Results 1,341-1,352 of 1,352 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (10 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Aire to the Upper House. Comhghairdeas to him on his appointment as Minister for Justice. He has been a breath of fresh air since taking office. His hands-on approach to the bread-and-butter issues of justice in our communities and throughout our country is welcome. I wish him well in his role. He has a big task ahead. I am seeking an update on the Department's work on...
- Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (10 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: I acknowledge the ownership an tAire has taken of this issue since he took office. It is welcome that he proposes to introduce exclusion orders and that he is preparing the Defamation (Amendment) Bill to introduce a defence of retail defamation. I acknowledge the work of An Garda Síochána under Operation Táirge; the more than 8,000 arrests last year are welcome. However, the...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: I draw the House's attention to the publication yesterday of the 2025 quarter 1 business outlook report from Dublin Chamber of Commerce. This body represents more than 200 businesses in the capital. Being a Dub, I am always looking for an opportunity to champion our great capital but it is really important for everybody in the House to recognise that by 2040, more than 54% of the country's...
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 9 be taken before No.1. The Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025 seeks to provide protection to people working on the front line of retail. There are more than 300,000 people working in retail throughout the country, in every town and village. We buy our milk and newspapers from them. They are essential in all of our communities....
- Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: First Stage (29 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 to create specific offences for assaulting or threatening retail workers carrying out their employment.
- Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: First Stage (29 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: Tomorrow.
- Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Minister for being here to consider this legislation which seeks to protect retail workers in their workspace. More than 300,000 people work in retail in every town, village and city in the country. They provide a vital front-line service in all our communities. What this Bill seeks to do is protect them from attack, be it...
- Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister and the Government for not opposing this Bill. It is an appropriate response considering the cross-party support for the sentiment behind this Bill. The support exists because we all really do value workers. We value retail workers. I take the points made by the other contributors. I refer to the debate on the need to, potentially, expand the definition of workers...
- Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: Next Tuesday.
- Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: Committee Stage ordered for Tuesday, 6 May 2025.
- Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: The first issue I raise on behalf of the Fianna Fail group is the ongoing genocide and starvation in Gaza. Since 2 March, no humanitarian aid has been delivered to Gaza, with a global hunger monitor warning that more than half a million people, which is a quarter of the population, are facing starvation. RTÉ News is reporting that the United Nations aid chief, Mr. Tom Fletcher, has...
- Seanad: National Biodiversity Week: Statements (14 May 2025)
Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Minister of State and join with him and colleagues in offering deepest sympathies and condolences to the Minister of State, Deputy O’Sullivan, on the death of his dear sister, Anne Cullinane. May she rest in peace. I acknowledge the presence of the former Minister of State with responsibility for biodiversity, Senator Malcolm Noonan. During the previous Oireachtas...