Results 381-400 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Service (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response on the question of the Coast Guard station in Arklow. The fact that the contract will be awarded from Q1 of 2025 is welcome and good news. The Minister of State said that once the contract is awarded, there will be nine months of construction. Therefore, there is a possibility that all going well, the project will be completed by Christmas...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I join with others in extending our sympathies to the O'Rourke and Naughten families. I also agree with Senator Sherlock's concerns about somebody who is compromised in these Houses, if it is the case. It is a particularly serious matter. However, I note there are politicians who are not compromised but indeed are puppets for Putin and will quite clearly voice his talking points on a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I commend Senator Conway on raising the issue of haemochromatosis. I have haemochromatosis and I am very aware of the importance of the screening strategy, given so many people are impacted by that disease. The issue I want to raise concerns the long-running and ongoing saga of the construction of the primary care centre in Gorey, which I have raised on a number of occasions in the House....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (3 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: In light of past experience, I am concerned that the Minister and the Department are being fobbed off again by HSE estates. The Minister of State will notice that the HSE said it will be advertising before the end of this year. That is obviously different from what I was told to the effect that it would be quarter 3 or quarter 4 at the latest. Our problem is that the HSE acknowledges that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I appreciate that this is a busy day in the Department of Finance. I particularly appreciate the Minister of State coming to the House to take this matter. The Minister of State will recall that in June and July of this year, we dealt with the issue of a boil water notice in Ferns, County Wexford, which impacted more than 1,700 people. I want...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for outlining the process. I have learned from responses that when I hear from a State agency something is a priority, that tends to mean some time in the next five years. If I am told it is an urgent priority, it might be within two years and an imminent priority is sometime within 12 months. I appreciate and understand the processes as the Minister of State...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I echo a lot of Senator Lombard's comments on access to swimming lessons. The Ceannaire will recall that I previously asked for a debate regarding our coastal communities and, in particular, the question of investment in beaches. The Oireachtas committee on the arts previously raised the need to invest in musical theatre and theatre more generally throughout the country. After the GAA,...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I will speak specifically to the amendments and to the legislation. While I have some sympathy with amendments Nos. 155 and 156, I am not certain whether they should necessarily be included within the legislation. However, the guidelines adopted by local authorities when large-scale developments are put in place should have greater regard for community and social infrastructure.In fairness...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Like my colleague Senator Boyhan stated, that is a very welcome move but we need these rural planning guidelines to be published as soon as possible. These have been a long time in the pipeline. The Minister of State knows rural Kilkenny as well l as I do parts of rural Wexford, and he will appreciate the problems that are created. I speak in support of my colleague Senator Chambers's...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome Senator Nikki Bradley. Your first day in the House is always very special so enjoy it, and get the run of the place, as they say. We look forward to Senator Bradley's contribution for however long the House will continue to sit. We are continually told it will probably be until March of next year. That is the official line. I am a member of the Oireachtas media committee....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (11 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for her honesty, as always. It speaks to a bigger issue with Uisce Éireann. A number of us have had problems with the lack of communication before. Of course people do not want to drink water that is contaminated with cryptosporidium, but they want at least to be informed as to what is going on and have an alternative water supply made available. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (11 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. It is unfortunate that I have to raise it in the House but it is primarily because of the lack of information that has been provided to residents in Ferns, County Wexford, by Irish Water. Uisce Éireann issued a boil water notice in Ferns on 28 June due to the detection of the presence of cryptosporidium in the local water supply....

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: We see him more often than some of the committee members.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank all of our witnesses. I particularly acknowledge Mr. Yurchyshyn who is joining us from Kyiv. Even the fact the electricity is going off there shows us the ongoing challenges faced by politicians and journalists. I want him to be assured of Ireland's ongoing solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of the most appalling aggression by Russia and particularly given the events...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I was going to ask him to outline-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: It might be useful for us to hear first-hand about some of the challenges for media reporting in Ukraine. I will touch on some of the issues regarding digital threats. Colleagues have spoken a lot about the challenges we see in conflict zones but there are also digital threats. As much as we as politicians see it, there are rising threats of violence online against journalists. This is...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Ms Evans also made reference to this. Does she want to comment?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: That is perfectly fine, do not worry. We are speaking about online threats to journalists and some of the challenges. Ms Evans made reference to it earlier. What can we do to address some of these challenges?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Freedom and Security of the Press Operating in Areas of Conflict: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: When we talk about conflict zones, we frequently think of conflicts and wars between states. We might draw a parallel with gangland crime. Crime is international for criminal journalists. There are a number of high-profile criminal investigations relating to Irish gangs. Does Mr. Dooley want to comment on challenges facing journalists in those circumstances?