Results 2,281-2,300 of 2,663 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the decision of the Press Ombudsman and Press Council of Ireland concerning false statements made about Presentation College, Carlow and its teaching staff last November. It is time some of those who led the attacks on the teaching staff, including the Labour Party, would publicly apologise to those teachers who suffered a very unfair social media pile-on. I also echo the comments...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am delighted and I hope the Cathaoirleach and all the Members will come to Wexford on their staycation in the months ahead.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I have the some strawberries outside-----

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the House and praise him personally. He is quite modest but he has fought for this legislation for a long time and deserves our congratulations for that. Like others have said, the Joint Committee on Climate Action has done enormous work. I also wish to praise the climate strikers over the years. Those young people drew all of our attention to the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming in. I disagree with Senator Warfield's assertion that this has not been sought by local authorities. Senator Keogan and others in this Chamber, including Senator Cummins, raised some of the concerns relating to county development plans and what has been happening over the past year. The representative bodies for local authorities have sought this. I am very...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Future of Media in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh gach duine. I will focus on the legislation we are considering. What do the witnesses see as the primary roles of the new media commission that we are going to set up? Do they see it as becoming a regulator? Do they believe it will also have a role in education and in supporting content creation? My next question relates to the commission's third thematic...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Ms Quill and Mr. Shanley for their work on this to date. They can understand the frustration of my colleagues. I would worry if this Bill were to come before the Oireachtas before we have concluded our prelegislative scrutiny. Many of the key issues we are debating will end up being debated on the floor of the Dáil and Seanad. There are still a number of fundamental issues we...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Can Ms Quill clarify why that research cannot be done? Why must we wait until the commission is established before that research can be carried out?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the commission will have a role in its implementation but I do not see any reason the research could not be done. We have heard considerable evidence and some of it is competing. Other countries have made a decision. I do not accept the argument that we have to wait until the media commission is established before a content levy can be established. I appreciate there are...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that but Ms Quill's point on the research was that the commission would need to be established. I accept there has to be a statutory basis for it to come in but we can have all the research and everything done so that almost on day one the button can be pressed.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I do not accept this. Other member states have faced the same challenge and have introduced different models. We have been asking what the most effective content levying model is. I cannot figure out why we are under pressure to get something done quickly in one area, yet in another area we have to wait until the commission is set up. I appreciate that but this is an issue that we may...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Trade and Co-operation Agreement, Northern Ireland Protocol, and EU-UK Relationships post Brexit: Commissioner Mairead McGuinness (15 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Commissioner for a very comprehensive presentation. I will try to be succinct with a number of points. Given we are seeing rising tensions in the North, we may yet see an election there and we are moving towards the marching season, does it make sense to look at a negotiated extension of the grace period? Related to that, and the Commissioner's point about building trust is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Direct Provision System (14 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. I am raising the question of the Courtown Hotel emergency direct provision centre, which was opened just over two years ago, to try to get clarity on its future, particularly for the residents there, of whom there are about 36. The International Protection Service, IPAS, indicated...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Direct Provision System (14 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for the response. I appreciate there is a broader issue around case processing times as it will provide greater clarity on the broader question of direct provision. It is completely unjust that families must wait so long to get an answer to their case, although I know it is a Government priority to address that. I am sorry but I strongly dispute the argument...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I have regularly raised the issue of how technology is changing the nature of everything we do. In that context, I hope we can have a debate on the future of work and the need to constantly upskill and reskill our citizens. I say this in the context of the recent Facebook announcement that it is going to allow staff who are based here to work remotely. We have seen consumer trends shift...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to speak on this Bill which deals with an important issue. I want to begin by addressing some of the comments made by Senator Mullen about comparing apples and oranges. His remarks were facetious. If he actually went out, he would find this is based on evidence. I would certainly encourage him to look at Central Statistics Office, CSO, data or...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Like colleagues, I welcome the Bill Senator Ruane has introduced. I support the principle behind it and am glad the Government is not opposing it. As has been outlined, there is a place for non-disclosure agreements. They were originally intended to cover areas involving commercial sensitivities, trade secrets and intellectual property. These must be protected. That makes sense. These...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Impact of Brexit on the Food and Drink Industry: Discussion (14 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the contributors. In terms of our recommendation, I agree with Mr. Lavelle regarding the rules of origin and the need for substantial reform of those rules. He may wish to comment on this. The issue has come up at the committee, particularly in the context of flour, as colleagues will know. Are there specific comments Mr. Lavelle or the other witnesses wish to make on that issue?...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Rail Connectivity Post Brexit: Aughey Screens (14 Jun 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: My questions follow on from those of Senator Gallagher. I am a great believer in using high-speed rail but it tends to be between two major urban conglomerations anywhere else it is used in the world, for example, in China, Japan or elsewhere in Europe, such as the Madrid to Seville line. My question is about the economics of the proposal. Are the numbers there for the line to be viable?...