Results 321-340 of 1,352 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Several important issues have been raised with regard to increasing the affordable supply and the proposal from Senator Higgins on public-public partnerships. This is all about the State taking the lead in the provision of affordable housing. When debating the previous amendment, the indication from the Minister of State was on expanding it from local authorities to NGOs and not-for-profit...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: The purpose of Senator Warfield's amendment is to replace the words "counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds" with "promote sustainable mixed income communities". I agree with two points that have been made. The existing language makes me uncomfortable but we are all uncomfortable with it on foot of the historical situation. The legacy of the...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I move amendment No. 15: In page 8, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “(6) In performing its functions under subsections (1)and(5), a housing authority shall— (a) prepare and publish plans relating to periods of three, five and ten years (in this section referred to as a “housing authority affordable housing plan”) which shall...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I am disappointed that the Minister of State is not accepting the amendment as is but I welcome the fact that he accepts the thrust of it. It is obvious there was unanimous support in the Chamber. This is a practical amendment that will greater strengthen the legislation. I, too, welcome the housing need and demand assessment. It is a long overdue tool. I am delighted that it is in...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I withdraw my amendment on the basis that the Minister of State will incorporate it in the next Stages.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It has been a long and hard year for all of us. There has been little good news. However, I acknowledge the good news that has been the vaccination programme. More than 50% of the population have received their first dose of a vaccine and 300,000 doses were administered last week. There is an expectation that a further 2 million doses will be administered by the end of June. All of that...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: What does Senator Warfield mean by "turnkey"? What does he define as "turnkey"?

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: This has nothing to do with the serviced sites fund.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: My reading of section 8 is that it relates to the ability of local authorities to assist individual applicants to purchase a dwelling. This is about enabling applicants for housing to purchase an affordable home.This is about enabling applicants for housing to purchase an affordable home. It is about local authorities being able to assist them financially, through a mortgage or some other...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: This is a very important point as it goes to the core of what we are trying to do. Senator Garvey has either deliberately misled people who are watching this debate-----

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I am sorry. My apologies. It is Senator Gavan. That was unintentional. I do apologise. Senator Gavan started by talking about people who do not qualify for social housing because their income is above the income threshold for social housing. Those are the people who this legislation is seeking to help. We are seeking to provide people who earn in excess of the social housing income...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: On the issue of shared equity, it would be helpful if the Minister of State confirmed the position for the House. The objective of the State in providing the shared equity scheme is to financially support people so they will be able to afford to purchase their own home. Applicants will be eligible only if they are unable to secure a mortgage. All applicants will have to have realised their...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Affordable cost rental is important. This is the first time ever in the history of our State that we will provide affordable cost rental accommodation for our citizens. It will be for people who are earning just above the social income threshold but who do not qualify for social housing and are struggling to secure affordable homes to rent. There is a historical model of renting in...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: That is unfair.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I move: That Seanad Éireann: believes that: - a secure home is a basic human right; - Covid-19 highlights the essential protection a secure home provides; - far too many of our citizens are homeless; - essential middle-income workers are struggling to secure an affordable home; - young people should expect to secure an affordable home; - the State has responsibility to protect...

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance and his very positive response to this debate. I thank my party for supporting this motion and its very kind words. I do not think I worked that hard at all but I will take the compliments. It is a real honour for all of us to serve in this House and it is a real honour for me to serve and to be part of the Fianna Fáil Party group...

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I apologise. I will restrict my comments to Senator Warfield. He was here, for which I give him credit, and put forward amendments.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: My attention was drawn to that and I apologise. I was unaware.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I was about to commend the Senator on that.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I was going to commend the Senator on that.