Results 1-20 of 78 for children speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (14 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...the middle of north Wexford, in areas like Oulart, the Ballagh, Ballyedmond, Boolavogue, Ballygarrett and Monamolin. At present, these parents either have to privately arrange a bus to bring their children to school in Gorey predominantly, but also in Wexford town or Enniscorthy, or drive those distances. While Coláiste an Átha in Kilmuckridge is a good, local school, it is a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (14 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...what are the pilot schemes to be selected? It is my view that the group that I mentioned in Wexford, and whom the Minister had met, would be ideal for a pilot scheme because we are talking about over 190 children. It fits perfectly within what is recommended in the school transport scheme 2030 report. However, I am concerned that we are not seeing the detail now as to how the pilot...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...was over, he would chat to you about life and sports. He never took anything personally. He loved the community of north Wexford, where he was from. I extend my sympathies to his wife, Marie, his children, grandchildren and extended family. I am conscious, as no doubt is the Leader, that posters have started to go up on poles all around the country. We sometimes take for granted...

Seanad: Smartphone and Social Media Use: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...and what is happening there. It is very important that while we must ensure everybody's safety in the online space, including on mobile phones and other devices, it is particularly important for children and young people that they are safe when they use new technology and devices. Senator Seery Kearney is quite strong on this issue. Presentations were recently made before the...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...Students Union on this. I have raised the long-term impact of Covid on young people here before. Much of that will only begin to manifest itself, particularly for that lockdown generation. Those children and young people who in many ways experienced social isolation and, in some instances, lack of access to physical activity. A number of reports are now beginning to show the impact...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...they are on a waiting list is really stressful. This should be a relatively easy problem to resolve, though I know the Minister will say not everything is easy, but for parents and, particularly, children left in limbo, the easier we can make it, the better. I hope the Minister's response will address some of those specific concerns.

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...previously at the media committee. I appreciate much of the work they do, but they will forgive me for saying that I am not convinced, particularly when we talk about the capacity of AI to protect children online in the circumstances concerned. Even though Mr. Ó Broin talked about how Meta's AI is able to pick up many of the questions, we are not guaranteed the safety of children or...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: .... One sees far more trolls and bots and misinformation and disinformation on X. Its AI model is not picking it up. Whatever about not picking it up for the wider population, not picking it up for children and teenagers is really dangerous. What I am asking is whether the witnesses accept it is a serious problem for its platform, more so than for any of the others. What action is it taking?

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: Protection of Children in the Use of Artificial Intelligence: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: I appreciate the protections for children, but part of the difficulty there is that X is placing a lot of responsibility on the user. That is important in particular when one thinks about 13- to 18-year-olds who may not be fully aware of how the systems work. It is a general challenge on the educational side. I still have to ask why the platform does not take down some of those accounts far...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electoral Process (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...providers but it causes a number of problems for parents who planned their week and suddenly have to take a day off because of a vote. In addition, it is a day out of the formal education system for children. I appreciate that if we move to Saturday or indeed Sunday voting, which would be in line with many of our fellow EU member states, that may resolve some of those issues, although...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...hours. I am somewhat concerned by the changes the Department has made with regard to the removal of what are referred to as complex needs for the allocation of some of these hours, which can impact children with autism, ADHD and Down’s syndrome. While I appreciate this is only going to be in a minority of cases, it may have a specific impact on quite a number of schools and, in...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...organisations seeking Garda vetting. Let us use the example of a childcare worker who wants to work with their local GAA club. He or she again must get Garda vetting. If that person works with a group of children in, for example, a youth drama initiative, that person needs Garda vetting again.The same individual could end up having to go through several processes of Garda vetting in the...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...but Councillor Codd is raising it and putting it on the public agenda. We have to be very conscious, in the debates we have in these Houses and in other public debates, that language matters. When children and young people hear some of the hateful rhetoric that is being used to describe refugees and asylum seekers, it impacts on them to a far greater extent than it does on others.In the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: ...to extend pension rights to family carers. I want to ensure that it is extended to foster carers. Foster carers do an incredibly important job in this State. There are about 6,000 vulnerable children and young people in care, and 90% of them are looked after and brought to realise their full potential by foster carers. One of the difficulties is that, because people make so many...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: ...In the UK there is an even more frightening statistic coming from the NHS. I was not able to find any figures for Ireland but in the UK in the year to April 2023 the NHS states that there have been 15 cases of children aged nine and under admitted to hospital as a result of vaping. The Minister may be aware of the Wexford Comhairle na nÓg report published over a year ago that...

Seanad: Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (Resumed) (19 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: ...Hamas stops and will not continue to fire rockets into Israel and equally, that it releases the 200 hostages it is holding. These hostages are not just adults. As Senator Clifford-Lee said, there are young children who are being held hostage. Those who ally with Hamas need to know exactly who it is they are allying with. If we demand a ceasefire, which we do in order that peace talks...

Seanad: Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Motion (18 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: ...and unimpeded humanitarian access to meet the urgent needs of all civilians in Gaza, through humanitarian corridors or any other means necessary; - emphasises that the deliberate taking of hostages, including children and the elderly, is unconscionable and calls for their immediate and unconditional release; - expresses its alarm and deep concern at the rising death toll and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: ...of State directly today is that I keep asking the HSE and I do not get any updates about what happened other than being told the matter is progressing and staff are being recruited. For those children and young people, it is critical that we see this service open as soon as possible. The Minister of State knows, having met most of them, that there are many people who, through voluntary...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (11 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: ...are ready and able to work. I acknowledge the Minister of State is deeply committed to it but for a child, it should not depend on where they live as to when they have access to these services. Children or young people, no matter where they live in Ireland, should have equality of access to this vital service. Today, I appreciate the good news the Minister of State is bringing. However...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Children in Care (5 Oct 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. The Minister of State will be aware that there are around 6,000 children in care in Ireland, and about 90% of those are in foster care. Foster carers are individuals who have a passion for what they do and they care for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in society. I know the Minister of State will have met many of them as...