Results 821-840 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Conservation (17 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. It is good to get a clear answer and have the criteria set out with regard to the different schemes. Many small niche areas end up falling between the cracks, including cases where one household qualifies and the household next door does not. We need to address some of the issues in that regard. I will send a note to the Minister because there are a number...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I would like to be associated with the votes of sympathy to Bridget on the passing of her brother, Patrick. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts are with Bridget and her family at this sad time. I thank the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, for listening to the concerns of the Sheehy family and Tracey Tully in terms of her decision to rescind the sanctioning of transferring Logan Jackson...

Seanad: Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (17 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for coming to discuss this all-important Bill today. I compliment Senator Ardagh, Senator Buttimer, and the rest of the committee who have brought this very important Bill forward. I will follow up on a few points Senator Buttimer made. People who are cancer sufferers and survivors did not go out of their way to become ill. Realistically,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise to raise two issues. I welcome the Croí Cónaithe announcement. Many people in Limerick city have contacted me about derelict houses and properties that they were purchasing. It is great to see that they are now able to avail of the Croí Cónaithe scheme to bring those houses back into use. A derelict house can be a blight. I congratulate the Minister of State,...

Seanad: Private Nursing Home Sector: Statements (16 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I want to add to the Chair's remarks in a welcoming Councillor Kiely and the guests from Limerick. It is lovely to see them in the Gallery. I thank the Minister of State for coming to discuss this all-important issue. I acknowledge the work she has done in this area and also the staff who work in nursing homes. Given the situation with Covid, we are coming out of a very difficult time and...

Seanad: Vaping: Motion (16 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I move: That Seanad Éireann: acknowledges that: - the restriction on smoking tobacco in the workplace ‘for the purposes of reducing the risk to and protecting the health of persons’ was brought into force in 2004 under the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004; - the effect of this ban has been that people are not allowed to smoke in office blocks, aircraft,...

Seanad: Vaping: Motion (16 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I would like to share time with Senator Conway - three minutes and two minutes if that is all right.

Seanad: Vaping: Motion (16 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank colleagues across the House for their cross-party support on this matter. I thank the Minister of State for his positive response. I also thank the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. There are one or two things in the Minister of State's response that we are looking for. Maybe he could bring them back to the Minister for Health to consider when the legislation is being...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I highlight that Linda Ledger of St. Munchin's Community Centre on the north side of Limerick received an "Inspirational Hero" award at the Gala Retail and Virgin Media Inspiration Awards. Linda is involved in a remarkable amount of community work. She has an Ukrainian hub and provides meals on wheels. More than 300 people attend the community centre daily for lunch and events. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming here today to discuss this all important issue. My question is to ask him to make a statement regarding supports for tenants given notice to quit. This applies especially to those in long-term rental, and who have been there for four, five or six years. Many landlords have decided to leave the rental market as we are very aware. It is a huge issue....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (9 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. It is welcome that the HAP rate has been increased, especially for people in single occupancy because they were finding it really difficult to get a rental property at a rate they could afford.I welcome that. As the saying goes, "A lot done. More to do." I would like assurance from the Minister of State that it will be kept under...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I raise the issue of the withdrawal of Ulster Bank and KBC Bank from Ireland. I recently received a letter from them, not only as a customer but as a member of the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, that they are beginning to freeze accounts, starting this Friday. It is an alarming wake-up call to people who have not engaged with the bank to close their...

Seanad: Safe to Create Programme: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to speak about this informative programme today. I compliment her and her officials in the Department on all the work they have done in regard to it to date. No matter what walk of life we are in, respect and dignity in the workplace are something we all aspire to, but it is not always a given in every workplace. I welcome the creation of the website, which...

Seanad: Safe to Create Programme: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Safe to Create Programme: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I so propose.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I raise one of my favourite subjects which is University Hospital Limerick. Some 15,600 people have been waiting on trolleys so far this year. This is the highest number in the country followed by Cork University Hospital which has over 10,000 people on trolleys. I encourage the Minister for Health to come to the Chamber to have a debate on this issue.I want the Minister for Health to come...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House for this all-important issue. I compliment Senator Martin on introducing a very worthwhile Bill. I have had contact from beekeepers from Limerick, Tipperary and Murroe. I know some of the issues Senator Martin raised are of concern to beekeepers. I look forward to working with the Senator on the matter because I know a number of issues...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the representatives from Limerick and Waterford. I know them all. They are very welcome and I am delighted they are here to talk about the positive developments in both local authorities. On the right-sizing project in Limerick, the scheme outside Mungret Gate was successful. Are there many more such projects coming on stream? I know of people who would definitely avail of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: On derelict sites that have been designated as being for CPO, how many of those are houses that will come back into use? Do the officials have an idea of that?