Results 1,901-1,920 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: TRIPS Waiver: Motion (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber. I know him as somebody who is very compassionate and with a real interest in matters like this and human rights. I commend Senator Higgins and her colleagues on what is a very well-worded motion in considering this issue. I probably cannot express my views in the same way as Senator Garvey, with such compassion and emotion, but I...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges facing Women in Sport: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I will focus on the Minister of State's proposal to increase the number of women members of governing bodies of the NGBs. I welcome the initiatives the Minister of State has set out. He has set out a two-year target to reach the 40% target. Is he confident that every NGB will reach this target? Will he proceed as indicated and will there be penalties for those NGBs that do not reach it?...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges facing Women in Sport: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Yes.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges facing Women in Sport: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome that from the Minister of State because my concern is not about the politics inside the IABA but about the danger that we could be losing the next Kellie Harrington or Katie Taylor. It is young people who are suffering. Women’s boxing has been a great success but there are young women and men who are losing out as a result of what has been happening. I will if I may-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges facing Women in Sport: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the witnesses not just for their presentation but their work in this area over a number of years. We are seeing the fruits of that labour and we must now consider how to develop this further. I was struck after reading some stuff by Ms Sarah Keane, the president of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, who spoke about the question of school uniforms involving teenage girls to a greater...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges facing Women in Sport: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I am happy with that. I do not know if Dr. May wishes to comment on the question I raised of a member of the board of Sport Ireland being a signatory to the letter to the IRFU.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges facing Women in Sport: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I totally appreciate that. My point is that it is interesting that the chair of the women in sport committee has raised the matter. I am conscious the IRFU is carrying out a review and on foot of that review, any response that is necessary and appropriate should be followed through. On a local level and speaking about local clubs, I know Gorey Rugby Club has been particularly active in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I wish to acknowledge that today is National Irish Sign Language day. Members know, of course, that our Cathaoirleach is a big supporter. Equally, it is very important that the message is on the floor of the House that we are very strong supporters of the Irish Sign Language Act. However, this Act needs to be more than just legislation; it is about how it is enforced and that the...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 45: In page 52, to delete line 25. I raised this issue with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, on Second Stage. It applies in general to State boards, but to the specific exclusion of members of local authorities from serving as members of State boards. This makes perfect sense in the case of Members of the Oireachtas who have been involved in the legislative...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Respectfully, I will not disagree with anything the Minister of State said but he avoided the core issue. There will be input at local level and so on. However, he spoke of the chief executive reviewing the governance. The chief executive cannot change what is within the legislation, and the legislation is clearly excluding from the board of MARA anyone who happens to be a member of a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Insurance Coverage (9 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Acting Chairman for notifying me of that in time and I thank the Minister of State for coming in to address this issue. One of the most frightening phrases I have discovered since coming into this House is being told a matter falls between a number of Departments or agencies. The issue of international students’ health insurance unfortunately is one of those that seems to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Insurance Coverage (9 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the Minister of State's answer. Part of the difficulty I had in tabling this question was whether to direct it to the Department of Health or the Department of Justice. My worry, if I had tabled it to the Department of Justice, was that Department would say this is a health insurance matter. I appreciate the answer the Minister of State has given but the reality is that it...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I want to refer back to issues we raised in the House on Tuesday. I strongly endorse the call from Senator Black that the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, come before the House. I am aware the Leader gave a commitment on Tuesday to do that. It is important to acknowledge the issues raised by Senator Cummins and I, especially around...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Yes. Several of us have been doing it. A number of countries have now done this. It is important the EU now acts.

Seanad: Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2021: Second Stage (9 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House on the Bill. I thank his officials who have worked on this matter, as well as the members of the joint committee. I know the Minister of State has engaged with my colleague, Senator Crowe, on this issue. As the Minister of State pointed out, the Bill is an important commitment as part of the programme for Government. It is sending out...

Seanad: Antarctic Treaty: Motion (8 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming in to take this important issue. When I arrived in, I thought we would be debating the White Continent. I started off thinking that it was the Lilywhites that we were debating but there is a long Irish association with Antarctica. I would even say that part of why this is important is that it speaks to the importance of our foreign policy, to which I will...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid Pandemic Supports (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Senator Cummins and I are very concerned about the announcement, which was made on Friday, that the capacity in our theatres and arts venues is to be reduced to 50%. Such a decision must raise questions around the level of understanding of how theatres operate. Many productions cannot survive unless they operate at 70% to 80% capacity. Theatres are safe and controlled venues. I was...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid Pandemic Supports (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: The Minister of State has responsibility for communities and he has been a very good Minister for community affairs but we are specifically referring to amateur and semi-professional community organisations. There has been significant, much-needed support for the professional sector. The Minister of State should be clear that if support is not provided now for amateur theatre, amateur...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Last Thursday, in The Washington Post, an article opened with the following paragraph: Europe's ambition to lead the world on data privacy has a weak spot: Ireland. The country's Data Protection Commission works on behalf of 447 million EU citizens to defend their data from Meta Platforms Inc., Alphabet Inc. ... Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc. and roughly a dozen other tech giants — and...