Results 21-40 of 1,257 for speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: International Women's Day: Statements (6 Mar 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister for coming to discuss this all-important issue. I also thank Senator Currie for sharing time. I wish happy International Women's Day to everybody present and especially to my female colleagues. We will celebrate the day on Friday. International Women's Day stated in 1909 in the USA. That is quite a long time ago and the day has been celebrated for many years. The...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (6 Mar 2024)

Maria Byrne: I welcome to the Gallery the students from Meánscoil Gharman and Gaelcholáiste an Chláir. I hope they enjoy their visit to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to highlight the plight of small businesses. In the past day or two, we had the Habit coffee shop and retailers closing with the loss of 22 jobs. My real concern relates to small businesses and the hospitality sector. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment needs to look at small retailers and hospitality enterprises as stand-alone concerns. Reports are showing -...

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: We have come a long way since.

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this important motion. I compliment our colleagues in the Labour Party for bringing it forward. The thrust of the motion is about stronger and safer communities. I was at a residents' meeting on Monday night and I would like to compliment our two community gardaí who attended. In the WhatsApp group for our area an issue...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (27 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this all-important topic. My question is to do with the tenant in situ scheme and how long it takes for the AHBs to complete sales. I have been dealing with a number of people who are trying to avail of the tenantin situscheme. One particular person who comes to mind - and this relates to Limerick City and County Council -...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (27 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the increased funding, the increased number of houses being built and the work of the AHBs, but in the case to which I refer there are no issues relating to the house, planning or legal rights. It was tied up in the fair deal nursing home scheme. The issue is that the lady who is selling the house is now talking about pulling out of the deal as it...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I rise today to highlight the fact that Explore Engineering will take place at Shannon Airport on Thursday, 7 March from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is a collaboration between industry, the ETB and the chambers of commerce. More than 60 different engineering companies will come forward to show what exactly they do. It is about encouraging students, especially, who wish to study engineering and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Leader. I rise today to congratulate TUS, the Technological University of the Shannon, on its receipt of a QS 5 Star rating. It is the highest possible number of stars a university can receive. It will be among the top-rated universities of the world. It received five stars in all categories assessed. It is the first university in Ireland to receive five...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for their dedication to this Bill. A lot of work has been put into it. There are exciting times ahead for Limerick as it becomes the first city in the country to have a directly elected mayor. As colleagues said, other cities and counties will be looking at what happens and how the position evolves in Limerick city and county. It is very...

Seanad: Special Measures in the Public Interest (Derrybrien Wind Farm) Bill 2023: Second Stage (20 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I want to raise the issue of BusConnects in Limerick and the Annacotty Business Park. Recently, I attended a meeting of heads of businesses based there and of representatives from Limerick Chamber. One thing that was made clear is that 3,000 people work in the business park but there is no bus service to it. There is another business park just down the road. The nearest bus stops at least...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I constantly raise the issue of University Hospital Limerick, as the Leader is aware. I know the current CEO is on leave and I wish her the very best. Ms Sonya Cotter, the assistant national director of the HSE, has today taken over the running of the hospital and I wish her and the new team the very best of luck. Many changes had to be made at the helm in terms of the running of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: Apologies, I had another committee meeting earlier and that is why I was not physically here but I read the opening statement. I have two questions. We now have the bank levy and the new proposals about access to cash and all focus mainly on the three retail banks. Is the CBI concerned about possible unintended consequences for consumers by the State hiking up fixed costs for retail banks?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: Absolutely, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: -----we are reading more and more about the number of people, and especially older people, who are being hoodwinked out of their money, for want of a better description.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: The sooner the meeting can happen, the better. To meet with the likes of Meta, Google, Facebook or whatever the company might be is very important here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: That is great. I thank Ms Rowland very much.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: Yes. Does the Central Bank intend to have that meeting in the near future? I ask because-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2024)

Maria Byrne: I raise the plight of small businesses, especially SMEs. In the latter half of 2023, 280 small coffee shops and restaurants closed and this is most frightening. We are now in February of 2024 and there are still some businesses closing. It is down to the increased costs that are being put on these small business owners, the VAT increase from 9% to 13.5% for the gastropubs and restaurants,...