Results 1,481-1,500 of 1,687 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (1 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for coming to the House to discuss this important issue. Approximately 7,000 children in Ireland have Down's syndrome. Having spoken to the family members of many children with Down's syndrome, I know those children are the life and soul of their families. They are very sociable. They certainly keep the members of their families on their toes....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (1 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: I am disappointed. There are two children in the one class, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Certainly if the Down's syndrome child had any variation of autism he would be entitled to the July provision. I would like the Minister of State to relay to the Minister, Deputy Bruton, and the Department the fact that it does not add up. They bring a teacher in to work with one child who...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I wish to highlight the fact that the Central Applications Office, CAO, deadline is tomorrow and I encourage all students who wish to continue to third level education, be it in institutes of technology, universities or any form of third level education, to think long and carefully about it. It has been reported that the largest number of job vacancies in 2017 were in the banking and...

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank Senator Nash for sharing his time. I know that the facts surrounding University Hospital Limerick and the issues there have already been highlighted to the Minister. An 84 year old gentleman and his family contacted me yesterday. He spent 70 hours on a trolley, and he had heart failure and other complications before he was actually put into a bed. There are issues of which the...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (30 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I so propose.

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Second Stage (30 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and welcome the Bill before us. It has been progressing since 2014 and there has certainly been a great deal of work and consultation put into it. The national strategy for higher education 2030 is seeking significant reform to position the sector to meet national strategic objectives. It is important that governance reform is very much part of...

Seanad: Technological Universities Bill 2015: Second Stage (30 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the report from the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, which calls for greater investment in second-tier cities. It mentions the western seaboard and how city regions on the western corridor can be an economic counterbalance to Dublin. This is most important because Dublin is so busy that there is huge potential in linking up the cities of Limerick, Galway and Cork, to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (24 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health to the House and thank him for coming here to discuss this important issue. I tabled my Commencement matter because I want to know how many children with severe disabilities await placement in residential care. Some of the children have reached a certain age and they no longer quality for some of the services that are provided by...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (24 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response but it does not resolve the issues faced by the family I mentioned. Their daughter is progressing very quickly and suffers seizures. I also highlighted the fact that the family lost the medical cards for two other children. Families in these situations feel vulnerable and need support, particularly when they await placement. An exception...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (24 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I would appreciate that. I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture: Statements (24 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister and congratulate her on her elevation to her new portfolio. As she is very interested in the arts, she will be fantastic in her new role. We are here to talk about Galway and the fact that it is to be European Capital of Culture. I congratulate it on winning. Limerick was runner up. Certainly, the experience not only of Galway but also of Limerick and the three...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: I wish to express sympathy on the passing of the late Dolores O'Riordan, a native of Ballybricken in Limerick. I attended the funeral over the weekend. Dolores sat behind me in school so I knew her then. She was a very fine person and a great ambassador not only for Limerick but for Ireland. She was a great performer. I offer my sympathies to her mother, Eileen, her siblings and the rest...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I join with the other members in wishing everybody a happy Christmas and I thank them for their help, support and co-operation throughout the year. I rise to mention the calibre of science graduates. In 2016, Ireland was ranked tenth overall in terms of quality scientific research. Ireland has jumped 26 places over a 13-year period, the first time it has risen so quickly through the world...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Work Permit Applications (13 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I welcome the Minister to the House this morning. I wish to congratulate her publicly on her new role in which I know she will excel. Given that Limerick has the fastest growing economy outside of Dublin, I look forward to welcoming her to Limerick and the region in the future. Today, I wish to raise the issue of the critical skills employment permit. On the one...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Work Permit Applications (13 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for her response and I welcome the review. The two employers I referred to subsidised trainees going to college and worked with them. They have invested money in them. The hotel manager is multilingual and with the number of tourists coming to the country, it is wonderful he has so many languages. He is really qualified for the position. Should I encourage the two...

Seanad: Special Needs Assistants: Motion (13 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “That Seanad Éireann:” and substitute:“- recognises the vital role that special needs assistants (SNAs) play in Ireland's Education system, providing essential support for some of the most vulnerable students in our classrooms; - welcomes this Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that every child who is...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education and Skills that PE is to be included as part of the curriculum and the exams from next year onwards. We are all concerned about health and well-being. It is very important that this be welcomed and embraced by all schools because, for many years, people were obese without being conscious of their health and...