Results 1,621-1,640 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (24 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: The Minister referred to part-time student funding. I know he has an interest in this issue. Unfortunately, many students cannot access this funding. With the rapid pace of technological change, however, we will all be required to upskill and reskill and most of those who are in employment will have to do so on a part-time basis. There are very good initiatives such as Springboard+ but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (24 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I join my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, in calling for a debate on the World Meteorological Organization's annual report on the state of the climate. Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to read elements of the report. In many ways, it does not tell us anything new other than clearly emphasising the seriousness of the threats we continue to face. It is important that in these Houses...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I am open to all opportunities.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I am perfectly open to all energy opportunities, including hydrogen and fusion. Let us explore whatever is coming down the line, but it should be an open debate. One of those coastal communities I will mention is Courtown-Riverchapel. I pay tribute to the local Riverchapel Community Complex group. It has worked very hard, its chair Mr. Craig Lang in particular, and in the context of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (18 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: One of the big successes in Irish society has been the rapid expansion of higher education in recent decades. It has gone from where we had one in five of those aged between 18 and 28 in 1980 going on to higher education to now having more than three in five, with many others going into apprenticeships and further education and training. It has become much more accessible. Even in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (18 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I appreciate that it is not his portfolio, but the commitment is welcome. It is notable that, as he said, the €307 million the Minister has referred to is about addressing current challenges around core funding, rather than dealing with future challenges. That is why it is essential that if the additional places in further and higher...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I will raise three issues. I welcome the three-year strategy on research and development announced this morning by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris. It is a comprehensive document. It places greater emphasis on interdisciplinarity in research and refers to how we need to learn from the experience of Covid-19. The Minister is...

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

Malcolm Byrne: The Acting Leader will be aware that today is International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. We have made enormous progress in tackling homophobia. It was particularly welcome to hear overnight of Blackpool's Jake Daniels becoming the first professional football player in England to come out in 32 years. It was a very brave move, given the context. He is a young man who...

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

Malcolm Byrne: Is the Senator referring to the Green Party or to the barracks?

Seanad: Regulation of Display of Electoral and Polling Posters and Other Advertisements Bill 2022: Second Stage (17 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Seanad. I, too, commend Senators Pauline O'Reilly and Garvey on bringing forward this important debate about the future of our democracy. I have sympathy with many of the points that have been made, including some of those excellently advanced by Senator Ward, because although everyone gets tired of seeing places festooned with posters,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank our witnesses. I congratulate them on their relatively new appointments. It is appropriate, given these are three relatively new institutions, to acknowledge the work of their new presidents, in addition to the management, governing bodies and everyone who has got the institutions to where they are today. Deputy Conway-Walsh touched on many of the issues around the discrepancies...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I will put the same question to Dr. Prendergast. I know he will say the top priority, and the Chair will agree with me, has to be the construction of the new Wexford campus. Apart from the funding investment required there, I ask him to look at the broader question of the system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Dr. Prendergast will be aware a decision will be made around core funding, SUSI grants and so on. Has he a view on that issue? I will ask Ms Feehily the same question in a moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I will focus on the talk about cutting student fees. My view on this is known. If we are to increase access, we are far better investing in the SUSI grant scheme, widening access to grants and increasing the amounts available. The old institutes of technology, the TUs, have been particularly strong on the access agenda. I am conscious, in looking at the most recent data for the former...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: With the Chair's indulgence, I ask the other witnesses to respond to that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Future Funding of Higher Education: Discussion (Resumed) (17 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I have put Mr. Deenihan on the spot. It is more difficult for Ms Feehily.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (11 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Minister of State always comes into this House with good intention and he will be delivering an answer on behalf of the HSE. As the Minister of State knows, the north Wexford area is one of the fastest growing in the country when it comes to population and that has meant there has been a lot of pressure on healthcare. There was a commitment...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (11 May 2022)

Malcolm Byrne: I thought I was on time.