacity of the office of the Data Protection Commissioner, its resourcing and its powers in being able to deal with some of the challenges it continues to face. First, I compliment the staff of the Data Protection Commissioner,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Data Protection (19 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the fact that there are discussions around a move towards three commissioners. I am certainly interested in hearing the Minister of State's personal view on whether this will happen, and happen quickly. In terms of addressing some of the concerns, including those raised by the DPC around its functioning, this may be a step forward. If the Minister of State cannot give a direct...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Like others, I extend my sympathies to the family, friends, partner and school community of the late Ashling Murphy. Her death has started a number of discussions. I occasionally run and never think about my personal safety as a man, but for women it is an issue of concern. Having spoken to women runners I know it has always been an issue. Even at our local park run on Saturday it was...

Seanad: The Impact of Covid-19 on Primary and Secondary Education: Motion (19 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: First, I compliment the work of my Wexford colleague, Deputy Kehoe, and the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I also compliment the Minister on her work in this area. In the context of online bullying, while I welcome the new strategy with regard to bullying, a lot of our concern is not so much about the bullying that takes place...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: EU Digital Services Package and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill: Discussion (19 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Ms Quill and Mr. Shanley for their work on the OSMR Bill. It has been a difficult process and there has been much debate on it. I am certainly happy that the Minister has taken on board many of this committee's recommendations from our report. I would like to focus on two key issues that the witnesses may be able to respond to. One is the timeframe linking the Bill and the...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: EU Digital Services Package and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill: Discussion (19 Jan 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Crucially for us , given that we are establishing a media commission that is going to deal with many of these issues anyway, does it not make sense that to leave it to the commission rather than looking at setting up an entirely new agency? My question related to the scale of the operation, particularly given the companies that are based in Ireland for which this regulator will have...