Results 1,421-1,440 of 2,648 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Indeed. It is almost the same response I received then, word for word. I am comparing the response I received in October with the one provided to the Minister of State. I do not direct this at him, but very clearly and in spite of all the talk, there is no commitment by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to move on this. There has been no movement in six months...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I join others in welcoming the publication of yesterday's report. It is crucial that action is taken. Every workplace should be safe. The members of Women of Honour deserve to be recognised for their whistleblowing. They have done the State great service in so doing. Like Senator Wall, I recognise the work of our colleague, Senator Clonan, and Katie Hannon for the radio documentary that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: It was the previous answer. It was the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 by name and by nature. I will give an example. The reply I received last October stated: In order to address data protection concerns, the Act also sets out a number of conditions that must be complied with prior to the introduction and the use of CCTV and other mobile recording devices by local...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: It is the circular economy. The Department is not taking the scourge of illegal dumping seriously.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. Before talking about the general housing question I want to talk about a number of specific issues or challenges we face. First, I want to talk about student accommodation. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, has signed an order that will allow the technological universities,...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Even Threshold, under questioning, accepted that point. We need to have evidence-based policymaking. One of the concerns I have around this debate is that far too often, we have numbers thrown around without sufficient levels of evidence-based policymaking. Tied in with that is that one of the problems we have in this country is a shortage of hotel accommodation. Paul Kelly of Fáilte...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Senator Flynn asked a question and I happen to talk to people who have been made homeless. I also talk to landlords and builders to try to understand what the challenge is. The reality is that 43,000 landlords have left the housing sector in the last five years. If it is so attractive, why are people not rushing to get into this sector to make 5% or 10% margins? The majority of landlords,...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank Mr. Gibbons for his service and the work he and his team have done around Tourism Ireland. I wish him the best in his new role. I also acknowledge the work of all of the witnesses. Even though this is a challenging time for the tourism sector, I wish to thank the providers for all they have done in tourism provision and in responding to the humanitarian crisis. Some operators have...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I would appreciate that. If the concerns of this committee are taken on board and the balance is struck, that would be correct. Mr. Kelly used an interesting phrase when he said we are "under" hotels in Ireland. This is part of the broader challenge we face regarding housing and accommodation. In an optimal situation, how many more hotels or hotel bed nights do we need nationally and...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: It is about getting the short-term letting provision correct as well.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Over 5,000 rooms are needed, ultimately. Perhaps Ms Campbell can answer my next question, as she mentioned the energy support scheme. I know from talking to hotel owners that energy costs are the big issue. The scheme has been amended, but are there any specific changes to the scheme that Ms Campbell thinks would be beneficial to the sector? This committee is also responsible for the...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I can give Ms Campbell examples of hotels with a multiple of that also.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: The Government has been responding but I am curious about whether other changes should be made to the scheme.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I am not sure who would like to respond to my question on culture.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: The importance of that should not be underestimated. We should also first incentivise filming in the regions. The regional uplift policy was critical and I am aware that it was discussed at this committee. It is a question of the agencies liaising with Screen Ireland on the importance of the regional uplift.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: We have had some discussion of short-term lets but I am reassured by the fact that over the next nine months, there will be a period to reflect on the concerns expressed by the committee, so I hope they will be addressed as part of that. I expect the Chair will probably offer his accommodation on Airbnb to Joe Biden's secret service in the coming months. The issue of career paths and...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: As Senator Cassells said, there has been very active engagement. We are conscious of the impact that Covid-19 and the conflict in Ukraine have had on the tourism sector, and we have been very supportive. We will continue to engage in that dialogue. I am going to make a political point here that the witnesses will not be able to comment on. They may notice that the engagement in these...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister, Deputy Harris, of the purchase of the old Waterford Glass site, subject to the approval of the governing body of South East Technological University, SETU. It will be a major footprint as part of the multi-campus SETU. Now that the Waterford campus is being developed, we look forward to the development of the Wexford campus. Things are...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to raise a rather unusual anomaly but one that I think will be of interest to Members of these Houses, that is, the revision of constituency boundaries to be carried out by the new Electoral Commission. As people will know, the commission has been set up and tasked with drawing up the new Dáil and European election boundaries. It has set a closing date of 10 May 2023 for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Mar 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: I join my colleague, Senator Murphy, in expressing concern around what is happening to our retail workers. Conor McMorrow prepared an excellent package for the "Prime Time" programme last night that showed some horrors, including the physical and verbal attacks faced by those who work in shops and service stations. I know this from talking to owners of convenience stores but also to people...