Results 141-160 of 1,814 for speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: A statement.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I might finally-----

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

Malcolm Byrne: I welcome the decision of the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, to sign off on the regulations that will finally allow local authorities to use CCTV, drones and other technology to catch illegal dumpers and those who are engaged in fly-tipping. Members will be aware this has been a long-running campaign of mine and I am grateful to the Minister of State who certainly took it on board. When...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank him for taking this Commencement matter, which concerns the issue of Garda vetting. I am sure the Minister of State is quite familiar with the issue. We have a National Vetting Bureau and the legislation is in place. The Minister of State will understand the frustration of many individuals and organisations seeking Garda vetting. Let...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Unfortunately, the interdepartmental vetting review group was established three years ago. We have heard previously that the report was imminent. I think the Minister of State knows as well as I do the frustration many of the voluntary groups have with their volunteers having to go through this process. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could indicate whether mandatory revetting...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I also welcome the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive. The opening remarks of both Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly were very inclusive. I think we wish them all the best in their work. I also want to wish a special best of luck to Andrew Muir, a friend of mine who is the first openly gay Minister, as the new Minister for Agriculture. I know he has already set...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I am generally quite happy with the proposals for vetted researchers. I agree with Senator Ruane that it is important to get vetted researchers and that they get access. My concern is a more general one. If there is a desire to appeal against a decision of an coimisiún, the only way to do so is through a court challenge. I would prefer for there to be a quicker way. This may be...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 24: In page 38, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “(9) (a) The Commission shall permit an Appeal to a designated Commissioner on the determination under subsection (5) by- (i) the person seeking designation as a vetted researcher under this Section, or (ii) by the very large online platform or the very large online search engine named under...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I move amendment No. 25: In page 38, line 39, after “parties” to insert “, which may include very large online platforms or very large online search engines”.

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: If we consider the traditional model of how media used to operate, we will note it was very clear that newspapers and broadcasters who reported on the news were subject to particular standards and expected to uphold them. The difficulty at the moment is that we effectively have the Wild West. This Bill and the Digital Services Act have been trying to put some guardrails in place. I agree...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: On a point of information, that is what the legislation provides for.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I begin by echoing the concerns expressed by my colleague Senator Ardagh. The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act will probably be the most significant legislation enacted this decade.It is the world's first comprehensive law on AI. I know we had a Commencement debate on this, but things are moving quite quickly. This week, the German Government agreed to support the new AI Act. It...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank my colleague, Senator Crowe for the opportunity to say a few words on the Bill. It is a technical Bill but it does have a number of important functions. It is critical that it is enacted by 17 February as we have discussed. This has to be seen as part of a suite of European legislation to ensure a safe, open, fair and innovative digital...

Seanad: Family Carers: Motion [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank Senator Seery Kearney and the Fine Gael Senators for putting forward this important motion. It is well known that the Minister of State is a champion for disability issues. I sometimes think she ends up bearing a lot of this on her own shoulders. A challenge in this space around disabilities and support for carers is that it has to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Today, at the end of January, might be an unusual time to start talking about beaches. As part of a coastal area, beaches are an integral part of our tourism offering. We have a problem with coastal erosion on a large number of our beaches. At the same time, we are also seeing local authorities trying to improve the quality of services that are available.I have raised the issue of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I join others in congratulating those who worked to achieve autism-friendly status for this building. Today marks 700 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday, 18 people were killed and more than 130 wounded as a result of Russian air strikes on Ukraine. It is essential that we continue to stand with the people of Ukraine as a country and in multilateral institutions. It is...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Second Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: It could make the news.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Second Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House and I know that he has a strong personal interest in this issue. I am concerned that we are only five months away from the election of this office, yet we are only debating the legislation now. I appreciate that is not the fault of the Minister of State but a number of us have asked to deal with this legislation earlier because the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Second Stage (24 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: The mayor will propose the budget. Again, the question is the levels of control over funding. It is all very well being able to propose a budget but what about when one has very limited control? I accept that this feeds into the bigger debate that Senator Boyhan has raised around local taxation and revenue raising, services, etc. We need to examine some of the powers and specifically what...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I do not think anybody in the Chamber or outside of it doubts the interests of local authority members in community safety or working closely with gardaí. Senator Boyhan, in rather Churchillian tones, spoke about how he will have engaged with them on their work at a local level. As the Minister outlined, public safety is about a lot more than just sitting on a committee. It is...