Results 2,241-2,260 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Impact of Brexit on Business Sector: Discussion (29 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses for the presentation. My first question follows on from Ms Sinnamon's last point and Senator Wall's question. We will produce a report at the end of this discussion. Are there specific recommendations Ms Sinnamon would like to see regarding the experience she has had with those companies for which exporting to the UK was the easy option and which have now looked at...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Impact of Brexit on Business Sector: Discussion (29 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Taking the flour sector - there are other areas like steel and so on - if there were specific policy recommendations for the committee to make, what would Ms Dwyer suggest? I appreciate there are many variables in this but we will be reporting to the Government on some of these soon.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Today is the national independence day for Bangladesh; in fact, it is the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence. I commend the Limerick councillor, Abul Kalam Azad Talukder, on his organisation of a series of events today to mark the contribution of the Bangladeshi community here in Ireland. We have often discussed in these Houses the impact of the Covid pandemic on young people and...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2021: First Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I move: That leave be given to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to reduce to sixteen years the age at which a person is entitled to be registered as a European Parliament and Local Government Elector, and to provide for related matters.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2021: First Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: On Good Friday, 2 April.

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for being here for this debate on procurement. I also join colleagues in thanking Senator Higgins for bringing this legislation before the House because it is very important that we consider the principles raised therein. It is unfortunate, however, that Senator Gavan has used this debate as an opportunity to attack the Government again. He referred to what...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Impact of Covid-19 on the Hospitality Sector: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the four organisations for their presentations. I can only imagine the difficulties of those directly involved in business are facing. I know this from speaking to a number of businesses around the country and in my home county of Wexford in particular. The committee needs to stress the need for the EWSS to be extended in the national recovery plan. We must make clear for the...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Impact of Covid-19 on the Hospitality Sector: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Has the IHF or any other representative group quantified the scale of the potential skills shortage? The witnesses know how many people have been leaving the industry. If they do not have that information with them, they can submit it to the committee after the meeting?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Trade Agreements (22 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to address the issue of the CETA deal, a very important trade deal between the European Union and Canada, the importance of trade between Ireland and Canada, and to debunk some of the misinformation that has been spread about this deal. People sometimes have the idea that trade deals are something particularly negative. All the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Trade Agreements (22 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I strongly agree with him. When we have trade deals, there have to be mechanisms for arbitration and dispute resolution. What is proposed in CETA is an updating of those mechanisms, which will make dispute resolution more transparent and more efficient. It is not going to force member state governments to change any laws. This is a small...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming in for the debate on the national development plan. A review of the plan will be crucial as we emerge from this difficult period. I encourage him to be ambitious, imaginative and creative. I wish to refer to six general themes under the plan that I think the Minister must consider. There is the post-pandemic social and economic recovery, the question of...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Impact of Brexit on Business Sector (22 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: The Chairman and Senator Joe O'Reilly have covered many of the questions I wanted to ask. One of the other areas we are examining is infrastructure at our ports, especially now with an increased number of direct sailings to continental Europe. What would Mr. Nelson, Mr. Roche and Mr. McDonnell like us to include in the report in respect of specific recommendations on infrastructure? The...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Impact of Brexit on Business Sector (22 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: That is very useful. The delegation will not be surprised to hear that I am glad that Mr. Roche mentioned, without prompting, the importance of completing the motorway out of Rosslare. As a critical piece of infrastructure, it is something we need to highlight.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Impact of Brexit on Business Sector (22 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with many of the concerns that Senator Ó Donnghaile expressed. It is an important issue for us to address. I thank Mr. Connolly and Mr. Anderson for their contributions. I wish to ask two questions, the first of which is on co-operation in education. It is positive that students in the North will be allowed to continue to participate in Erasmus+, but we need to consider...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Higher Education Institutions (12 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh mo chara, an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Rabbitte. Gabhaim buíochas léi as an ábhar seo a ghlacadh ar son an Aire Oideachais. I endorse the remarks of my colleague, Senator Dooley, about the importance of designating family carers as key workers. I know that the Minister of State is very passionate about doing this as well. I am raising the issue...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Higher Education Institutions (12 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. We all know how important higher education is. I accept that the Government has made a good start with the new Department and increased public funding. However, while it talks about the scale of the ambition, we have to be able to put the resources behind that. I plead with the Minister of State to take back to the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins,...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Cross-Border Healthcare Directive: Discussion (8 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I say thanks and hello to Mr. O'Connor, who I used to work with. I have two more general questions. We are looking at the question of Brexit more widely. One is about the import of medicines of medical devices from the UK or through the UK using the land bridge. Have Brexit and the challenges we are facing in our ports had any impact on specific medicines? Are there any concerns on the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Aontaím leis an Seanadóir Black faoi thionchar Covid ar ealaíontóirí. Is rud an-tábhachtach an díospóireacht sin. Tá trí hábhar le hardú agam inniu ach, roimhe sin, I am glad to note the latest shift in Senator's Keogan's position. On Monday she wanted everything locked down but now wants the construction industry open. The first...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Health Insurance (International Students) (Amendment) Bill 2021: First Stage (5 Mar 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health Insurance Act 1994 (as amended) to introduce a new definition of a health insurance contract to that contained in Section 2 of the Principal Act so as to exclude international students who are not ordinarily resident in Ireland; and to provide for related matters.