Results 1,621-1,640 of 1,687 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister to the House. There has been a welcome increase of 12% in the number of overseas visitors. At the start of the end of recession, there were an additional 850,000 visitors and this year the additional number of visitors was 2.19 million. Many people are employed in the tourist sector, but I am very concerned about the skills shortage, in particular those with culinary...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: An issue was brought to my attention by a businessman in Limerick, namely, an Aer Lingus advertisement in a local newspaper last week concerning flights between Shannon Airport and America and onward connecting flights. The advertisement referred to Hallowe'en, but when people went to make bookings they could not do so beyond 5 September because there are no connecting flights within the...

Seanad: Action Plan for Rural Development: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the plan. All the Departments are feeding into the one plan and will be working together in terms of delivery. It will affect more than 600 towns and villages. I live in a city but there are many towns and villages bordering it. To me, this plan is about balanced regional development for anywhere outside Dublin and supporting...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: The "Prime Time" television programme recently highlighted the primary school in Moyross that introduced mindfulness into teaching in the classroom. The effects were found to be mentally, emotionally, socially and physically stimulating for the children. Perhaps it is something that could be spread across all schools throughout the country, starting with primary schools and moving on to...

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: I am sharing with Senator Feighan.

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: Yes. I agree with all that has been stated already. I served as a councillor for the past 17 years -15 years on a city council and then two years on the amalgamated council - prior to being elected to the House. I welcome the fact that the Minister is bringing forward increases and that changes are coming is to be commended. I went full-time into politics in 2008 when I was on the city...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (2 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: Last week when the Minister, Deputy Harris, was here in the Chamber, he referred to the budget for this year, of €14.6 billion, as being the highest ever health budget. He also referred to the distress of patients and their families and the impact to the staff caused by cramped and overcrowded conditions and high numbers of patients on trolleys. University Hospital Limerick has been...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (2 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for her reply and welcome what she has said. If the plan for the 90 replacement beds could go to the design stage at the same time as the design stage of the 96 acute beds, it would be very helpful for the region to get it that far. There is a shortage of funding but I am sure the funding will come down the line as things begin to improve. If it could be...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Feb 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach. In today's edition of The Irish Times, I read about the talks between the HSE and Vertex on pricing and the pricing agreement on Orkambi, the drug for cystic fibrosis sufferers. There are over 500 patients in Ireland who are dependent on this drug. Unfortunately, the HSE and the company involved failed to reach agreement in the past 24 hours. The HSE negotiating...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the action plan to expand apprenticeships and traineeships 2016 to 2020. I attended the launch of the document this morning with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, and the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy John Halligan, and it was a very positive event. During the recession, the number of apprenticeships declined by...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2017)

Maria Byrne: I congratulate Limerick woman, Ruth Negga, on her nomination for best actress in this year's Oscars. Even though she was born in Ethiopia, all her family live in Dooradoyle in Limerick. The Malone family is absolutely ecstatic about her nomination. Ruth has always said that she is from Limerick. Ruth's mother was a nurse in Ethiopia when she met her father and Ruth lived there for a...

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (25 Jan 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister. I congratulate my colleague, Senator Conway, on introducing this motion. We should think back to the celebrations that we have had in 2016 commemorating the events of 1916. The many organisations that organised events both for our young and our not so young have been outstanding. It has been a way of highlighting our history. It is something that is very much to...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Maria Byrne: I did not do that.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Maria Byrne: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Maria Byrne: It is not appropriate for the Senator to question my intelligence level.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Maria Byrne: University Hospital Limerick is always getting negative publicity around here but there was good news in the announcement yesterday that the opening date of the new accident and emergency department may be brought forward following the significant upgrade of the software systems there. This includes the integration of the patient and clinical management systems which allow consultants and...

Seanad: Be Winter-Ready Campaign: Statements (15 Dec 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this discussion on the very important Be Winter-Ready campaign. The key issues are to be prepared, stay safe and know where to turn to for help. These are the key messages that must be communicated, especially to older people in the community. As others have said, people must ensure that they have an adequate supply of water and food in...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the announcement yesterday from the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, on the Shannon Estuary drive following calls from me for the inclusion of Limerick in the wild Atlantic way. I am glad the Minister has announced the initiative. It will be a touring route and a pilot scheme will be run in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland. It will involve an...

Seanad: Cystic Fibrosis Treatment: Statements (8 Dec 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Harris, here this afternoon. I compliment him on the interest he has shown in the provision of the drug, Orkambi, to cystic fibrosis sufferers. When the Minister was in Limerick in early October to open the cystic fibrosis unit he saw it at first hand and met many of the patients who were there. The main thing that a number of people who have come to my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the witnesses and congratulate them on their presentations. I have met many of them in the past and listened to their different views. We all support keeping student fees at the lowest rate possible. I do not think any member believes they should go up by a significant amount. In saying that, we have to be practical to work within the resources available at the moment. We are...