Malcolm Byrne
Wicklow-Wexford · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I appreciate the Minister of State is responding on behalf of the Minister but the response provides nothing new. It is almost a carbon copy of the response I received when I raised this issue in January last.”
“Free and fair trade right throughout history is the greatest example of providing people with employment opportunities and lifting people out of poverty. One of the best examples of this is our being able to trade with Canada.”
“I am sure the Ceann Comhairle will remember being approached by the then principal, staff and others. Pressure has been applied. When capital decisions were being made by the Department of education I asked why this school was not included and what criteria were used.”
“To say that the school, and indeed, the wider area are deeply frustrated by the lack of progress is an understatement. This is an excellent school, but when it comes to its physical infrastructure, the school is in dire straits.”
“As we are moving towards the recess, I thank the Ceann Comhairle, and indeed, the officials in her office and all of the staff across the House for all of their work during the year that has made this place run so smoothly. I wish to raise the question of Bunclody Community College. I have had to do it on a number of occasions.”
“I am conscious the Minister of State referred to additional capital investment in 2027. I fully expect and will continue to campaign to ensure this school is included in the 2027 capital list because it deserved to be addressed before now.”
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“I agree with my party colleague Deputy Moynihan, particularly about that gap for companies that move from being supported by local enterprise offices to a point where they can be supported by Enterprise Ireland. He and I are very much in agreement on digitalisation and the AI strategy we talked about. A key part of this is investment in skills. Critical to that is ensuring that the requirements of funding our future, the funding programme for higher education, are met. That is referred to in the competitiveness challenge. I am also interested in how we can provide support to our innovators and entrepreneurs, particularly those looking at exporting. In these turbulent times, we need to defend the importance of free trade internationally.”
“These questions are about the programme for Government specifically. Right throughout that programme, there are very clear commitments to investing in Ireland's artificial intelligence strategy and in digitalisation. I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach attended the global AI summit hosted by President Macron recently. The Department of enterprise has been charged with commissioning research on the impact of AI, as a key technology, on the Irish economy and developing a campaign on AI adoption for SMEs. The fact that there is such a commitment within the programme for Government is very welcome but I am concerned that Ireland may be falling behind. In terms of the commitments in the programme for Government, I ask the Taoiseach to outline how he sees them developing.”
“Next week the Taoiseach and members of the Government are due to host the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Ireland. While it is important we maintain strong diplomatic, economic and cultural links with China, and reflecting on the Taoiseach's very balanced and measured speech to the Royal Irish Academy in May 2023, I hope he will raise questions of continuing human rights abuses in China, particularly in Xinjiang and Tibet. However, I also want to raise the case of Jimmy Lai who has been detained for more than 1,500 days under China's national security law in Hong Kong. As the Taoiseach is probably aware, among his legal team is Caoilfhionn Gallagher, one of Ireland's foremost human rights lawyers. I ask for a commitment that when meeting with the foreign minister, the Taoiseach will raise China's human rights abuses.”
“On the arts and in terms of building community, the fact that the Government is committed to establishing an arts capital grant programme, similar to the sports capital grant programme, is welcome. I championed the idea of a young person's culture card, which is included in the programme and is welcome. Under sport, there is tax relief for gym membership. Vital to this country is to address funding our future, the funding mechanism for further and higher education. This is an ambitious programme and we need to deliver on it.”
“The Minister of State and I have often spoken about the impact of artificial intelligence and digitalisation. It is critical that this forms part of the work of the Government. I welcome the fact that my friend and colleague, Deputy Niamh Smyth, has been appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for AI. It is not just her responsibility; digitalisation is the responsibility of all of Government. I am rather concerned by responses I received from Government Departments in the past few days to parliamentary questions on their approach to AI. With the exception of a small number of agencies, it has been quite limited. I will mention some minor areas in the programme which are very welcome and important.”
“We saw the attack on the HSE, which has cost the State at least €150 million to date but also impacted on the healthcare of tens of thousands of people. We can only expect a greater number of hybrid attacks on the State. We are undoubtedly going to see more Russian military vessels in the cobalt blue Irish waters, and there will be fringe groups that will continue to seek to undermine of the State through the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Therefore, that the Government is placing an emphasis on homeland security, the programme for Government proposes to establish a new national security committee established by the Taoiseach, and there will be a review of the national security structures within six months of the Government's establishment is particularly welcome.”
“It is right, therefore, that the programme for Government devote a significant section to developing those vital partnerships with both Europe and the United States. We want to maximise Ireland's EU Presidency next year but it should also be remembered that, during 2026, Ireland will be hosting a meeting of the European Political Community, the largest ever gathering on this island of Heads of Government and State, with potentially 47 governments being represented. European security is going to be big on the agenda, and it will also be a big security challenge for the State. I welcome the fact that the security theme is woven through the programme for Government and that there is a clear and timelined intention within the programme to review security issues within the State.”
“We know we are going to face global challenges. We are at a time when we are seeing much disruption in geopolitics, as well as the transformative power of new technologies, in particular, artificial intelligence. What has been happening in the US presents challenges but also opportunities for Ireland, particularly in the tech space. As the Minister of State knows well, Ireland is home to many of the companies operating in the tech space. They could be in President Trump's firing line in his desire to get them to return to the US. They will also be at the centre of the regulatory debate. What we need to focus on is how Ireland can act as a bridge between the United States and the European Union and how to achieve the right balance between regulation to ensure online safety and, at the same time, encouraging innovation.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I am delighted to see the Minister of State appointed. This programme for Government is an ambitious document. If it is significantly implemented, it will positively transform the lives of people right across the country. The challenge for all of us is in delivery, and the message to the State agencies has to be that they must help in achieving the results we desire in terms of the ambitious targets we have set out. This programme addresses domestic issues, including housing, which is our greatest national challenge. We are also committed to addressing the climate challenge and the biodiversity crisis. I welcome in particular the strong emphasis on renewable and offshore energy that will be critical for my own constituency of Wicklow-Wexford.”
“The former Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, prepared the legislation. I have discussed this issue with the current Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, as well and she is keen to move on it. I would like the Tánaiste's assurance that the Government will address this public health crisis as soon as possible.”
“It is my privilege for the first time as a Deputy for the new Wicklow-Wexford constituency to speak here. I look forward to representing it. The constituency includes south Wicklow and north Wexford and I know the Tánaiste has a strong affinity with both areas. I look forward to working with him and the Government to deliver for our constituents and for the country generally. I raise the question around legislation concerning nicotine-inhaling devices or vapes. As the Tánaiste knows, the last Government banned the sale of these devices to under-18s. However, legislation was prepared that would deal with the scourge of disposable vapes, now one of the major causes of litter in all our towns, as well as the issue of flavoured vapes and packaging designed to target young people in particular.”