Results 2,261-2,280 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Update on Employment Activation Measures: Department of Social Protection (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: It has to do with education. Will that issue be dealt with in the next session?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Update on Employment Activation Measures: Department of Social Protection (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I will hold onto my question for the next session.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Update on Employment Activation Measures: Department of Social Protection (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: Where is that information available?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Update on Employment Activation Measures: Department of Social Protection (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Mr. McKeon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment: Discussion (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank everyone for making a presentation. I will not go through all the names as that takes too long. Anybody who has spoken agrees that we must make work pay. The reality is that nobody will go back to work if they are not going to be better off than if they stay at home. There are great difficulties for single parents in particular being able to access child care. I am a firm...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payment: Discussion (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I would appreciate it if the witnesses could expand on the back to education payment and the uptake of the scheme, particularly among one parent families. I am sorry for taking so long.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (12 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I will resubmit my questions, Nos. 21 and 22, and break them down better, because the replies were of no help. Would Mr. O’Brien guide me with regard to whom I should send them to? It is a pleasure to have the witnesses here, particularly the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. I thank the Minister of State for her honesty. She is always up front and does not beat around the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (12 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I want to return to the issue of Hollybrook community nursing unit in Inchicore. When local people telephone me asking why people living in the area cannot access the unit, I have to tell them it is a step-down unit for St. James’s Hospital to facilitate the national children’s hospital. When this unit was first opened, I stood on a platform as a local public representative...

Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy Clare Daly for bringing this Bill to the House. If there was ever a Bill I would like to support, it is this one. However, as the Minister already stated in his opening remarks, this Bill is unconstitutional and a referendum would be required to amend the Constitution. However, I believe Deputy Clare Daly knows this very well and, therefore, I cannot support this Bill at...

Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Deputy Clare Daly for bringing this Bill to the House. If there was ever a Bill I would like to support, it is this one. However, as the Minister already stated in his opening remarks, this Bill is unconstitutional and a referendum would be required to amend the Constitution. However, I believe Deputy Clare Daly knows this very well and, therefore, I cannot support this Bill at...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (3 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: Not on this matter.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (3 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: The free preschool year is one of the best programmes ever introduced in this sector. It provides excellent opportunities to parents of young children who are trying to survive on a budget. I visit many preschool facilities and have listened to many parents speak on the issue. While it is clear that the services are brilliant, service providers appear to be losing out financially on the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised) (3 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise, as I must leave shortly to be somewhere else. It is welcome that the funding is being maintained at the current level, but I agree with Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. I work on the ground locally and know the benefits of working with young people, particularly children in poorer areas. Without some of the community organisations, the volunteers in particular,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Seventh Report on Child Protection 2014: Discussion (29 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: Does Deputy Troy need to go?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Seventh Report on Child Protection 2014: Discussion (29 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Dr. Shannon for being here. I would remind Deputy Troy that Fianna Fáil was in government for over 30 years since the foundation of the State, yet the current Government was the first to create a Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in Cabinet. This Government was also the first to address the Magdalen laundry issue. The Deputy should therefore consider what he is saying...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Seventh Report on Child Protection 2014: Discussion (29 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: It is very important. That is why we are here.

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: There is nothing so sad as a young couple with young children coming to one's clinic to say that they have been given one month to move out of their home when the girl has lost her job and they cannot afford to pay the mortgage. We need to sit up and listen and learn from what has happened in the past. Other speakers, including the Minister, have spoken about building social housing for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Information Technology in Schools: Camara Ireland (28 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise for being so late. I had to make two phone calls. I have visited Camara Ireland in Chapelizod, as did the President.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Information Technology in Schools: Camara Ireland (28 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: He opened it and it was a wonderful experience. As somebody who is barely able to use an iPhone, it was great to see the dedication of the people. What impressed me most was that people did a lot of work on a voluntary basis and found themselves going back into the workforce through a different channel. I left school at 14 years of age, and was barely able to read or write. One...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Report on Intreo: Discussion (28 Jan 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank our guests for their presentations. Like the previous speaker, I am aware of people who encountered difficulties when they have presented at Intreo offices. However, the majority of those to whom I have spoken are of the view that the service is very good and that it helped point them in the right direction. I am aware of three people who were obliged to change case officers. Is...