Results 901-920 of 1,774 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to raise a number of issues. First, I congratulate the artist Mr. Roger McCarthy, a Limerick-born Cappamore artist, on his contribution to the Limerick Art Society on its 80th anniversary. He was awarded a silver medal recently at the society's 80th birthday celebrations for his contribution not only to life in Limerick but also to the greater mid-west and to Ireland. He had a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to raise two matters. First, I welcome that nine primary schools in Limerick have been accepted into the Creative Schools initiative, namely, Castleconnell National School, Donoughmore National School, Presentation Primary School, Limerick city, Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Scoil Áine Naofa, St. Canice's Special School, St. Clement's College, Thomond Primary School and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Oct 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise to acknowledge the fantastic work done by carers. I do not know if any other Senators heard "Drivetime" on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday, where they interviewed a number of carers. We have to remember that one in every four carers is in receipt of carer's allowance or benefit. All the rest receive nothing. There are so many carers within the home who do not receive any payment.I think...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to raise two matters. First, I welcome the business supports that we are putting in place in the budget to tackle the high energy costs and rising bills and other costs for small businesses. I know that they have to go to the Revenue Commissioners. I am going back to an old chestnut that I have raised here. The Leader wrote to both the Minister and the Revenue Commissioners...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (29 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming here to discuss this all-important topic. That Ireland is a strong supporter and is able to contribute to the IMF fund to help out other countries is an important message. As Senator Casey has said, this is a very technical Bill. It makes sure we are in the right position to be able to give support to countries like Somalia that are in need. The...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the news from Ryanair that it will create another 2,000 jobs between now and 2030. It opened a hangar in Dublin this morning. I often speak about balanced regional development. A total of 200 of the jobs will be at Shannon Airport where Ryanair is investing more than €10 million in a hangar. This is good news for people not only in Clare and Limerick but also in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important topic and the Minister of State for coming to the House to address the issue. I recently met members of a concerned support group which works with diabetics in the mid-west. The issues they raised included long waiting lists, having to wait for appointments and insufficient staff numbers. As late as yesterday, I spoke to somebody who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State of her comprehensive response. I welcome the fact that staffing levels have increased. However, for quite some time there was a limited number of staff and that has created a fear factor among people who have the condition. As I said it is a serious condition but once managed, people can have a good quality of life. It is most welcome that staffing levels...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to highlight two issues. One of them is the launch recently of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, programme between Johnson & Johnson and the University of Limerick. It is a collaboration. This year Tús has been accepted into the programme. It is about encouraging young women to participate in science projects. It is also about...

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Finance): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for coming to the House to discuss this very important topic. I commend the Minister of State and the Ministers, Deputy Paschal Donohoe and Deputy Michael McGrath, on a very welcome budget. It is offering support and it is putting money back in people's pockets, but it is also helping employers and helping employees to be kept in jobs, which...

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Finance): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Public Expenditure and Reform): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I wish to share time with Senator Lombard.

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Public Expenditure and Reform): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss the budget, which I will address along with other issues mentioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I welcome the social welfare increases, one-off payments and lump sums. I welcome the fact that people over the age of 70 will now receive the fuel allowance because many of them did not qualify for it for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I wish to draw attention to the fact that 18 September was International Equal Pay Day. I attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage this morning that was also attended by the Minister of State, Deputy Burke. The committee was engaged in pre-legislative scrutiny of a Bill concerning maternity leave and maternity pay for councillors. In the adjoining...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022: Discussion (22 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming before the committee to discuss this all-important issue this morning. I compliment him and his team, especially Laura Mannion, on their level of engagement with councillors, and I have been hearing about this from councillors throughout the country. I served for 17 years on a local authority, and when I first started off there, were three females...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Cards (21 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important topic. My concern is around the rent-a-room scheme. There has been so much encouragement for people to join the scheme. I come from County Limerick, where there are three third level institutions. This morning I received a response from one of them to say that unfortunately, they have no accommodation for the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medical Cards (21 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. I am a little disappointed because the Minister has not stated that he will carry out a comprehensive review but rather that a comprehensive review is required. He has not committed to anything and that is really disappointing. In this day and age, when students do not have accommodation and when older people face increased...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise two issues. First, I wish to congratulate Shannon Airport on being shortlisted as being an age-friendly airport. That is good. The airports in the west were both shortlisted. I wish them both the best of luck with that, particularly as the services they provide to older people are phenomenal. It would be good to see the other airports offering the same level of service....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: I have been contacted by a number of small businesses. They were customers of the two banks leaving Ireland. They have changed over to one of the pillar banks and are trying to get access to credit. The three pillar banks are all saying that they must have 12 months trading. They will not accept bank statements from the banks that the businesses were with previously. Can anything be done...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Sep 2022)

Maria Byrne: Would it avoid issues such as the tracker scandal? Would it help to alleviate those kinds of issues into the future?