Results 2,161-2,180 of 2,569 for speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick

Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use: Motion (21 Feb 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: First and foremost, I commend the Government on the national drugs strategy, which rightly promotes a more compassionate and humane approach to people who use drugs. By treating addiction as a health issue rather than solely as a criminal justice issue, we have the opportunity to educate and empower people at an individual level to improve their health, well-being and quality of life through...

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Figures published in the Housing for All: Q4 2022 Progress Report at the start of this month showed 29,851 new homes were completed in the first full calendar year of the plan, exceeding the target by 20%. Construction started on 27,000 new homes in the year, the second highest since 2014. Strong activity has also been seen in the area of mortgage approvals, particularly for first-time...

National Ambulance Service: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: New figures from the HSE reveal that the National Ambulance Service is not meeting the response time targets for emergencies throughout the country. While it is outrageous that 62 ambulances dispatched in County Louth to deal with life-threatening emergencies in 2022 took more than an hour to arrive at the scene, I commend the tireless work of front-line paramedics and operational staff for...

Future of Regional Pre-Hospital Emergency Care: Motion [Private Members] (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue and thank my colleagues in the Regional Group for tabling the motion. Yesterday, I spoke about the recruitment and retention issues in respect of recognition, pay, resources, working hours and poor working conditions within the National Ambulance Service. With this motion, my colleagues in the Regional Group and I are seeking to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I have spoken to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in recent weeks about privates in the Army being forced to retire at the age of 50. I know a man who is only 50 years of age. He has a family of three and is being forced to retire. He is a chef. The Army has only paid him pennies. He wants to work on. I have asked the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste what they are going to do. In two...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Last week, PayPal announced a cut of 62 jobs in Ireland and the closure of its Dundalk office at the end of March. PayPal stated that there were to be a small number of jobs lost in Dundalk - 27, to be exact. This is less than the average, based on the 2,000 worldwide losses that PayPal announced in January. However, I empathise with those affected by these job losses. It is difficult for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Tá fadhb ann. Tá tiománaithe óga ag fanacht ró-fhada lena gcuid tástálacha a dhéanamh agus níl sé sin ceart. Last week, the temporary driving test centre in Marian Park closed, leaving 2,717 customers who have applied for a driving test in Drogheda having to transfer their application to an alternative centre, such as Navan or Dundalk....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: As the Taoiseach knows, one of the most important things is achieving a driving licence. In three massive towns, Dundalk, Drogheda and Navan, the situation is getting worse. I got an email yesterday from a young man in Navan and he is saying the exact same thing. He is getting on and trying to apply for a test. Every time he is on, they tell him to come back in another week and another...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The driving test centre was at a temporary location for two years.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (7 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 226. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the criteria in relation to the first-time buyers grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10921/23]

Reform of Carer's Allowance Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Family Carers Ireland, in its biannual state of caring report, reported that 1,484 carers were caring for a total of 1,984 people across a range of caring situations, including parents caring for a child with an illness or disability, those caring for an adult, carers of older people and those caring for multiple people. Carers do a fantastic job and, as I have often stated in this House,...

Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The programme for Government, under Sláintecare, sets out a pathway for expanded access to healthcare in keeping with the vision of universal healthcare. We need to get to a point where we truly have healthcare delivered free at the point of delivery. Three principles should underpin all of our approaches to healthcare - affordability, accessibility and accountability. With regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to concerns raised regarding the SPHE junior curriculum (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14337/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 195. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence regarding access to services in south Louth CDNT (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14364/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 4. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline any updates in relation to the mandatory retirement age within the Defence Forces for post-1994 privates and corporals; the steps he will take to retain the affected personnel amidst a staffing retention crisis; if there have been advancements in his discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Will the Minister outline any updates on the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces for post-1994 privates and corporals; the steps he will take to retain the affected personnel in amidst a staff-retention crisis; if there have been any advancements in his discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform highlighted during Leaders'...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The numbers in our Defence Forces are under 8,000 which is an all-time low. I have raised this matter with the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach in recent weeks. It is due to compulsory retirement and is an absolute disgrace. In the past few months, 51 recruits were in Gormanston Camp training to become soldiers but only 12 passed out. A number of them had to be transferred from Cork to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I know the Minister supports it but the bottom line is that action is needed now. We cannot get recruits. We cannot get soldiers. The current strength of 8,000 members is too low. I mentioned Gormanston training camp. We cannot even get personnel to train soldiers. We have qualified soldiers who it cost the Army a lot of money to train. They cannot even pass on their experience because...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 77. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a passport, which is out of date for more than five years, is seen as a first-time passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13512/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Disaster Response (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 91. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the action Ireland is taking to provide humanitarian and medical aid to the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13516/23]