Results 2,481-2,500 of 2,663 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Statements (8 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo many of the comments that have been made by my colleagues. I was particularly struck by Senator Bacik's remark about how we can address problems with regression. This is a particular concern, and I hope a plan is put in place for children with special needs who have regressed. This is obviously based on speaking to their teachers and their families. We must put measures in place....

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Committee for the Executive Office, Northern Ireland Assembly on Impact of Brexit (2 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Mr. McGrath for his presentation. My first question relates to higher education and research. I could not figure out why the UK chose not to continue in the Erasmus+ programme. Mr. McGrath will be aware that the Irish Government is giving the opportunity to Northern students to take part in Erasmus+, but it is also important that we examine ways, in a post-Brexit scenario, to...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Committee for the Executive Office, Northern Ireland Assembly on Impact of Brexit (2 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I was conscious when Mr. McGrath spoke about potatoes and pencils and not knowing the identity of the person buying them, although Jacob Rees-Mogg seems to know the identity of fish at this stage. In response to Ms Anderson's question about ports, I come from Wexford, and Rosslare port is booming. Year on year, trade with continental Europe is now up by 446% even though trade with Britain...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Arts Policy (1 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, for coming to the House and acknowledge that she is personally invested in this issue. We have seen during the course of the pandemic that the arts, music and creative industries have in many ways helped us all through this period. They have fed our cultural soul. As we recover, the role of the arts and creative industries, and our artists and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Arts Policy (1 Feb 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister. I can certainly assure her of my support. I believe she will receive cross-party support on the issue at the Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht. As I said, this is an opportunity to be innovative and a universal basic income is something new. It should not be seen as a handout. Its purpose is to allow artists to develop their...

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

Malcolm Byrne: Lá breithe shona don Cheannaire. I join the Cathaoirleach in marking Australia Day, and it is important in our new world to look at ways of furthering cultural education and trade links with our friends in Australia. I will raise two matters. The first is the aftermath of Brexit, and it is welcome we are finally beginning to see Rosslare Europort blossoming to a far greater extent....

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (26 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House. I commend her on her work on trying to ensure that adult respite services remain open during this difficult period and also that day care services for children with special needs are open. I agree with the sentiments Senator Flynn expressed.It is important that we ensure that provision is made for those children and their families....

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...