Results 341-360 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I have some sympathy, but the question here is around the purpose of the advisory committee. The purpose of the advisory committee is not to advise on higher education policy more generally. It is on the functioning of the register of electors and how this electorate is constituted. It is also critical to remember that it is electing Members of the Seanad. They are not representative of...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I have sympathy with Senator Higgins in the context of where she is coming from. Again, this is not prescriptive. For example, there is no requirement that it shall include a nominee of employers’ representatives or particular grades of staff, whether academic or non-academic. It comes back to the core question around competencies. I disagree with Senator Higgins on one point. I...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I have some sympathy with the idea of An Coimisiún Toghcháin conducting research on who votes, but it is probably going to be slightly more challenging in Seanad elections given the nature of the electorate. For instance, An Coimisiún Toghcháin has already started to conduct qualitative research. Both in the local and European elections and during the referendums in...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to speak briefly because I am conscious we are out of time. I know An Coimisiún Toghcháin has been asked to look more generally at the issue of list systems rather than by-elections. I raised with the Minister the question of whether list systems will apply more generally and whether it is his view it should apply more generally, whether to other Seanad elections or indeed...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: These are not requirements that are too difficult. If you are not able to get 60 names to assent to your nomination, and I appreciate we want to encourage people to run, but 60 is not a huge number to get when we are talking about a potential electorate of up to 1 million. While we want it to be as broad as possible, if somebody is serious about contesting an election they will be either...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (10 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. Given the rapid growth in population in Ireland, one of our key requirements is to ensure that we have an adequate number of school places at primary and second levels. I am aware that there is a forward-planning unit within the Department. My question is to look at how that unit operates,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (10 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I am always heartened when I hear that the Department is having regard to local area plans and national plans. As he is well aware, however, just because the Office of the Planning Regulator and the national planning framework state that a particular location is where population growth will happen does not mean that is always the case. I want to avoid a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I note that this week marks the centenary of bilateral diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States. It is fitting that the Taoiseach is meeting with President Biden. It was a for a new State when the United States recognised Ireland and established those diplomatic relations. It was important. Our relationship has had its ups and downs, but the United States and Ireland...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I too welcome delegation from Stormont who have arrived for an important discussion on electoral reform of this Chamber.There is nothing politicians like to talk about more than electoral reform and changes to the operation of politics and so on, but this is a piece of reform that is long overdue. I doubt there are a few in this House that would even...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Is a new group being formed?

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Order for Second Stage (10 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome a lot of the announcements in the budget as well as some additional announcements, including the two new veterinary colleges, one of which will be the south east, which is very welcome, and the appointment of the chief scientific officer. There are a lot of positives. The fact that there is multi-annual funding for the universities now is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the grants to early stage and other researchers increasing from €22,000 to €25,000, but what action is being taken on basic research equipment? The Minister will be aware of the concerns that have been expressed about how one third of all basic research equipment is more than 15 years old. What measures are being taken to address this challenge?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I would highlight that Taighde Éireann covers more than the sciences. In defence, the humanities-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Minister’s point, but it is critical that researchers get a guarantee that they will be able to operate and work on modern equipment. Will the Minister provide some specificity around the date for the announcement of the new healthcare programmes? There is an interest in pharmacy in the south east, but more generally-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. The Minister might be busy with a supplementary budget and some of these announcements over the next few weeks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans for Further and Higher Education: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (9 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: It was, and Fianna Fáil was correct to-----