Results 1,461-1,480 of 1,729 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: -----Knock, Galway, Shannon and Cork. The airports in these locations are very much open for business and competition.

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (19 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to engage with us on this important issue, which concerns employment and SMEs. As he is aware, I come from a small business background. My family has been involved in business for over 60 years. The supports being put in place by the Department are to be very much welcomed. Many SMEs struggled for a long time. The fact that there is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greenways Development (14 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Ross. I am delighted that he has come here for this matter which calls for the inclusion of the Shannon greenway in the greenway strategy is part of the Project Ireland 2040: National Planning Framework. I cannot claim any credit for this proposal. I would like to welcome Mr. Eoin O'Hagan from Scariff in County Clare who is in the Public Gallery and who is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greenways Development (14 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for his positive response and his welcome for this proposal. Even though Mr. O'Hagan is the chairman of the Clare tourism board, this proposal is of such a scale that it encompasses many counties and local authorities. Perhaps the Department could become involved and consider this proposal as a pilot scheme. The route would travel right down the centre of the country,...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister and the Bill. I have been involved in schools for many years. People have lost out on places or have not been able to get a place because a school is oversubscribed. The Bill is very open and transparent. I highlighted two phrases in the Minister's speech, "transparency" and "fairness". The Bill is very much geared towards those terms. Many schools have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: Apologies but we have to go because of two committee meetings clashing.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the fact that there are over 200,000 people in employment to do with tourism. I agree with colleagues in respect of some of the abuse of the 9% VAT rate. Many cities, towns and rural areas are not abusing the system and find it very useful in terms of employment. However, certainly in Dublin it needs to be monitored. I am volunteering this weekend in Dublin with Special Olympics...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: Ar 10.30 maidin amarách.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I must apologise to the witnesses but I have to leave to attend another committee meeting. Unfortunately, two meetings are clashing today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Barriers to Education Facing Vulnerable Groups: Discussion (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I will ask that a message be sent to the Chairman as soon as the vote is called.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff Recruitment (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jim Daly, and thank him for coming here to discuss such an important issue. Tomorrow is World MS Day and in the past I was very involved in the Limerick and mid-west committee of the MS Society, so I am very aware of its needs. In 2014, the approved recommended number of MS nurses for those diagnosed not only in Limerick...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff Recruitment (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: Yes. The one point I would make is that while it is a neurological specialist nurse that has been approved, an MS specialist nurse is slightly different in that the medication patients with MS take is very specialised and they need a lot of monitoring and care. However, while there is still no MS nurse, it is a very positive response that a neurological nurse will be approved and put in...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I was alarmed to read in today's edition of theIrish Independentwhere it was alleged-----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I was alarmed to read in the Irish Independenthow some of the women affected by the CervicalCheck situation still have not been contacted and my understanding is that three women are involved. I call on the Leader to ensure pressure is put on the HSE to make every effort to contact these three women. It is unacceptable that, five weeks later, they have still not been contacted. On a local...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome an announcement made today on the Garda's use of pedal power. This morning, I attended a meeting with representatives of Retail Excellence Ireland at which concerns were raised about the visual presence of gardaí. In Limerick this morning, the Garda announced that 36 gardaí will be trained for deployment on bicycles. Of these, 12 are in training, while the remainder are...

Seanad: Rural Development: Statements (23 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Ring, to the Chamber this afternoon to talk about rural affairs and what he has been doing since he came to office. I compliment him on his work to date.I know the Minister is a man who is passionate about where he comes from. He lives in rural Ireland. I know from speaking to many of his rural constituents that they sing his praises about how passionate and...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, at the University of Limerick, UL, of a €47 million investment between Science Foundation Ireland, funded by the Government, and the heads of industry. UL will be the lead partner in it and it will involve University College Cork, the Tyndall Institute, Limerick...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (15 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I raise two matters today, both of which relate to education. First is Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, which is an Apple distinguished school. Today, it hosted an event selling its message to other schools about what it means to have that distinction. It is the only school in Ireland with that accolade and I congratulate it in that regard. Second, ESB has announced a number of bursaries to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Sector Staff Retirements (9 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I have been contacted by a number of public servants over their concerns about the retirement age. They are in good health and are enjoying their job and would love to continue in their job after they reach 65. At the moment, the Department is looking at legislation and reviewing the situation but if these people were to go back into employment in the public service they would have to start...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Sector Staff Retirements (9 May 2018)

Maria Byrne: I am delighted that this legislation is being prioritised. It is good news but, in the meantime, people want to stay on. I understand that the Minister has put interim measures in place and I would like to find out what they are. It is very unfair to expect someone to go back to point 1 on the scale. People who have given their time and commitment to a job need to be looked after. It is...