Results 1,941-1,960 of 2,476 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Irish Sign Language (30 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I know her passion for this area and exactly what she feels. That passion is something that we need across all elements of government because, with the greatest of respect, the Minister of State cannot do this on her own. In the education space in particular, this has to be about focusing on the individual young person and what it is we need to put in place...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I join with colleagues in the call for a TRIPS waiver. I have raised this issue in the House on a number of occasions. Senator Moynihan and others have rightly made the point that until everybody on this planet is safe, nobody is safe. Senator Conway was correct when he said it is great that we have a vaccination rate of 95% and the average within the European Union is now approximately...

Seanad: Horticultural Peat (Temporary Measures) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: There can be no greener sector of the economy than horticulture and mushroom growing. By its nature, as an indigenous industry, it is deeply committed to the greening of Ireland. It is impacted by climate change and those involved are very much aware of the effect of climate change. Most are strongly supportive of ending the use of peat as a fossil fuel because they see the impact of it....

Seanad: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to the House and for his work on the development of this comprehensive plan. While I welcome his statement that this is all about delivery, it is also about ensuring value for money. One of the problems with many major public projects is that the public accept the need for them but ask who is watching their budgets. The national children's hospital obviously...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. He will be aware that in May of this year, we had a ransomware attack on our health services. It was the largest known attack on a health service anywhere in the world. For this to happen to any health service is frankly disgraceful, but it is particularly disgraceful as we battle a pandemic. Credit is due to the IT staff who tried as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cybersecurity Policy (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that he is able to measure the direct cost in the figure of €37.5 million this year. We are six months on and, as the Minister of State has said, it still has not been fully resolved. The indirect costs are much more difficult to measure but I have no doubt that we are talking about tens of millions of euro with regard to the loss of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I want to raise the question of the future of higher education funding. It is well over five and a half years since the Cassells report was published. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Simon Harris, indicated that now is the time for the question to be addressed. This can has continually been kicked down the road. It is completely...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Hear, Hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I have a point of order. A Chathaoirligh, I ask you to provide clarity on your interpretation. When Senator Crowe raised the issue of a sentence, you said that members should not comment on a sentence that is handed down. I can fully understand if a court case is ongoing that we should not comment in this House. However, when a decision has been handed down, I think, as Members, we should...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate that. I do not believe it is appropriate that we should necessarily criticise the judges, but if we feel that a sentence was inappropriate, and I am sure Members can think of such instances, I believe that once it has been handed down we should be entitled to comment on that.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Key Priorities and Legislation of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister and the Minister of State and commend them on the continuing increases in the budgets in the areas of arts, sport and tourism. I am going to focus my questions on the area of arts, media and culture. The Minister mentioned the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, which is critical legislation. I welcome the fact the Minister is committed to the recruitment of the...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Key Priorities and Legislation of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: That will include the Minister identifying the job description for the online safety commissioner.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Key Priorities and Legislation of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Thank you.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Key Priorities and Legislation of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Sorry for interrupting. I appreciate there is complexity but it is the principle of redress and an individual complaints mechanism. I appreciate the detail of it has to be worked out but it is the principle.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Key Priorities and Legislation of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: It was on giving certainty to theatres, arts venues, museums and galleries. It is important to try to provide them with some level of certainty. I know these are difficult times but they are operating safely. It is that they can continue to open while operating within the rules.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Key Priorities and Legislation of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media: Discussion (24 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I asked a question on the RTÉ board appointment and the current vacancy.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: While the judge in the European Court of Justice may have been a former Member of this House, it is not necessarily bad that we do not know the names of judges in every instance. However, I agree with the thrust of what Senator McDowell said concerning the advice given by the advocate general. Obviously, it will be a matter for the full court to make a decision. I regard data privacy as...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the Taoiseach's commitment to Seanad reform. He has always been a dedicated parliamentarian. I note he mentioned my Bill and the implementation of the seventh amendment. There are broader questions around Seanad reform, but I would like us to finally address this issue during the Taoiseach time in office and enact the Bill. Coming out of the pandemic, I would like to mention two...