Results 2,521-2,540 of 2,569 for speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this Bill. There are two key areas of reform. First, there is to be a further limitation and greater disclosure of political donations to reduce influence over political parties. Second, the promotion of greater gender parity in politics will be attempted through amending the rules of political funding. Today's Bill will provide that corporate donations...

Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) and Subsequent Stages (14 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I wish to share time with Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) and Subsequent Stages (14 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to debate the Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012. It is a short Bill which contains only three sections and provides for the transfer of responsibility for the procurement of clotting factor concentrate products from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, to St. James's Hospital. There will be no substantive changes to the...

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2012, the purpose of which is to enable Ireland to confirm acceptance of the second amendment to the Greek loan facility, GLF, as part of the proposed new programme of assistance for Greece. While the legislation contains numerous measures, at its core it is simply about showing benevolence to our fellow man....

Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak about the Education (Amendment) Bill 2012, which abolishes the Educational Disadvantage Committee and allows for the employment of unregistered teachers in limited circumstances. It also gives the Minister for Education and Skills greater power in deciding procedures for the employment, redeployment and dismissal of teachers. It deals with the Scientific...

Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Legal Services Regulation Bill. It was published on 12 October 2011 and is designed to overhaul the regulation of legal practitioners in Ireland. It implements a commitment under the EU-IMF agreement to remove restrictions to trade and competition in the legal profession. It establishes a new Legal Services Regulatory Authority, a Legal...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I congratulate IDA Ireland and PayPal for choosing Dundalk as the location of its operations. The announcement will have a huge impact on the lives of those who are unemployed in County Louth. Ireland has an excellent reputation for producing skilled workers and I am delighted that PayPal has chosen to set up a new operation in Dundalk. This positive announcement will impact greatly on...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I hope the Ceann Comhairle will be patient with me.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I am Dundalk born and bred.

Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It is a hugely significant and influential Bill that determines the economic affairs of our nation, not just for the upcoming year but for years to follow. It is this far-sighted and strategic approach, in conjunction with other proactive measures introduced by this Government, which will stimulate economic recovery and...

National Disability Strategy: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The World Health Organization has an interesting and revealing definition of the term "disability". The word "disabilities" is an umbrella term covering impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a...

Health Service Plan 2012: Statements (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I propose to share time with Deputy Mulherin. The budget provision for 2012 will be a major challenge for the HSE and comes at a time of significant reform of the public health system. The total cost reduction in 2012 will be €750 million. At the end of 2011, the employment control framework target for the HSE is 105,300. The HSE estimates that the actual number employed at the end will...

Inter-Country Adoption: Statements (26 Jan 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, or Hague Adoption Convention, protects children and their families against the risks of illegal, irregular, premature or ill-prepared adoptions abroad. This convention, which also operates through a scheme of national central authorities, reinforced the United Nations...

Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Another fuel laundering plant, capable of turning over 12 million litres of diesel a year, at a cost to the State of €6 million in revenue, was discovered in County Louth last night. There is also toxic waste that would be dumped, causing damage to the environment. In the past 12 months, we have paid over €1 million to remove toxic waste in Louth. The punishment for this type of crime-----

Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Punishment for this type of crime is €5,000 but does the penalty suit the crime? What can be done to stop this type of activity?

Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I will be sharing time with Deputy Buttimer, if that is agreeable.

Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The Industrial Relations (No. 3) Bill 2011 has been introduced to fully reform and modernise the JLC system. By achieving this, it will fully reflect the challenges of a modem economy and also ensure the system is constitutionally robust. These are notable and commendable aspirations. The Bill, when enacted, will implement the programme of reform to the statutory wage setting mechanisms...

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Dec 2011)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Local Government (Household Charges) Bill 2011. It has received much discussion time and some of the debates among the national media have been anything but objective. There are a number of issues worth noting, foremost being the hitherto unconsidered EU-IMF programme. The EU-IMF programme of financial support for Ireland commits the Government to...

Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the social welfare aspects of the recent budget. Now that the dust has settled, at least partially, it is possible to analyse the budget more objectively. This is of particular relevance in respect of some of the overzealous and knee-jerk comments Members have heard in recent days. That said, I acknowledge the objective and constructive critique...

Financial Resolution No. 1: (Tobacco Products Tax) (6 Dec 2011)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Coming from a sporting background, 25 cent is not enough. The number of young people who suffer from ill health as a result of smoking is a disgrace and I give my full support to the Government.