Results 781-800 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Around this country every year, 13.7 million miles are being clocked up in vehicles when people go for dialysis. One transplant, as well as saving a valued life, saves the health service €750,000 as well as meaning a person is going back to work and a family has someone who was in danger of losing his or her life. At the moment 2,000 people...

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Eight people were on the list at that time. I ask the Taoiseach whether they were given the option of treatment abroad. Some 18 children in the last few years were given kidney transplants. From what I believe, that has dropped to four this year but the number of children requiring a transplant has not dropped. Sadly, because of a clash of characters we have lost two consultants. Mr....

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There are three transplant nephrologists in Galway but we need two surgeons because we could do with two places performing this at the moment. Has the Taoiseach been informed by the Minister about what is going on? The fact is that because of a clash of personalities, people's lives are put at risk.

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Why is the programme in Beaumont Hospital and Temple Street Children's University Hospital in disarray? Given what has happened over the past year, is the Taoiseach prepared to hold an inquiry or meet with these people and solve it once and for all-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: -----because around this country-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is it not ironic that what appears to be the first time the Taoiseach has heard about this is through bits of paper pushed in front of him telling him what is going on around the country? Let us not forget that Dr. David Hickey was pushed. He was forced to retire. The Taoiseach has now admitted that since 1 January, and we are now talking about next January, there have been no pancreatic...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (3 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 185. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing persons who have completed a six year term on a community employment scheme and who are approaching retirement age to be granted an extension to their participation in the scheme, in order that they can continue to work, if that is their choice, rather than receive a jobseeker's allowance in the...

Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I have been actively involved over the past few months in something that was contained in the budget, which is the cutting of the tax on vehicles, and I acknowledge this measure on behalf of the haulage industry. For the past two to three years, the haulage industry has been haemorrhaging jobs. Northern Ireland had a tax rate of €900 for a lorry. The equivalent in this country was...

Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I so move.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Grid Link Project: EirGrid (4 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the EirGrid deputation for their presentation. I wish to clarify a point on Grid West. The representatives from EirGrid have said it is dead in the water at the moment. Is that for good? I want to know that clearly. One thing EirGrid might consider is the position around Carrick-on-Shannon. I was down there where all the networks come together and it is like a spider with ten...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Grid Link Project: EirGrid (4 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If there were 40 km underground, could the line be upgraded without putting anything else in the overhead part of it? There is a line in at the moment. Mr. Slye said there was 40 km in the difference

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Grid Link Project: EirGrid (4 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Grid Link Project: EirGrid (4 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Fair enough, we are not tying Mr. Slye to the distance. I have seen lines in different parts of the country that were upgraded where it might be carrying three wires and there are six on it now because they have put different spokes out of it. Why can that not be considered and put it underground for the 40 km or whatever it is?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Grid Link Project: EirGrid (4 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In the past week I read a report about the ESB, whereby approximately €100 million will be used to subsidise wind energy. If EirGrid is prepared to do this, I am damned sure it should look at what would help a community, be it in Monaghan or Cavan. The company cannot keep going down the road of ramming stuff down people's throats.

Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: New ideas may be required to deal with the housing crisis. Third level colleges have a lot of land, especially those around Dublin, on which they could be well able to build proper accommodation, be it apartments or whatever else. This could act as a money stream for them and alleviate the problems and pressure of the housing crisis. We may have to think outside the box, as the usual way...

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I concur with Deputy Penrose about the self-employed. During the crash, many businesses went to the wall. Many people who invested every penny and every hour they had into their businesses faced terrible times. The self-employed were treated like someone from Mars when they tried to get social welfare, even when many of them had paid a lot of tax. There was an ingrained sense among some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: DART Underground and Expansion Projects: National Transport Authority (5 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. They spoke about the possibility of the DART going to different areas. The first proposal that was on hand involved going underground and all that. What sort of money has been spent on that project so far? I refer to expenditure on designing and looking at different things.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: DART Underground and Expansion Projects: National Transport Authority (5 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is that out of Irish Rail's pocket?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: DART Underground and Expansion Projects: National Transport Authority (5 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: So it is out of the taxpayer's pocket.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: DART Underground and Expansion Projects: National Transport Authority (5 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That €45 million was spent on dreaming a dream and now it is all being changed over. Is this a common occurrence with public funds? Is €45 million regularly wasted by the Department or by Irish Rail on various projects throughout the country before those projects are abandoned? I always argue that someone working in the public service can dream a dream and go do something but...