Results 101-120 of 132 for long speaker:Maria Byrne

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (19 Jun 2018)

Maria Byrne: ...a small business background. My family has been involved in business for over 60 years. The supports being put in place by the Department are to be very much welcomed. Many SMEs struggled for a long time. The fact that there is now co-operation and collaboration between the Department and the SME sector is to be very much welcomed. I served for 14 years on a local enterprise board....

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Murphy, to the House. He visited Limerick not too long ago and we had a very positive day involving the opening of the new housing development on Lord Edward Street. He met many people who worked there in the past and some new residents. Limerick was very lucky to have been in receipt of funding for social housing when other local authorities were not able to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (19 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: ...as a Commencement matter. A number of people who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and are taking heavy medication to deal with the pain find that their condition is not included in the long-term illness book. I wish to ascertain whether rheumatoid arthritis can be included in the long-term illness book. I also am calling for an overall review of the long-term illness book, which...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Long-Term Illness Scheme (19 Apr 2018)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne. While I appreciate that the Government is committed to reducing the costs for people, especially those with long-term illness, I certainly would appreciate the Minister of State's bringing to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Harris, that there are a number of illnesses where people are on medication in the long term and perhaps a...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: ...hard times and cannot afford to buy a place of their own. Some local authorities are seeking to secure on a ten-year lease houses that have been lying vacant. I would like such leases to be for a longer period, if possible, because a number of the houses have been lying derelict for a long time. There are also former local authority houses that are privately owned which have become...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Carer's Allowance Delays (8 Feb 2018)

Maria Byrne: ...take up to 17 weeks just to process his application. A man caring for his wife, who cannot go out on her own, was not awarded the carer's benefit for one year. It seems to be taking an awfully long time. Many of those affected are very ill. They are so dependent on their loved ones for care. The carers are saving the State money because the people being cared for are in their own...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: ...CAO, deadline is tomorrow and I encourage all students who wish to continue to third level education, be it in institutes of technology, universities or any form of third level education, to think long and carefully about it. It has been reported that the largest number of job vacancies in 2017 were in the banking and financial sector and in accountancy. It appears there are not enough...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (24 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: ...in similar position. The family I mentioned are finding life tough because they must provide care 24-7. They are delighted to provide care but they are approaching the stage where they will no longer be able to carry on and will have to bring in support. The parents must pay for such support because they do not quality for any services due to both of them working. However, they work...

Seanad: Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture: Statements (24 Jan 2018)

Maria Byrne: .... The people who worked on Limerick's bid for the title are working closely with colleagues in Galway. It is positive that people in the mid-west are working with people from elsewhere along the west coast. Senator Colm Burke is correct that this designation will have a knock-on effect on the entire west. Galway and Limerick have much in common and much to offer. For example, many...

Seanad: Student Universal Support Ireland: Statements (23 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: ...- who they do not want to leave at home - so they cannot afford to go to accredited colleges. If a number of students are given the SUSI grant, I am sure others will apply for it. However, our long-term aim is to encourage people into education and bigger classes do not suit everybody's needs. It is important that we examine the circumstances behind why people apply to go to private...

Seanad: JobPath: Motion (15 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: ...number of unemployed has decreased and the situation has been helped by the likes of these schemes. I know about Turas Nua and the PAUL Partnership in the Limerick area that have been around for a long time. I wish to pay tribute to them. They were originally set up to deal with CE schemes but they now have many strings to their bow. They deal with people who have been long-term...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Maria Byrne: I thank the Minister. There has been a long debate this evening and we are all in agreement that we want to see the issue of binge drinking cut out. I do not think anybody here supports binge drinking. I welcome the Minister's commitment to meeting all those across the sector, from the small retailer to the representative organisations and bigger organisations. This is most positive. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Tackling Obesity and the Promotion of Healthy Eating in Schools: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Maria Byrne: ...am the last member to speak, many of my questions have been asked already and I will not go back over them. I agree with Senator Gallagher about the parents. It is about educating them. For too long, parents were not very conscious of what they put in the school lunch boxes. There is much more emphasis now. We have to find some way of getting the message to them. As has been...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Autism Support Services (19 Oct 2017)

Maria Byrne: ...the child has to wait for another year. I have dealt with a number of similar cases. There needs to be a review of what happens with assessments when a person in that unit is out on leave for the long term. Also, the lines of communication with the families need to be kept open. This family received a communication on the week in August they expected to be called for their child's...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Autism Support Services (19 Oct 2017)

Maria Byrne: ...its commitment within the timeframe. I understand there are complications but there needs to be a review of how these issues are being handled and that if people in the assessment unit are out on long-term leave, other people who are qualified need to be trained to carry out the assessments. I understand there may be a shortage of qualified people to carry out these assessments when...

Seanad: Budget 2018: Statements (10 Oct 2017)

Maria Byrne: .... The fact that extra money has been provided in these key areas, especially in education and health, is progressive. It is something that will be welcomed by people across the country. As long as I have been here, that is, for the past 18 months, we have been hearing about cutbacks in education and health and all the consequences across all constituencies. The investment in these...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Statements (3 Oct 2017)

Maria Byrne: ...By putting the right people and supports in place, more people would opt to stay at home. I have in mind one particular couple who are quite elderly. The gentleman's wife has been in a nursing home for a long number of years. He goes to the home every day to feed her breakfast, lunch and dinner. He never takes a holiday or goes out socially because he spends all the time he can with...

Seanad: Mid-Term Review of Capital Plan: Statements (27 Sep 2017)

Maria Byrne: ...to the library and research facilities. Recently I visited the Monaleen national school that is comprised of eight classrooms and 16 prefabs. The school has been in the building programme for a long number of years. There must be investment in local schools and colleges. Such investment is an investment in our future and that leads to job creation in the regions. This morning on the...

Seanad: Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017: Second Stage (11 Jul 2017)

Maria Byrne: ...Paddy Reid who was a neighbour of mine and played for Ireland and the Lions was actually banned from playing rugby union because he had played rugby league. These things happened and it took a long time for him to be brought back. We do not want to go back to those days. It is very important, therefore, that we all work together in a positive manner. When we attend any European Cup or...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (31 May 2017)

Maria Byrne: .... That is most important. The Minister for Education and Skills is increasing funding towards apprenticeships and skills, but for us to grow the sector it is important that that would happen alongside the promotion of the tourism industry. Not only have we 11% employment in tourism, it is also one of the biggest industries in the world. Since 2011, 13,000 jobs have been created in the...