Results 1-20 of 205 for long speaker:Malcolm Byrne

Seanad: Loneliness: Motion (1 May 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...manifested for some years to come. People in the education system, including teachers, lecturers and those providing support services, are talking about some of the challenges in respect of the long-term impact of Covid-19. From talking to representatives of some of the farming organisations, I know the mart was, in many cases, often a social venue for older men. They may never have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Illegal Dumping (30 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...for taking this matter. I acknowledge that the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, has been providing a strong lead role, on behalf of the Government, in this area but I am concerned about how long it is taking to put the necessary measures in place to combat the problem of illegal dumping and littering. The Minister of State will be aware I introduced legislation to this House about...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...number of staff it has and their quality and calibre. We as legislators have a responsibility. This is also about informing ourselves much more about what is happening with technology and artificial intelligence. I am long on the record as looking for a special committee, whether of this House or a joint committee, to examine the impact of AI on society, including on mobile devices....

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...they make to the committee. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty, as Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, to ensure that it is not abused. Witnesses are again reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...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 only positive change that has been made was the introduction of a later evening service recently, which does serve Gorey. If I get on the train in Gorey,...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...many hours of debate, and given that there was considerable prelegislative scrutiny and engagement, I dispute that the HEA Act was rushed. It certainly was not. I do not want to have to spend as long on this Bill as we did on the HEA Act.

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...sit their leaving certificate examinations in 2025 and subsequent years. It is important that she will continue to engage with the Irish Second Level 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...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...are very supportive but the fact they are all coming at once becomes a big challenge. This is one of the concerns that is raised when it comes to all of the additional “red tape” that comes along. The Minister will notice that of the political parties represented here, it is telling that it is only the Government parties that are present, which says a lot about the...

Seanad: Agriculture: Statements (16 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...farm. We need to engage young farmers in that process. The Minister has been visionary in much of the work he is doing but we cannot constantly look at sticking-plaster solutions. We have to look at the long-term future of the area. I thank the Minister for being with us in the House today and hope he takes those concerns on board.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vacant Properties (11 Apr 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ..., the importance of these buildings being available for that purpose. At that time, it was welcomed by the local community because it wanted to see the building finally put to use, with the hope that, in the long term, it would revert to the local community as a community building. The HSE again did nothing. In November of last year, I arranged a meeting with HSE estates because of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ..., I welcome the students from St. Tiernan's in Dundrum and our guests from the European Court of Justice and I offer a particular welcome to the Estonian ambassador. Ireland and Estonia have a long range of links and friendships. Tallinn is a beautiful city so I recommend that anyone who has not been to it definitely visit Estonia. Apart from recognising independence, we appreciate the...

Seanad: Second Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Statements (22 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...make us Irish, namely, our generosity and the importance that we place on human rights. I thank the Minister of State for his work on this matter. The message needs to be sent to the people of Ukraine that for as long as people here in Ireland can, we will continue to support you in your fight.

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...regard. It is important that the Tánaiste continues to call out the Netanyahu Government. In many ways, it is an extreme nationalist, exclusionist and, I would say, far-right Government. There have long been concerns about its approach to the rule of law within its own country and in regard to how it respects human rights. Indeed, the inclusion of settlers from the West Bank in...

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: Well, I encourage you to make them available. We have had a very long session, and a number of the guests here have come before our committee on a number of occasions. I sincerely thank them because they have been candid and honest and have admitted where things have gone wrong. It is critical that we have a well-functioning RTÉ and that we have good public service broadcasting and...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...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 we enacted the legislation late in 2022, I thought we would be in a position to move...

Seanad: Human Rights in China: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: ...of their culture, are not acceptable. When we are effectively seeing concentration camps being operated by the Chinese Communist Party and efforts to destroy a culture, that is something we cannot accept. In this country, there has been a long appreciation of the Tibetan people and Tibetan culture. The way in which that very rich culture has been repressed and the Chinese Communist Party...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Non-court-based Conflict Resolution Mechanisms for Media-related Complaints: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Malcolm Byrne: Deputy Daly is substituting for a member of this committee. This committee has been discussing, over a long period of time, the critical importance of an independent media. Defamation is part of that. The reason this is on the agenda is that we look at non-court-based mechanisms to resolve some of these issues.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2023)

Malcolm Byrne: ...been my hope that the section 39 organisations would be tied into any agreement that is reached around public sector pay and that any agreements would impact the retained fire services. It has long been our view that we should try to tie every element of the public services into these. I would appreciate if the issue of how we will be able to involve these organisations going forward...

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

Malcolm Byrne: ...will not come into play until next November. This is not fair when other social protection increases are coming in early in the year. It is not fair to expect foster carers to have to wait that long, particularly when we are not talking about huge sums of money and we are only talking about 5,000 individuals. I ask the Leader to please raise that with the Minister for children, Deputy...