Results 861-880 of 1,774 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the announcement by Shannon Airport this morning that two extra routes, one to Porto and one to Naples, will be added to its complement of flights from Shannon Airport, starting in the summer of 2023. That means people can travel to more than 26 destinations from Shannon Airport. I compliment Ms Mary Considine, CEO, and her team on their hard work that has resulted in expanding...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: There are three issues I wish to raise today, the first of which is the welcome news that the post office is to be restored in Castleconnell in County Limerick. I wish Mr. Cunningham and his team in the SuperValu in which the post office is to be relocated all the best. Certainly, there was much unrest, especially among the older people in the community, about losing the post office. That...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House today to discuss this all-important issue. I compliment him, his staff and all in the Department on the work they have put into this. I held a public meeting on insurance with the Tánaiste in the past and addressed the issue of insurance reform in a number of other organisations. Some of the revelations by not only small...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022: Second Stage (22 Nov 2022)

Maria Byrne: It is 18 months. The intention is to ensure the Bill is working. That is a welcome commitment given the engagement with the various organisations affected and involved. The Minister of State will work with them again and he is willing to listen to their views in 18 months' time. It is good to go back and review something to see if it is working. I again thank the Minister of State. I...

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

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for coming in to discuss this all-important issue. My question is to set out the criteria relating to the home energy grants. I know it is not his area, and I know he is covering for the Minister, Deputy Ryan, today. I mean no offence to him but I am a little disappointed because there were a couple of questions I wanted to put to the Minister...

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.