Results 321-340 of 2,515 for speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick

Support for Household Energy Bills: Motion [Private Members] (3 May 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: This week the Government has chosen to increase the carbon tax, which has increased the cost of home heating oil, peat briquettes and natural gas for household use. At times last year, the daily price of generating electricity in Ireland was more than 12 times higher than normal. Annual household electricity bills doubled from a typical €1,000 per year in 2020 to more than...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Last week, I highlighted an issue that is making teaching highly unattractive and directly impacting on the supply crisis in the education sector, namely, the lack of full-time contracts being offered to new teachers. The Taoiseach replied that we have more teachers in Ireland than ever before, that the pupil-teacher ratio is lower than in the past, that we have a pay deal with teachers and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The Taoiseach basically gave me the same answer I got last week. I have asked a simple question. I come from Dundalk, County Louth, and have spoken to many teachers in recent weeks. I received numerous phone calls from people across the country last week in respect of this matter. People are going to college and paying massive amounts of money to be educated to become teachers. They want...

Rent Reduction Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Apr 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I support this Bill for the majority of people who are impacted by the current housing crisis. The percentage of household income spent on rent in this State is higher than any other country in the world. Rents in Ireland are 78% higher than the EU average. What does this mean for renters and how does it affect people's lives? It means real stress and real poverty. Households are facing...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, ensured there was funding within the budget for the employment of teachers and SNAs. Without a viable career structure, however, teaching careers will remain unattractive and the supply crisis will continue. The teacher recruitment crisis is a direct result of attempts to make the education system do more with less. A Teachers Union of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (18 Apr 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 1671. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the supply of two medications, amitriptyline and dalmane (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17678/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (18 Apr 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 1672. To ask the Minister for Health when the person (details supplied) will receive their urgent medical appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17679/23]

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the witnesses. I agree that tourism plays a big part in this country, especially with the small SMEs. I agree also that the sector is facing serious challenges. I read through all of the presentations and put together a bit of a presentation of my own. I will read it out and then ask for comments from the witnesses. Given business costs, ongoing energy crisis and inflation,...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Challenges Facing Providers of Tourist Accommodation in Ireland: Discussion (29 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: During the pandemic, people got into the habit of staying in the country rather than going overseas. We probably have the best country in the world for scenery, golf clubs, food and different types of attraction. Although I am not a drinker, the craic to be had in the pubs is second to none. We have something really great to offer. People stayed in Ireland for their holidays during the...

Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important issue. I will support the amendment Bill today to defer the termination dates of certain tenancies to 31 January 2024, in order to mitigate the risk of homelessness. I wish to start off with some figures. There was a 47% increase in the number of notices to quit in the private rental sector between quarter 1 and quarter 2 of 2022....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 4. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline any updates in relation to the mandatory retirement age within the Defence Forces for post-1994 privates and corporals; the steps he will take to retain the affected personnel amidst a staffing retention crisis; if there have been advancements in his discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Will the Minister outline any updates on the mandatory retirement age in the Defence Forces for post-1994 privates and corporals; the steps he will take to retain the affected personnel in amidst a staff-retention crisis; if there have been any advancements in his discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform highlighted during Leaders'...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The numbers in our Defence Forces are under 8,000 which is an all-time low. I have raised this matter with the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach in recent weeks. It is due to compulsory retirement and is an absolute disgrace. In the past few months, 51 recruits were in Gormanston Camp training to become soldiers but only 12 passed out. A number of them had to be transferred from Cork to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I know the Minister supports it but the bottom line is that action is needed now. We cannot get recruits. We cannot get soldiers. The current strength of 8,000 members is too low. I mentioned Gormanston training camp. We cannot even get personnel to train soldiers. We have qualified soldiers who it cost the Army a lot of money to train. They cannot even pass on their experience because...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 242. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if, in lieu of forcing personnel who want to remain in the Defence Forces to retire on age grounds, he will consider a proposed fix of rehiring them under 2013 contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13558/23]

Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The programme for Government, under Sláintecare, sets out a pathway for expanded access to healthcare in keeping with the vision of universal healthcare. We need to get to a point where we truly have healthcare delivered free at the point of delivery. Three principles should underpin all of our approaches to healthcare - affordability, accessibility and accountability. With regard to...

Reform of Carer's Allowance Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Family Carers Ireland, in its biannual state of caring report, reported that 1,484 carers were caring for a total of 1,984 people across a range of caring situations, including parents caring for a child with an illness or disability, those caring for an adult, carers of older people and those caring for multiple people. Carers do a fantastic job and, as I have often stated in this House,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to concerns raised regarding the SPHE junior curriculum (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14337/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 195. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence regarding access to services in south Louth CDNT (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14364/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 77. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a passport, which is out of date for more than five years, is seen as a first-time passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13512/23]