Results 1,681-1,700 of 1,865 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the arrangements for the sitting of the House on Tuesday, 12 December 2017, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; and No. 1a, Social Welfare Bill 2017 – Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the 20 Senators who contributed on the Order of Business today. Senator Ardagh raised the issue of the shooting of a member of An Garda Síochána this morning and I am sure we all share Senator Ardagh's sentiments in that regard. I know that there was a call for a debate recently on community gardaí. Community gardaí play a very significant role in my own area....

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I do not know, but I do know that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade are tied up today. I understand the debate in the Dáil will take place at 4 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: No, he has to attend a meeting on Brexit.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I have taken note of the Senator's point.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: Senator Mulherin raised the issue of Irish Water refunds and pointed out that some people in rural Ireland are paying for water through group water schemes. She also spoke about the multi-annual rural water programme. I will raise these issues with the Minister because it is important there is discussion on the fact that people in rural areas are paying for water while others are receiving...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I have a commitment that the Minister will come to the House next week. It is unfortunate that with all that is going on today he cannot be here.

Seanad: Sitting Arrangements: Motion (7 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I move:That, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, the Seanad shall meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 12th December, 2017 and the Order of Business shall be proposed at 2 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome JETPOWER to Shannon Airport. It is joining a cluster of international aviation services companies centred at the airport and is a great boost for Shannon and the mid-west region. The Minister for Education and Skills announced the minor works scheme for primary schools yesterday. I welcome the announcement because I have recently been contacted by many schools that might not have...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2017)

Maria Byrne: I agree with the points made by Senator Coffey. A very clear message needs to go out in regard to hotels in Dublin. However, I lobbied for the retention of the 9% VAT rate in the past and on this occasion, and it sends a very positive message in terms of job creation, as the Minister of State said. Another benefit I have seen in the regions is the amount of investment people are beginning...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I congratulate an off-duty fireman in Limerick, Des Fitzgerald, who rescued two ladies from the River Shannon on 18 September. He is to be honoured by Waterways Ireland today. Mr. Willie Walsh of the International Airlines Group, IAG, has committed to the development of Shannon Airport and the group is looking for new routes for Shannon Airport. IAG is currently expanding and it has just...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Swimming Pool Programme Funding (23 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to House. I know that in the past he was unable to attend here due to work reasons and I thank him very much for coming here this morning. I rise today to raise the issue of the 50 m swimming pool in the University of Limerick and the fact that the Munster swimming team has no place to practice at the moment. The team is being disenfranchised when compared...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Swimming Pool Programme Funding (23 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for looking into the matter and coming back with a response. I would appreciate it if he can discover whether the timeline can be moved forward. Children of all ages, from the young to the not so young, have been disenfranchised as a result of the delay. The Department sanctioned the funding. That probably happened around the same time that I originally...

Seanad: Student Universal Support Ireland: Statements (23 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State to the House today and as Senator Gallagher has noted, the Joint Committee on Education and Skills has been looking at the Cassells report and the Wake-up SUSI report. The Wake-up SUSI campaign was started by a group of students from my own native Limerick who attend Griffith College and some of them are in Dublin, as well as in the business college in...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I wish Senator Craughwell a happy birthday although I know he has left. I hope he has a nice day.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to raise the issue of pyrite. A number of people from an estate in Limerick have informed me that they have been told by an independent assessor that there is pyrite in their houses. When I contacted the Pyrite Resolution Board I was told that it does not cover the areas of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Kildare, Meath, Offaly or South Dublin, or Dublin City Council and,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Curriculum Reform: Discussion (21 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank all the speakers. As some of what I wanted to ask was covered already, I will not go back over it. I agree with Deputy Funchion on continuous assessment. It has to be brought in somewhere. When I studied for the leaving certificate examinations, one read everything and everything was put up on the board. One learned it and took it down. Those days have changed. On Ms Ní...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: The match last night was disappointing, but I wish the IRFU all the best today because at 1 p.m. we will finally know whether Ireland was successful in its bid to hold the Rugby World Cup. I certainly wish the IRFU well. I know the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, and the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Griffin, have travelled with the IRFU delegation. We will know the news at 1 p.m. This...

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I second the amendment proposed by Senator Butler. I welcome the Minister of State and thank her very much for her attendance today. This is a very important issue. In my experience of dealing with people that have come through the JobPath system, the majority have found it to be a very positive experience. The difference between JobPath and the CE scheme is that the CE scheme is intended...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: Last week I referred to the Threshold report and the issue of rising rents. Today we read that rents in Dublin, up to September 2017, had risen by over 11%. In my city of Limerick they have risen by 10.5%. It is frightening because the report shows that rents in Dublin city centre can be anything up to €1,800 per month. In many other cities they can be €1,100 or...