Results 1,221-1,240 of 1,352 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It was welcome that the Minister extended the timeline, and this was seen in the commencement numbers. There were 12,000 commencements in the first three months and 18,000 alone in the month of April. I do not know when it was last the case that there were 30,000 commencements in one quarter. What is the sector saying now about the expiry of the development levy waiver and the water refund?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Can I ask one more question? Those questions were around new supply. We all agree that the fastest and most sustainable way to increase housing supply is to reuse vacant and derelict properties. It is indisputable how well received the Croí Cónaithe vacant and derelict property grants have been. It is important that funding was given to the local authorities to appoint vacant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I agree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Excellent.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I absolutely agree. May I remind the Minister of State-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: -----that he did not answer one question, the one on the extension from 13 months to 18 months. If the Minister of State can come back to me with an answer on it, it will be fine. I do not need an answer now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: The Government has given discretion to them. Excellent.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I raise the issue of public safety in Dublin, specifically the deployment of gardaí in our public spaces, on our streets, in our parks, our canals, and on our public transportation. A concern is being expressed about where the gardaí are. We are into the summer months, the long evenings and the holiday season. Schools and colleges are out. Visitors are travelling and we want to...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (27 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State, the departmental officials and everybody who has worked on the enormous task of bringing this Bill before the House. I acknowledge my colleagues and the secretariat of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who worked very diligently to complete pre-legislative scrutiny on earlier drafts of the Bill. As we enter this...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (27 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Shall I proceed or wait until the speech has been distributed?

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (27 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: There are a number of elements of the Bill I want to talk about. If we can achieve it, the objective of greater clarity, certainty and consistency will go a long way towards making our country and all of the developments that take place within it more sustainable into the future. We will all agree that the restructuring of An Bord Pleanála into a new organisation, an coimisiún...

Committee on Drugs Use: Decriminalisation, Depenalisation, Diversion and Legalisation of Drugs: Discussion (27 Jun 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the witnesses for joining us this morning, their opening statements and helping us with our deliberations. As was correctly pointed out, Ireland has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in Europe. It is shameful and unacceptable and we have been tasked with trying to come up with a meaningful response to help to reduce that harm and those deaths. Drugs are literally killing our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank Mr. Keegan, Ms Crimin and Ms Loughlin for coming to the committee today and for their work and the reports they produce. I thank all staff at the RTB. Mr. Keegan said the RTB has an important role in the private rental sector, which it does. There is an increasing reliance on the RTB to be efficient, accessible and robust in the performance of its duties. He mentioned in his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: The question users have is why it is taking so long. The IT system was introduced in 2017 and it was recognised in 2021 there were problems. In May 2024, three years later, the board approved significant investment. I presume the investment is significant and the witnesses might advise the committee how much the budget is. Will they share with us why it has taken so long?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Has the RTB changed vendor? Has it gone to a new and different platform?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Everybody would accept that it is certainly very challenging for everybody at the RTB and challenging for everybody trying to use the system. The RTB has not shied away from this. I have never heard the RTB shy away from it. Has the RTB gone with a completely new supplier?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Is there a timeline associated with this new contract with the new supplier as to when it can be expected to have all of this new functionality and improvement in place and operational?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: How will it be measured?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: The improvements will affect not only the registration process, as Mr. Keegan has alluded to the dispute process becoming more streamlined.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion (2 Jul 2024)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I appreciate they are two separate issues.