Results 1,081-1,100 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Bus Éireann buys diesel in advance at €1.20 per litre. The price of diesel is now down to 99.8 cent a litre in places. When it falls lower than that, will the company buy enough in bulk in order that it might save a great deal of money down the road? The price of oil is expected to fall to somewhere between $22 and $24 dollars....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If the NTA has not produced the guidance document, how can bus operators operate? Mr. Creegan states the council is responsible and that he hopes the NTA can do this, that or the other.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Let us be clear, as Mr. Creegan says he has to do the best with the money that is in front of him. The green vehicles cost between €18,000 to €20,000 more. Would it be fair to say the NTA decision is to remain with the diesel vehicle and not go down the route of natural gas buses?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Which cost a good bit more.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Let us be clear, as I have seen the marks awarded to those who tendered, that many operators have lost routes where they did not elaborate - they said they were driving for 35 years whereas the person who stated they did this, that and the other course got more marks for writing a heap of palaver. I have a background in transport. The way procurement procedures are being processed for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am talking about the procurement process for school runs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: How much fuel in money terms does Bus Éireann use in the year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Those with lorries get that as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There is €5 million in VAT that Bus Éireann is not allowed to claim back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Was I correct in saying that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is it the procurement process that Bus Éireann is tied into or is it the way that it was set down that caused the problem? No. What we wanted was to maintain the standard and the cleanliness of the school fleet. There was a problem with cleanliness which has now been fixed. We gave a few marks for cleanliness in the procurement process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I have seen instances, as Mr. Nolan is aware, where the operator provided a cheaper service and was doing the runs for years but because he did not write a heap of palaver, did not retain the run. That is a fact.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Would I be correct in saying that people who submitted a lower cost tender than others lost out to operators who were dearer because they did not say that they had completed CPC and washed the bus every second day?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It would have been a good idea with the introduction of the new system to explain to people that they needed to elaborate. If a person was doing a bus run for thirty years and never had a problem, never had an accident and the tender price was okay, and as the person did not write an essay, the person lost out because they did not write down all the different things. It would have been a...

National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (21 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Tourism is ferociously important right around the country. In fairness, in recent years many proactive initiatives have been taken. Many times we come into the House and attack Ministers for things that are not done but, in fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, has been proactive. I refer in particular to the VAT rate which has been...

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Statements (21 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The agricultural community has serious concerns about TTIP. When one looks at the type of regulation in the US involving the use of hormones, one can see that it is completely different to what the EU is used to. I believe that we will move towards the US model. Between hormones and all the different things they are using in the US, anyone who ever visited there will know that unless you...

Topical Issue Debate: Rural Development Programme Funding (21 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Hear, hear.

Topical Issue Debate: County Boundaries (21 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: This issue was discussed this morning in the Dáil and the Minister of State is on record as supporting the people of Roscommon in respect of it. It makes no sense whatsoever that someone decided to take from Roscommon a part of what is Roscommon's. The position with regard to rates and future rates must also be considered. People do not realise that, in 1975 or 1976, Roscommon County...

Topical Issue Debate: County Boundaries (21 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We talk about joined-up thinking. For years, this has been a success. Roscommon has liaised with Westmeath in terms of both councils. They have worked perfectly together. Roscommon is well capable of looking after planning and doing whatever thinking has to be done. It needs to be left in Roscommon's care. One thing that is mentioned in the reply is different services. The main...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Offices (26 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 172. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the district veterinary office in County Galway is being downgraded and being moved; where it is being moved to; if the move will result in a reduction in the number of staff; if it will result in a reduction in the number of staff available at the counter to deal with queries from farmers; and if he will make a statement on the...