Results 61-80 of 1,874 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Culture and Governance Issues at RTÉ: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Mr. Dooley may have ten seconds.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Culture and Governance Issues at RTÉ: Discussion (24 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Okay. I thank all our witnesses and guests for coming here today and for their input. That concludes our public session. We now need to move into private session with members. We will suspend briefly to allow witnesses and guests to withdraw from the meeting before we resume again in private session.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I am raising an issue with which the Minister of State will be familiar, namely the Rosslare rail line and the continued failure by Irish Rail to invest in the service. I appreciate the Minister of State is taking this on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The Minister of State will know only too well that the Rosslare rail line has suffered from a long period of under investment. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State. I really am disappointed at the lack of ambition in the long-term development of the Rosslare rail line. There is no discussion here around a significant number of additional services going from Wicklow south. There is no discussion around new rolling stock being made available on the existing line. While it is a very beautiful train line - one of the most...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I am sure the Leader and all Members of the House will join me in expressing solidarity with the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, over the disgraceful scenes outside his home last week. There are plenty of places where people can protest about any aspect of Government policy or any other issue, but doing so outside an individual's home is not appropriate. I hope the House will join me in...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I congratulate the Minister on his appointment as this is the first time he has been in this Chamber in his new role. I-----

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Yes. I encourage him to be as forthright and direct in his new role-----

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: -----as he was during his time as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. It is essential that this legislation align with the provisions within the HEA Act. Contrary to Senator Higgins's comments, we spent extensive time discussing that Act. There was a lot of pre-legislative scrutiny. The Minister at the time engaged a lot, as I am sure will be the...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I agree to Senator Higgins's suggestion.

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: It is obviously important that there are views that are reflective of the arts, humanities and social sciences community as well as the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, community but also increasingly the interdisciplinarity of research whereby we are not just appointing people because they come from a particular background. The purpose of this new agency is to...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister. He was very clear about the need for the broad level of representation. Given the experience of certain people sitting on State boards, there is a reluctance on the part of some of the best people at present to sit on these boards. It is important, therefore, that we encourage the best people to apply. I also welcome the fact that the Minister said we should...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I am not sure if "The Simpsons" amendment to the Bill is going to be proposed at some stage. It could certainly be considered. Returning to the point, I am always reluctant to be overly prescriptive. If we look at the objects of the agency that are outlined in section 8, they are sufficiently broad. Section 8(c) covers "to promote and support the contribution made by research and...

Seanad: Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the news from the Minister, Deputy Foley, today that she will move to address the problem of grade inflation at leaving certificate and that we will move back slowly, starting with the leaving certificate in 2025. Obviously, it will not impact on any leaving certificate students this year. However, I am concerned that those who might have benefited from the grade inflation in...

Seanad: Cost of Doing Business: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Like others, I welcome the Minister. He served very well as Minister of State at the Department of housing and as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. I am certain he will bring his own innovative style to this job. I also pay tribute to his predecessor, Deputy Simon Coveney, who regularly attended this House and was certainly willing to engage with Members on...

Seanad: Cost of Doing Business: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Cost of Doing Business: Statements (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I so move.

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I second the motion.

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I thank the Minister for taking this important issue raised by my colleague Senator O'Loughlin. The Minister will be aware that the transition from primary to secondary school should be as smooth as possible, but where a student is uncertain of having a second level place, it is stressful for the individual and their family. As Senator O'Loughlin...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: No pressure. There is a challenge whereby individual schools have their own recruitment and application systems. If a student applies, say in the case of Gorey, to each of the three schools and is offered a place in each, they normally have a period in which they have to make up their mind. For certain students who have not been offered places, it is concerning to be told they are on a...