Results 1,741-1,760 of 1,774 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to outline his proposals. The plan is a very positive one. I was a member of a local authority which was fortunate enough to be in a position to build public housing in recent years when other local authorities were not. The benefit of the housing plan can also be viewed from the perspective of job creation. There have been a number of welcome...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise an issue that has been brought to my attention in recent days. It is not a question of the closure of bank branches but the fact that there will be no tellers in a number of Bank of Ireland branches in different areas from now on. A lot of vulnerable people who are not used to dealing with bank cards and who have dealt with bank tellers all of their lives are now being told...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Business of Committee (27 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: Is the committee room available then?

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I also raise the issue of Shannon Airport, but for a totally different reason. It follows from the proposed Garda strikes which are to take place every Friday in the month of November. I ask the Leader to talk to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to find out what plans he is going to put in place in terms of the immigration unit which staffs many airports. There is a fear that...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I thank Senator Mark Daly for bringing this Bill to the House today. A few years ago, when I served on it, I brought a similar proposal to Limerick City Council. It was one of the first local authorities in the country to pass such a proposition. I welcome all the members of the deaf community here today and thank them for the professional campaign they have run over the past number of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (18 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for coming here today. My Commencement matter refers to the many ladies who were covered by the marriage bar. They were in public sector employment but were forced to leave work through no fault of their own. Up to the abolition of this measure in 1973, women in a number of public sector bodies were...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (18 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility (18 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: -----for his response. The fact that the homemaker's scheme is being considered and included is to be welcomed. I hope we will see something happen in the near future.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I would like to be associated with the vote of sympathy to the late Anthony Foley. I knew Anthony well because he was born in Limerick and went to St. Munchin's College. He was a member of Shannon rugby club but I am afraid I support a club on the other side of the river. There has been great rivalry and banter for many years between the clubs. Anthony brought joy and commitment to sport...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants: Wake Up SUSI (13 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: First, I welcome the Wake Up SUSI campaign here this morning. I met members of the Limerick branch of the campaign in Limerick recently and was inspired by the many stories I heard. It is strange that all these courses appear on the CAO yet students are not informed so they go into the application process blindfolded and do not realise that they will not be eligible to receive any of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I agree with my colleague, Deputy Daly. He has articulated it well. This is setting a precedent and we could be supporting one group above the other. We must be cautious as well as fair to all involved. I support the Deputy's amendment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: State Examinations: Motions (13 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I second that proposal.

Seanad: Budget 2017: Statements (11 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and I thank him for his words of wisdom earlier. It was great to listen to the budget earlier. The first announcement I would like welcome is the forecast that GDP will grow by 4.2% in 2016 and 3.5% in 2017, and the fact that we have over 2 million people in employment. Being parochial about it, we have had five job announcements over...

Seanad: Action Plan for Education: Statements (6 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend him on his commitment to education. This action plan activates the commitments contained in the programme for a partnership Government. I welcome the fact that the action plan contains commitments to the monitoring of actions, with published timelines. Progress will be assessed each year. Ireland is among the top five countries in Europe in...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2016)

Maria Byrne: I want to raise the report carried out by the Simon Community over a three-day period at the end of August and the beginning of September in ten locations. It found that only 20% of properties came within the rent supplement sector and the HAP scheme. In May 2015, 1,500 such houses were available to rent but at the end of August and the beginning of September, there were fewer than 500....

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2016)

Maria Byrne: As I had intended to raise it myself, I first support the call by Senator Lombard regarding the grain industry. Consequently, I will speak on something else instead, namely, the protection of the 9% VAT rate for the tourism industry. This is a highly vulnerable industry and since the 9% rate was introduced in 2011, it has been responsible for the creation of many jobs right across the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Educational Research Centre: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (7 Sep 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome Dr. Travers and wish him all the best in the future with his new role. In terms of the board and its delivery, I am aware that numeracy and literacy are very much to the forefront across all subjects, as it affects them. This is something I firmly believe in myself, but maybe Dr. Travers would like to pick out targets in two or three other areas that he would like to see his board...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Maria Byrne: I wish to raise two matters, the first of which is the issue of the closure of Lowcostholidays. While it seems fine that people are being refunded, there are two elements in this regard. While there are those who booked their all-in package of flight and hotel accommodation, those who booked their own hotel accommodation are not entitled to anything. The legislation was enacted back in...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister. I compliment Senator Butler on bringing this very worthwhile motion before the House. Senator Reilly referred to the self-employed as being risk takers, which is a very valid term. When we think about it, they are the ones who take risks, who invest their own finances and who start their own companies, which might just have one employee or 30, 50 or even more...

Seanad: Paternity Leave and Benefit Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. I also welcome the positive move to have this legislation in place by 1 September. The Bill sends out a positive message in terms of gender equality. I agree with most of what has been said already but I would like to make a few additional points. The Bill provides a number of guidelines for dealing with the abuse of the...