Results 2,301-2,320 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) (26 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Like others, I thank the Acting Chairperson, Senator Boyhan, for his personal testimony in this House last week.It was an important contribution to the debate. It was an honour for me to hear it. I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, for his time and personal commitment to this issue which is a challenging one. I know that the Minister and everybody within these Houses want to do the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish a Nollaig shona agus athbhliain faoi mhaise to everybody in this House and to the staff. Since I have come in here, many people have surprised me with how much they are committed to public service, but one thing I have been amazed by is the people who transcribe the words of our debates, and do it so quickly. They often make us sound a lot better than we are. Their work should also...

Seanad: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State. Like others, I pay tribute to our Wexford colleague, Deputy Howlin, for his championing of this legislation, and to Senator Bacik and her Labour Party colleagues. It is a good sign that this has cross-party support. I echo the tributes paid to Nicole Fox Fenlon and her mother, Jackie. Not alone has Jackie Fox striven to ensure we get this legislation in,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I join the Cathaoirleach in thanking Senator Keoghan for her testimony and talking about the importance of love and kindness, particularly in these difficult times. I agree with the comments of Senator Hoey on an issue a number of Senators have raised previously, namely, the importance of having a debate on the rule of law in Hungary and Poland, particularly regarding decisions on European...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo the remarks of my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, concerning the courage and dignity of Geraldine Mullan in the interview on "Prime Time" last night. I commend "Prime Time" and Miriam O'Callaghan for the sensitivity with which they handled it. It shows we all have challenges in life but that interview really put things in perspective. I wish to briefly raise two issues. Yesterday...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Challenges facing Public Broadcasting and the broader Media Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I will ask just two questions. The committee will consider the transposition of the audiovisual and media services directive early in the new year. Mr. Esslemont mentioned the levies in that regard. What approach should we take, especially to the content levy and how that would operate? Mr. Esslemont and Mr. Farrell also mentioned the importance of trusted news sources, and I...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Challenges facing Public Broadcasting and the broader Media Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: We are not afraid to face up to that issue but it would be useful for media organisations to set out how they see this operating. I refer in particular to how we can support the production of Irish content in a digital environment, which will be crucial.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Challenges facing Public Broadcasting and the broader Media Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: We are due to consider the transposition of the directive in the new year when it goes to pre-legislative scrutiny, so the sooner that report comes before the committee, the more helpful it can be.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Challenges facing Public Broadcasting and the broader Media Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: To follow on from Senator Cassells, this is about sketching out the media landscape in Ireland and where the witnesses see it going. If State funding is not made available over the next decade, how many national print titles and local print titles will continue to exist? As most of the print titles shift online, they operate behind a paywall and different media outlets have operated in...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Challenges facing Public Broadcasting and the broader Media Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to make a very specific point in the event that the funding is not provided. I agree with the point made about the tech giants at a national level. What is the likely scenario for local newspapers in particular, but also the national print media landscape?

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Mr. Russell for his presentation. I will ask three short questions. Fisheries is obviously one of the big sticking points and it is a critical industry in Scotland. How does he believe the fisheries issue can be resolved satisfactorily? There has long been close co-operation between Irish higher education institutions and Scottish higher education institutions. There obviously...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (16 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Congressman Neal for his many years of work and support for Ireland and on the peace process. Mr. Neal spoke of how important it is that we work in a cross-party fashion. Equally, as Mr. Neal will be aware, the success of support in the United States of America has been because of working across the aisle with Democrats and Republicans. It has, perhaps, been a little bit...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances (15 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for coming to the House to address this issue. Over 1,000 people in Ireland require the use of artificial limbs every year. Many people will have heard Saoirse tell her story on the "The Late Late Toy Show" but there was also a piece on "Prime Time" last week with Louise Byrne. A number of stories were told in the programme, one of which was...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances (15 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. It is welcome that the postcode lottery will be a thing of the past but it does not solve the bigger question. It is a crazy situation that families have to continue to apply for a discretionary medical card. These are permanent disabilities. As the Minister of State knows, they are not disabilities that will disappear. I ask that once a medical card is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I start by agreeing with Senators McGreehan and Keogan on the need for a discussion around rural housing. One of the difficulties is that not only are people not allowed to build one-off houses in rural areas, they cannot even live in nearby villages because the required water and wastewater infrastructure is not in place. We need to have a discussion on that issue. I welcome the news that...

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (9 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming into the House and for his strong personal commitment to addressing this issue. We all know the facts. Reports are coming out every week highlighting the extent of this crisis, the fact that we have to reach the target of 7.5% reduction in emissions each year between now and 2030 if we are to avoid a 1.5oC rise in temperature that will cause us so much...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Impact of Covid-19 on the Film and Television Industry: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses for the content creation that is keeping us going through this period. I would like to focus on how big the industry can grow and on the potential for Ireland when we come out of Covid-19 and how we get there. I will pose a number of questions and whoever chooses to answer them can do so. How big do the witnesses believe the sector can grow in Ireland? What needs do...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Impact of Covid-19 on the Film and Television Industry: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: I am conscious of time but there were three other quick questions, which were on the audiovisual media services directive and the content levy, what we will do with section 481, and studio infrastructure.

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Impact of Covid-19 on the Film and Television Industry: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: What about section 481 and the studio infrastructure?

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Impact of Covid-19 on the Film and Television Industry: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

Malcolm Byrne: Apologies for having to step out briefly. I will return to some issues I did not get a chance to discuss in the earlier round. I welcome the support for Tara Studios in north Wexford. It will be a major addition to the studio landscape if planning is granted. There will be a review of section 481 in the next period. What are the witnesses' recommendations on helping the sector to...