Results 1,341-1,360 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

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

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the students from Riverchapel National School to the Seanad today. Rivertown and Courtown are beautiful parts of north Wexford. The students have been assured that if they behave themselves on the way home, they will not have any homework for the rest of the week. That is a political promise that can be delivered on. I wish to raise today the issue of vaping. While it was a...

Seanad: Ireland's Military Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I join in paying tribute to those who serve and have served in our Defence Forces and their families. This debate has very much been around whether Ireland should join particular organisations. That is not what this debate is about. It is about the question of the kind of world we wish to see; the values we as Irish people wish to articulate on a global...

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

Malcolm Byrne: I second Senator O'Loughlin's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I agree with the comments by Senators Hoey and Ruane on the importance of language and how we all have a responsibility to welcome refugees and asylum seekers to this country and challenge those who spread misinformation and untruths. I equally commend the contribution of Senator Buttimer highlighting the tragic...

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

Malcolm Byrne: I raise the ongoing development of Rosslare Europort. It has been one of the success stories of Brexit and there are very few of those. We have seen an increase in freight trade to continental Europe from Rosslare of up to 450% on pre-Brexit annual turnaround. One of the challenges, however, is that the M11 that links Dublin with Rosslare Europort is a great road as far as the village of...

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

Malcolm Byrne: Like others, I welcome our guests and commend the work of the Irish Cancer Society. Cancer impacts all of us. As Senator Casey said, we do not know who will be affected by cancer next. The Minister of State will be aware that our colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has spoken bravely about how she has recently dealt with cancer. It is something that impacts all aspects of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Policy (16 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I appreciate that he is taking this matter on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs. When he was Fianna Fáil spokesperson on foreign affairs, he very much upheld a strong tradition of speaking about the importance of human rights. In our relationship with any country, and indeed in our engagement with multilateral organisations, human...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Foreign Policy (16 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate some of the concerns are being raised, but frankly I do not feel we are going far enough. Let us imagine, for instance, the outcry if the British Government decided to open a police station on Capel Street. Yet, the Chinese authorities seem to be able to do this. This is part of its extraterritorial reach around the world. We talk about reports...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I, too, join in the expressions of sympathy to the late Vicky Phelan. I raise today the issue of fire services and retained fire services.As the Leader is aware, outside the main cities we rely very much on fire services operated by local authorities. As a result of the model that is currently in place, fire services across the country are experiencing many difficulties in recruitment and...

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

Malcolm Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I also thank him for his very kind welcome to the students from Tara Hill national school. I also wish to formally second the proposal of my colleague, Senator O’Loughlin. I agree with Senator Gavan on the pandemic payments. I have raised this issue with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who cannot figure out why these...

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

Malcolm Byrne: I agree with my colleague, Senator Clonan, on the importance of involving artists with disabilities. He has made his points very well. I know from talking to artists with a disability that they are concerns that are reflected within the sector. I thank the Minister because she personally is very invested in this matter. When she appeared before our Oireachtas committee, she provided real...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Chair and our witnesses for their presentations. At the start, I will make a general comment, which is that the issues we are talking about are fundamental to our democracy and to our society, namely, that we have a free and fair media and that we have freedom of expression, which must be balanced with responsibilities. We have broadly got right the principles that underpin both...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: A booklet was published as part of the advertising process.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: If that is Mr. Dooley's source I would not always rely on it.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Our committee has been quite proactive. We have had the chair of RTÉ, the chair of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and we have-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I get the point. I have a couple of quick questions, including that general question; we will disagree on the question of the experts on the Future of Media Commission report. The Government accepted 45 of the 50 recommendations. It is up to the Government to make decisions, whether one agrees with them or not. It is the Government that makes decisions. We can argue back and forth about...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Like BBC 2 or Radio 4.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I will look forward to having RTÉ before the committee in a few weeks and hearing their response to that.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I have two final questions on that broader question of media freedom. Part of the challenge, particularly in the new, very diverse media environment which exists, is around media literacy and how that is going to be addressed. I would argue that the responsibility lies as much with media outlets as the education system. What are the witnesses' views on how we can enhance media and digital...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: European Media Freedom Act: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Kids are often more attuned to the digital reality than older generations may be.