Results 261-280 of 1,352 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I cannot see how one would, and it would be difficult to, prove those three conditions. One would have to go through the sales process. I am trying to think this one through. If a landlord is saying he or she wants to evict more than ten tenancies at one time and is prevented from doing so because of the Tyrrelstown amendment, and the landlord wants to pursue it, the landlord has to claim...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I suspect they were happy to allow this legislation to go to Second Stage because were it removed, there would be a cleaning up and probably strengthening of the legislation. It kind of creates a question, does it not?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It creates an uncertainty that can potentially be exploited and not necessarily to great advantage. It can, however, create a lot of upset and uncertainty for tenants in the meantime.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Does this not postdate any of those amendments that came in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: We did, absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: We have no problem-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I have also marked that as an issue. I support the thrust of the Bill; it is a great piece of work but on section 6, I do not see the merit in informing the Minister because he or she does not acquire properties. It could be strengthened by saying that where the site is admitted to the register, the local authority "shall" commence steps so the local authority is compelled to commence steps...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I understand the focus on having "an" office within the local authorities but now that there are at least vacant housing officers in each local authority, would they not be better positioned to help expedite the process? The town centre first people, from my experience, are good and they work to good values and aspirations but it is a much broader concept type of work, whereas vacant housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Scrutiny of Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 and Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2022: Private Members' Bills (14 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: What if we said something like they "shall commence the process of acquiring compulsorily" and bring forward a business case for its renovation and regeneration or allow the original owner to step in and do the same, with a given commitment within a timeframe. Compelling action is what we need.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I support the Order of Business. I wanted to welcome the news overnight of the conclusion of the COP28 summit and the fact that, for the first time ever, an agreement has been made that commits to a transition away from and a phasing out of fossil fuels. This is an historic agreement. It is the first time that COP has managed to reach this agreement. We know it is not perfect and that...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State and the Department for the work in bringing forward the legislation. The issue raised by the amendments proposed by the Labour Party Senators is one that we discussed at the committee. We have discussed many matters about our electoral activities but I will try to confine my comments to the Bill and come back to the Minister of State on other issues, such as...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Now.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister for being in the House. Section 62 is very important with regard to the determination of the priorities for the service. I come from central Dublin. Twenty years ago, determining the priorities for the Garda locally in Cabra and Glasnevin was a contentious issue for the community. We came together and we got the Garda to engage with the local community and public...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I apologise to the Cathaoirleach if he thought I was wandering. It was not my intention at all.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I tried to be succinct.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It is a very important issue and I apologise.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I was getting to the point on security services. There are a number of very high-profile locations in my area. When we speak about security services we could be speaking about Connolly Station, Croke Park, which attracts more than 80,000 attendees, the GPO or O'Connell Street, or the Phoenix Park. The security services have to respond to incidents. I appreciate that the Minister may...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I would like to hear the Minister's response as otherwise we may not get one.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: If I may clarify one point, did the Minister say the national security centre is under the Department of the Taoiseach and is separate from the Department of Justice?

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister for the plan. It is really important that every organisation has a good strategic plan. It allows you to identify what is important, get consensus on that and allocate resources to that. I absolutely support-----