Results 1,001-1,020 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Citizens' Assemblies: Motion (23 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to discuss this all-important issue. I acknowledge the passion. I was listening to Senator Ruane earlier and I know how committed she is to her community and to bringing forward ideas to frame things in a positive way and to work with people who need help. I commend her. We have proposals before us for citizens' assemblies on biodiversity and a directly...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (22 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for appearing before the House to discuss this important topic. I seek an update on the progress of the roll-out of the programme on women's health announced in budget 2022. Budget 2022 included a number of announcements relating to women's health, one of which involved the provision of free contraceptives for 18 to 25-year-olds. It is my understanding this is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (22 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for that positive response. It is great to know that the programme is on course to deliver within the timeframe. Regarding my first question, I am still unsure as to whether the free contraception programme will start in August. I assume from the Minister of State's answer that it will.The fact that it is to be reviewed for an older cohort once it is up and...

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

Maria Byrne: I rise today to welcome last Friday’s news that the Tánaiste, the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, and the Minister of State, Deputy English, launched the recent development plan in Nenagh, with €18 million in investments for businesses to expand, as well as to avail of services such as Innovate Limerick and to work with different projects. As Local Enterprise Week is...

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

Maria Byrne: I welcome the announcement in the Dáil from the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, that there will be an independent review at University Hospital Limerick carried out by HIQA. This is very welcome news because it is something I have been looking for for quite some time. I would like the support of the Leader for the publication of the report when it is produced. It is important that...

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

Maria Byrne: I support the call for a debate on retrofitting and I welcome the funding. It is wonderful to think that we will spend so much money and that people will be able to have warmer homes. However, some people may not be in a position to pay for it all in one go. There is talk of low-interest loans but I believe they will not be in place until some time around the summer. We need a debate in...

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

Maria Byrne: I want to express my sympathies to Senator Buttimer on the passing of his father. I have not had the opportunity to do so since his dad died and I just want to say that we are thinking of him at this difficult time. I rise today to draw the attention of the House to a study carried out by the University of Limerick. The study, which was actually carried out across 21 countries in Europe,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: It is lovely to see the Acting Leader. I wish to raise two issues. In Limerick, the Coonagh to Knockalisheen road is due to be opened before the summer. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, said recently that it is "unsustainable" and "uneconomic" for phase 2 of the project to proceed.We will now end up with half a road going to half the section. The part that is needed for the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (2 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming here to discuss this very important issue. The last time that I raised this question was in 2019 and at that stage, seven children in the mid-west were awaiting permanent long-stay beds. I am working with a family who have a daughter aged 11 who is non-verbal and bedridden, and they have carers who come to the house. The family cares for their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (2 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for her commitment and response. I am not sure if the child is one of the two children. I am glad to hear that it is down to two because it was seven originally, the last time I tabled this question. This child I am referring to is certainly in need of a critical care bed. The family has been told that is what they have been put forward for....

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: That is correct. I propose to share time with Senator Kyne.

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming here this afternoon to discuss this important issue. It comes to all our offices. I thank Siobhan Byrne and all her staff for the efficient service most of the time. The odd time one comes across an issue that might cause a delay. The longest time we waited in our office was approximately five months, but it was a very complicated situation. Sometimes...

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: For a while, it was Dublin only. That is great. I will hand over to Senator Kyne.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I rise to raise two issues, the first of which relates to the leaving certificate. I had called for a hybrid leaving certificate. I have been contacted by many students, not just from Limerick, but from across the country. I am really disappointed with the proposal brought forward by the Minister, Deputy Foley. Last Monday, I was in a DEIS school where not only every student sitting the...

Seanad: Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Feb 2022)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Tánaiste to the House this afternoon and thank him for coming to discuss this important issue. I wish to pay compliment both Senator Doherty, who brought the Bill forward when she was Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and other colleagues who have done a lot of work in relation to the Bill. I know that the Tánaiste, as Minister for Enterprise,...

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

Maria Byrne: I welcome yesterday's announcement by the Taoiseach that there is going to be an investigation and priority given to University Hospital Limerick, and that the Taoiseach is going to engage with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank the Leader and Deputy Leader for making contact with the Taoiseach and for their work on this.A report was commissioned by the HSE on drug and alcohol...

Seanad: Violence Against Women: Statements (27 Jan 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for appearing before the House to speak on this important issue. I express my sympathies to the family of the late Ashling Murphy. I met her family and her partner at a candlelit vigil in Mary Immaculate College on Monday evening last, which I attended along with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. It was a very moving...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gift Vouchers (26 Jan 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important issue. In 2018, I voted for the legislation - Senator Ned O'Sullivan was here at the time - covering gift vouchers and expiry dates. People were delighted because some people were losing out on the value of vouchers on the basis that they were only valid for one year and there was no means of extending the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gift Vouchers (26 Jan 2022)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I welcome that the Department will consider the issue of reducing balance fees. These companies are regulated by the Central Bank. I understand that they cannot defy what is set in European law, but many people are not aware that the value of their vouchers is being reduced as the information in this regard is in tiny print at the bottom of the voucher. One...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jan 2022)

Maria Byrne: Yesterday, Senators in the mid-west raised their concerns regarding University Hospital Limerick. There are over 100 people on trolleys in the hospital today and the figure is increasing. The CEO and her team have said they are looking at ways of trying to reduce the numbers. Some of the beds cannot be used at the moment because they are being used for isolation for people who still have...