Results 1,281-1,300 of 1,673 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Maria Byrne: The Minister of State has put a large amount of work into this amendment. I welcome the CEO of the RCSI, Professor Cathal Kelly, who is in the Public Gallery. This is a very important day for the RCSI, which has so many students, both Irish and international. It also gives great recognition to the college and I wish it all the best with its new status. I thank the Minister of State and...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (22 May 2019)

Maria Byrne: Next Tuesday, at 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Second Stage (8 May 2019)

Maria Byrne: I thank Senator Ó Ríordáin for bringing this Bill forward. As has been stated, the Government is not opposing it. We must go back and look at the 2018 circular. In the Action Plan for Education an increased capitation grant was sought. For 2019, I know there will be an extra 5% in the capitation grant for primary and secondary schools. The Action Plan for Education set out...

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Second Stage (8 May 2019)

Maria Byrne: Tomorrow at 1.30 p.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: It is five years since the local enterprise offices, LEOs, were established and over 18,000 jobs have been created and 18,000 companies started. This is very positive. I pay tribute to the people who work in the LEOs and the many volunteers who work with them on the mentoring programme and with the businesses. It is an issue we need to consider more and more and encourage more people to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff Recruitment (16 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach. The Minister of State is very welcome. I rise today to ask about the recruitment of a specialist MS nurse for the mid-west region. In a report that was commissioned, it was recommended that three to four nurses were necessary for the region but at the moment we have none and one would be a bonus. When I last raised the issue, I was told, as were the people...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff Recruitment (16 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the fact that it is at last being advertised. Twelve months ago I was told it was going to be advertised. That is why I raised the matter again today but I am glad that it will be advertised by May. It will be disappointing for some people that it will be quarter 3 before somebody comes in but now they know that it is a priority for the university hospital and it is recognised...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: One might-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise the plight of MS Ireland and the fact that about 12 months ago, sanction was provided for the post of specialist MS nurse at University Hospital Limerick to cover the mid-west. This position has not been filled. While there were all sorts of promises relating to the position being advertised, etc., and it has been advertised, it has still not been filled, which is very...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Accommodation Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss the 120 replacement beds that are needed at St. John's Hospital, Limerick. In 2017 the Minister, Deputy Harris, visited St. John's and acknowledged that he could see the need for the 120 beds to be replaced. My question is whether St. John's Hospital will be included in the capital plan. University Hospital Limerick is in the news all...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Accommodation Provision (9 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I understand the Minister of State's point that everything must meet the requirements under procurement. My understanding is that St. John's Hospital is at an advanced stage and everything that needs to be submitted has been submitted. It has submitted all the required documents that have been requested to date. University Hospital Limerick is constantly in the news. We need the two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta: Cathaoirleach Ainmnithe (9 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: This is more of a comment than anything. I served on the education and training board, ETB, with Mr. Ó hAiniféin. I welcome him and thank him for his informative speech. I know how passionate he is about Irish and the teaching of Irish and I know that he was instrumental in setting up a number of schools. As Mr. Ó hAiniféin is aware, I am involved in an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: Likewise with regard to one or two of the questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: On secretaries and the workload, they are a key part, as was said. I know some of them were on very low salaries. Is there a recommendation that their salaries be increased under the announcement that was made recently? It would be nice to see that they were being paid sufficiently, certainly for the job they are doing. They carry an awful lot of the burden of the school. I think...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (4 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and welcome the Minister of State. I am raising an issue I have raised in the past. At the time the initial Garda response to the call for a new Garda station in Castletroy to serve the greater east Limerick area was that a new station was not warranted. I have had discussions with senior gardaí in Limerick. I have also been in touch with and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (4 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for her detailed response. I welcome all the new gardaí who have been recruited in Limerick and, on the other side, I congratulate the 26 members who were promoted. It is wonderful that they went for promotions and were successful. Some posts have to be back-filled, therefore, it is not quite the case that this station receives the number required because...

Seanad: Transport Matters: Statements (4 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister. He and I have had many debates in the House on transport, most recently relating to the inefficiency of buses in Limerick. Following my debate with the Minister, I have had meetings with Bus Éireann and the local authority to get updates on how services might be improved. To date, while there have been some very small improvements, realistically many of the...

Seanad: Transport Matters: Statements (4 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: At the request of Senator Higgins, the Leader of the House has agreed to extend the debate by about five minutes so that all Members can contribute.

Seanad: Transport Matters: Statements (4 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: Yes.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Maria Byrne: I rise to mark World Autism Day. It is also Autism Awareness Week. I attended a coffee morning this morning with Dóchas in Limerick. I met many children and their families. There was a talk going on and it was a really interesting morning. It was great to get an insight and to hear first-hand from families and from a campaigner who has been 14 years fighting for children with autism...