Results 2,241-2,260 of 2,663 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: May I follow up on the legislation and the governing bodies? This is the question about the size, purpose and function of the governing bodies, and there has been a certain amount of debate on this. As somebody who was involved in campaigning to ensure there was student representation on governing bodies in the Universities Act, I think it is important there is input, but there is the core...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am sorry to interrupt. The majority of the sector operates exceptionally well, but Ms Donegan will be aware that questions have been raised in the past at the Committee of Public Accounts about actions in certain higher education institutions. This is public money that is being invested, and most of it is being spent very well, but questions have been raised about governance and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Higher Education Authority Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am happy to do that, but if there is time, I would like to hear from Ms Dolan and Ms Austick now or later.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House to address this issue concerning vaccines which have not been approved by the European Medicines Agency, EMA. I acknowledge the enormous success of the vaccination programme to date. We are jabbing more arms in Ireland now for the size of our population than anywhere else in the world. Everybody involved in that operation deserves our...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. There is an urgency to addressing this matter. We are speaking about potentially thousands of Irish citizens who, in good faith, took the vaccine their company or the country where they were working offered them. They received it and they want to be fully vaccinated. They want to follow the rules but they also want to be able to come home. It would be very...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I join with the Cathaoirleach in wishing all French citizens in Ireland, and indeed, the ambassador and staff at the Embassy, a happy Bastille Day. Of course, French was the second language used in the First Dáil after Irish when the Declaration of Independence was read out in French by George Gavan Duffy. Bonne fête nationale ce mercredi à tous. I also echo colleagues in...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with my colleague Senator Casey. The importance of the legislation relates to the flexibility. I know of specific similar cases in Wexford where in order to get the development up and running, we will need to attract in a private developer, and that will mean allowing for a mix of types of housing on the land. We could say about some of these sites that we will be very ideological...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with comments from my colleagues. I know Senator Moynihan is genuine in her belief about the provision of public housing but I was disappointed with the Labour Party's approach to this. It stated that following the establishment of the Land Development Agency, it would have compulsory purchase powers and would be able to take over large tracts of land in areas such as the Phoenix...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: One would not be let.

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with colleagues and with what Senator Fitzpatrick said. It is important that there be accountability and transparency but there is also a need for education among the wider public so that people can understand what the agency is doing, its purposes and its objectives. The mapping will be interesting. As citizens, we should be able to access maps and know what purposes are assigned...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: -----but it is directly relevant to the point, which relates to communication-----

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: -----because the SPCs have a crucial role in informing councils and local communities.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I would like a bit of clarity on what current international carbon-recording practices are, because they can be quite vague and generalised. The OECD has done some work on this, but it varies as to what exactly the definition involves. I favour us exploring an emissions trading scheme. I say this because it is important, in the context of this legislation, that we bring people with us. I...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Second Stage (9 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Like Senator Moynihan, I welcome the Minister of State. Senator Moynihan said she is almost tired of seeing the Minister of State and the senior Minister in the House. That is reflective of the Government's commitment to addressing issues around housing. Senator Garvey pointed out well the broad range of issues. We are talking about legislation that will unlock unused public lands for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh gach éinne. Senator Dolan has covered a lot of the questions. Mr. Kearney and Dr. Ryan might look at the issue of apprenticeships, in particular in certain areas critical to housing. We rely very much on the throughput. There are concerns that apprentice electricians have not been able to get practical experience. When do the witnesses expect things to fully...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate they may be very raw data but are there any improvements, deterioration or challenges between different subject fields? Where does Professor Ó hÓgartaigh think the State may be able to step in to support that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: That is great. I thank our guests.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank my Wexford colleague for his indulgence. I want to assure the Chair that the confident, intelligent, politically engaged young voter with a strong interest in education is a Fianna Fáil supporter. I am glad that he met him. I am glad this discussion became very much on student focus and how we can do that. I have three questions or points on that and another around Covid....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Reopening of Further and Higher Education Institutions: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I would be happy if the Chair would allow the last point to be made. If the witnesses do not feel comfortable, then it is an issue we need to return to. I have other questions.