Results 101-120 of 268 for long speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Confidence in Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (20 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...floor was what Fianna Fáil did in its last five years. The following contributor then spoke about people who had connections with bankers and what they did and said during those years. I am not long here, but I have seen all of that on television and it is all history now. A government is like a football team. It should take up the mantle and go forward and should not keep blaming...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...five months to resolve it in County Donegal or six months to resolve it in Pollatomish, it should be in between the two in this case. It could even take seven months. This has been going on for a long time, however. It is dragging on. In fairness, I see that something like 160,000 tonnes of peat needs to be moved. These people need clarity. They need to know where they are going....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Regional and Rural Transport Policy: Discussion (23 Oct 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ..., Donegal or anywhere in Ireland. I spoke to a person who met their boss from America and who hired a helicopter to bring them to Donegal because they were afraid that if they were on the road too long, the boss would pull the investment. It is about jobs in these areas. I do not know why we cannot make the decision. It is our business, as public representatives, to bring in something...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Mar 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: .... A model is being used. Who did up that model and how accurate is it? This is not Irish Water's fault because it is not something that was done down the years and it has not been on the go for long. There was a lack of funding to councils through the years and the infrastructure was not put in place for sewers. It is as simple as that. I know several towns in which the sewage is...

Road Traffic (Quads and Scramblers) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Oct 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...of injuries and deaths show that, unfortunately, a lot of the incidents involving these vehicles occur in farmers' fields when they turn over. Those involved who may have been driving them for a long time may lose a limb or be killed. Therefore, we need to make sure the manufacturers place safety roll bars on them. In this country we think we can give the Garda every job in the world...

Carers: Motion [Private Members] (26 Jun 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...be included in a means test. Such people will be told they cannot be in Dublin and in the west at the same time and will be refused carer's allowance. The process that has to be gone through is long and laboured, especially if an application is refused and must be appealed. It goes on and on. Do we not realise that such people are saving the State money by going to look after their...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Some are but most are imported. The ones for which prices are being quoted are imported from abroad. If they are made in Ireland, that is good, but in the long term we must ensure there are no obstacles. Planning is a problem. I first came into the Dáil last year and there has been a full year for people involved in councils throughout the country to get planning applications...

Finance Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2017)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...banks, ruthlessly and without mercy. These banks decided to sell on debts to vulture funds which treat these people even worse than the banks had and now we are to give them a rolling tax break as long as they like, to let them roll. If that was an ordinary company which had set up in any part of this country, Revenue would be after it every year, screwing them, going as hard as they...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Agriculture Schemes (6 Apr 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...State bodies were involved. Even the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was involved. The problem as we move on, however, as Deputy Harkin outlined, is that force majeureonly lasts so long. A commitment was given that a compensation package would be put in place to try to resolve this. I am talking about where the slide went down and destroyed areas. Rivers and different...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Legislative Programme (24 Nov 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...Minister of State, Senator Hackett, was in the Chamber earlier. Forestry is being help up around the country at the moment because this legislation has not passed. A civil servant has probably written a long speech for the Minister of State. I know he is genuine about things. The facts are that there will be talk of some other Bill or something else being attached to this legislation....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: ESB: Chairperson Designate (18 Nov 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank Ms Graham for her presentation. Like other Deputies and Senators, I would like to see the ESB drive on its apprenticeship programme. For far too long, we have neglected apprenticeships in this country. I would ask Ms Graham to pursue this programme and, where possible, to increase numbers in that regard. I read in the media recently that the ESB subsidises wind energy to the...

Shortage of Teachers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...in. I agree with previous speakers that the Teaching Council needs to step up to the mark. We have all seen how when people are trying to register, there is so much rigmarole and it takes so long. It should be an efficient body which does this quickly. It holds up progress. Its job is to get the person in line to take up work as quickly as possible but it is not doing this. It is...

Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (18 Oct 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...since he came on board, things have moved forward in a more positive way. There is a lot of fear on both sides of this argument, where relationships developed that were through the years became strained. At long last, however, we are starting to build those relationships again. I thank the Minister for bringing this legislation before the House. It was promised earlier in the year but...

Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jun 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute on this matter. I welcome an investigation. I have not been in the Dáil for long, but I have seen something. As Deputy Ross stated, the banking inquiry is taking place down the corridor. The more one learns about this place and that no one will be crucified or made to pay a price for doing wrong, the more one grows frustrated. I have...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: .... The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine allows an application to be made up to the age of 40 years. The reality is the generation before them want to try to hold on to land for as long as they can. Generally, for a farmer aged 40, 38 or 37 years, he or she will be 64, 65 or 66 before they he or she receives the farm. As pointed out by Deputy Naughten, we are trying to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the group for its presentation and I have a number of questions. Mr. Verbruggen said he was going to do analysis. Has the analysis started? Is it nearly done? How long will it take? Is there agreement on the scope of work RPS is doing? Is it just to deal with the railway or with flooding as a wider issue? I know he is using the framework that has been done. At the end of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...chemicals pumped into the water in America. Where does the water needed for fracking go afterwards when it is contaminated? We are trying to build tourism in this country, yet we could also damage the long-term interests of the country by going down a different road that could have grave consequences for our water system. Has this side of it been examined by the Environmental Protection...

Forestry (Planning Permission) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Oct 2020)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...that the chairperson will look at the feasibility of implementing the Mackinnon report. I am not blaming the Minister of State or any other Minister for this because none of them are in the job long enough to be blamed. The Department is saying it will keep control of forestry. The politicians will come and go and the Department will do what it wants. We should not be talking about...

Covid-19 (Social Protection): Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...they had money borrowed. Is there any intention to change that? One of the vaccines we had hung our hat on is not being recommended in Germany for people over the age of 65. This could prolong our situation in Ireland. Will there be a commitment to continue the PUP as long as possible? It is imperative because if we do not keep the supports there for all the different employers...

An Bord Pleanála: Statements (15 Sep 2022)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...about planning. However, it has gone the other way. No one knows anything about what is going on anywhere. There are only refusals for Mickey Mouse things. There is no engagement or working with applicants. For a long time - the past two years - you could not even get a pre-planning meeting in most councils because Covid or another excuse was used. That is a major problem. Were...