Results 421-440 of 2,569 for speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: (Resumed) Alcohol Research Group (12 Mar 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Dr. Holmes was commissioned to report on Ireland and Northern Ireland. Are we both compatible?

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Mar 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome this opportunity to speak on the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015. The Bill is the result of two years' hard work, including in-depth public consultations on climate legislation. In this regard, I would like to praise the extensive consideration given by both the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and the Department of the Environment,...

Order of Business (15 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Amending the Child Care Act 1991 will impose a statutory duty on the Child and Family Agency to prepare an after-care plan for an eligible child or young person. We must strengthen the legislative provision for after care. When can we expect the drafting of the child care (amendment) Bill?

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this Bill. In the programme for Government we committed to introducing a universal GP service for everyone. In line with the statement of Government priorities 2014-16, we prioritised the over 70s in providing free access to GP care. The Government decided to commence the roll-out of universal GP care services for the entire...

Order of Business (22 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: One can initiate action when noise reaches a level at which it causes annoyance. We need to extend and improve the power available to the enforcement authorities to prevent, reduce or abate noise emissions by allowing for fixed payment notices and providing for mediation between neighbours. In that context, when can we expect the noise nuisance Bill to be published?

Self-Employed and the SME Sector: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (22 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak. Fine Gael is and always has been the party for small business persons and the self-employed. We are a pro-enterprise party and the facts fully support this. Over 90,000 new jobs have been created as a result of the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012. Every region has seen an increase. In my constituency of Louth and east Meath, unemployment has fallen by over...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Rates (23 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: In the past months, two very well-known GAA clubs in north County Louth have received rates demands for 2015, one in excess of €16,000 and another in excess of €15,000. Both clubs are in the north of the county and cater for over 1,000 children ranging in ages from six right up to 18 and also include adult members and players. They are voluntary, not-for-profit organisations...

Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Rates (23 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I urge him to bear in mind that, as in the case of many other GAA clubs in this country, both of these clubs are run on a voluntary basis. It is vital that a suitable arrangement is arrived at by all the parties involved. I am a lifelong member of the GAA and I understand fully the commitment and effort required of thousands of GAA members...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: On a personal note and in front of the Minister for Health, I wish to put on record my thanks to the Tullamore regional hospital for the care and attention it has given me after a serious hip operation. I offer many thanks to Mr. John Lunn, an orthopaedic surgeon, and his staff. It is important to put on record the great services provided by hospitals.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The Minister mentioned that his counterparts in Northern Ireland were planning to introduce minimum unit prices for alcohol. Have they given him a firm commitment that these will be introduced? Has he or his officials discussed at what level the minimum prices will be set in Northern Ireland? My constituency of Louth borders Northern Ireland. It is important that the regions' minimum unit...

Mortgage Arrears and Repossessions: Motion [Private Members] (28 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Private Members' motion on mortgage arrears. I, along with the Government, am only too aware of the great difficulties many families are facing in respect of mortgage arrears. My constituency office in Dundalk deals with constituents in serious financial distress as a result of mortgage arrears almost on a weekly basis. The situation in my...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak today on the spring economic statement. I first entered politics in 2011 when the people of Louth and east Meath gave me the great honour and privilege of electing me to represent them. When we took office in 2011, we were faced with the biggest financial crisis in the State's history. We had lost our financial independence, had to rely on a bailout to...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: We must remember that this was only four years ago. When I read the spring economic statement this week and consider the progress we as a country have made in that period, it is not difficult to understand why the economy is now the envy of our partners in Europe. The Opposition parties are in denial. It does not suit their political aims to have an economy that is growing or a people who...

Order of Business (7 May 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: When can we expect publication of the data sharing Bill, which is to underpin better risk-based enforcement, efficiencies and co-operation in business regulations by allowing specified public bodies to share specified data relating to business?

Implementation of National Dementia Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (14 May 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak about the implementation of the national dementia strategy which was launched in December of last year and is delivering on a commitment in the programme for Government to develop and implement a national strategy for Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. The strategy has been designed to increase awareness, thereby ensuring early diagnosis and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Department of Health and Health Service Executive (14 May 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Yesterday there were 42 patients on trolleys in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, which was the second highest number in the country. What plans are in place to reduce that number? I know the Minister is monitoring the trolley situation daily but it is a real problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Health Issues: Department of Health and Health Service Executive (14 May 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank the Chairman. Yesterday, there were 42 patients on trolleys in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. It was the second highest number in the country. What plans are in place to reduce these numbers? The Minister monitors the trolley situation on a daily basis, but the problem in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is serious. At the beginning of April, the Minister's Department...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cearta Geilleagracha, Comhdhaonnacha agus Cultúir) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha]: - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 May 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak. As everyone on both sides of the House is aware, a fair, efficient and competitive income tax system is vital not only for economic growth but also for job creation. Since this country was plunged into economic chaos by the reckless policies of the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government, our citizens have gone through what was probably the worst...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Opportunities to Enhance Health Service Provision through North-South Co-operation: Minister for Health (28 May 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, for his presentation. As he knows, I come from County Louth, which is a Border county that has a close relationship with Newry. It is a 15-minute drive from Dundalk to Newry. The Minister spoke earlier about the difference in the price of prescribed drugs between the North and the South. My constituents contact me on a regular enough basis about this...

Order of Business (9 Jun 2015)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The building control Bill, which will place Construction Industry Register Ireland, CIRI, on a statutory footing and thereby provide in law for the registration of builders, contractors and specialist subcontractors-----