Results 821-840 of 1,352 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Mar 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I, like other speakers, wish to express a míle buíochas to Noel Murphy. I thank him for all his work, service and support. I wish him well and a long, happy and healthy retirement. He deserves all of that. I would like to welcome the commencement of works on phase 3 of the Royal Canal greenway in my own constituency in Dublin 7. From when I was first elected to the Dublin City...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I will talk about the issue of the dangerous and criminal antisocial behaviour relating to stolen cars. Recent Garda numbers indicate that in the first three months of this year alone, more than 1,300 private cars and vehicles were stolen. That is a 21% increase on last year in just the first three months of this year. It is an upsetting thing for anyone to have any of their property...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the officials for being with us today and for the work they and all their colleagues are doing in the Department on Housing for All. I think any independent analysis would conclude that Housing for All is the most comprehensive housing plan in the history of the State and the best resourced. It has significant funding and legislative changes backing it up. The commitments to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: That is all great and very welcome. We are coming out of a decade of undersupply of homes in the city, accepting that the greatest need is here in the city. It is welcome that the Croí Cónaithe scheme grant to deal with vacant properties has been made available in the city, but this is very much dependent on owner occupiers and individuals. It will deliver some homes, though, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Go raibh maith agat.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Regarding construction inflation, Mr. Ó Coigligh talked a lot about costs earlier. What is the Department working as a percentage for construction inflation over the past three years, cumulatively?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I ask Mr. Ó Coigligh to come back to us on that as that information would be useful. The construction inflationary effect on the price of housing is obviously very pertinent to anybody wanting to secure an affordable home. The other issue Mr. Ó Coigligh mentioned was the differentiation between the cost of the building standards we are delivering in Ireland versus those in other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: That is great to hear. It is very positive. My concern is that my sense from the AHBs is that it is much easier for them to deliver in the commuter belt, in Dublin county and the surrounding counties, than in the city. I do not see the AHBs acting on affordable cost-rental housing in the city. I am encouraged that O'Devaney Gardens is finally going ahead after, mother of God, over a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: That would be excellent. I apologise for running out the door but there is a vote in the Seanad. Go raibh míle maith agat.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Monuments (25 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank Senator Murphy for that. I also thank the Minister of State for attending this morning. This matter speaks to a very important development in my constituency of Dublin Central, in the heart of our capital city and the birthplace of our Republic. Moore Street is one of the country's oldest trading streets. It is one of the oldest commercial streets where people and families have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Monuments (25 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I appreciate that this issue is not one of his portfolio responsibilities and I am grateful to him for giving of his time to address it. I acknowledge the importance he places on national monuments and the historic heritage of our capital city. I welcome that a multidisciplinary professional team, including architects and conservationists, is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad, I send our best wishes to all those in the Defence Forces who are involved in the evacuation of Irish citizens from Sudan.Our hearts and minds are with the people in Sudan. We hope for an early resolution to the unrest and the troubles there and most importantly we hope...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Ministers and officials for attending. One year into Housing for All, our public hearings have shown to us and anybody paying attention that there is a broad welcome and broad support for Housing for All. It has been recognised as a comprehensive, ambitious plan. Some of the results are already being realised. We have the biggest housing numbers in a decade, the biggest social...

Seanad: Public Water Connection Charges: Motion (26 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Absolutely.

Seanad: Public Water Connection Charges: Motion (26 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Four minutes and two minutes would be perfect.

Seanad: Public Water Connection Charges: Motion (26 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Senators for bringing forward this motion, which I am delighted to support on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party. When I read the motion, it immediately brought to mind the city of Rome. One of its nicknames is La Regina dell'Acqua. Basically, it is a city where water runs free. In fact, in the 19th century Rome was the very first city to introduce free water fountains with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Apr 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the reporting yesterday of the construction of new homes for the first quarter of this year. Housing construction is up 20% on the same time last year, with a record high of almost 7,000 new homes being built. This is an incredibly positive and encouraging report for anyone who wants to buy their own home and anyone who cares about our citizens having a secure and affordable home....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I draw the House's attention to the fact that the National Transport Authority, NTA, has submitted a planning application for DART south west to connect the Kildare line and upgrade it to a DART-like service to run through the Phoenix Park Tunnel at Heuston, through Cabra, Glasnevin and on to Connolly. This is a welcome development. Increased provision of reliable and affordable public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (4 May 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank Mr. Hogan for his presentation and I apologise for being late. There is broad welcome for this legislation. The idea of a land tax has been talked about for decades, as has the idea that the State would share in the benefit of any increased value brought about through the rezoning of lands. The move will be broadly welcomed. If those funds can then be used to accelerate, or at...