Results 5,181-5,200 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome that the Minister of State got this legislation taken here this week. I ask him to convey my thanks to Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú and Mr. Brian Lucas who have worked on this for a considerable time. This has gone on for two years. I welcome the progress made and I thank the Minister of State for his co-operation.

Local Government Bill 2018: Order for Report Stage (13 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Clarification is required. We all attended the Committee Stage debate. How is it the amendment could be accepted for debate on Committee Stage and was not ruled out of order? Can anybody clearly state what rules are different on Committee Stage when it can be ruled out of order on this Stage? We are discussing the same Bill and the same amendments.

Anti-Evictions Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill, parts of which are a no-brainer. Many people in this country are receiving notice to quit letters from banks which are moving to sell buy-to-let properties. We need to introduce a law in this country so that this does not continue to happen. In my opinion, many of the banks involved are scum. Yesterday in County Roscommon a group of 20 or...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Immigration Policy (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister of State for clarifying the position. The CDU had a heated and protracted debate on this issue even though Angela Merkel is very much in favour of supporting migrants. There is a fear about why Austria and many other countries have pulled out of the process. Many politicians, as outlined by the Minister of State, have probably supported this for political gain. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Immigration Policy (12 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter. Public representatives across the country have been inundated with emails and phone calls from people who are concerned about the compact. There was a ferocious debate between two candidates for the leadership of Angela Merkel's party in Germany. There is concern in other countries. Some of the stuff out there may not be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the governance manual 2015-2019 and the Education Act 1998 is the only legislation in place governing the removal of persons by a patron from a primary school board of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51709/18]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Applications (11 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 518. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on an invalidity review for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51666/18]

Climate Change: Statements (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I will split my time with Deputy Catherine Martin.

Climate Change: Statements (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We need to put things into context. In the past seven or eight years, 400,000 more people are working in Ireland. If we put wings on them, we will have a bigger carbon footprint. We have to make sure whatever measures are introduced do not hit people the wrong way, especially those from the poorer sections of our community. Many things can be done to help income. Unfortunately the dairy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In the procurement process, a process I am familiar with in other areas, am I correct in saying that the tenderer fills in the document and puts in their tender bid, showing their capacity to do something, staff numbers, work done and pricing? When Eir, enet and the ESB were in it, would those figures have been in before any of these contacts were made?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Had Eir or SIRO not even got to the point of the monetary cost when they pulled out of the process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Would I be correct in saying, and I am coming from the private sector in the line of a bill of quantum, that those that give out a contract generally have a figure for the cost of something six months or a year before they put it out to tender?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If a Minister needed to meet someone at the weekend, early in the morning or late at night, did Mr. Smyth check to see if departmental staff would be available at all times, if required?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Does Mr. Smyth know if they were available?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: On a Saturday, a Sunday or any day.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The metropolitan area networks, MANs, contract had been awarded to Enet six or seven months before. I believe the Department awarded it to 2030 without a procurement process. Did Mr. Smyth look into that matter or did he believe it might have been better to engage in a procurement process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Was there not an option to engage in a procurement process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am not asking Mr. Smyth to nail it down in pounds, shillings and pence, but does he believe broadband can be delivered as part of the current process? Also, does he believe we will achieve value for money or that it will cost a good deal more?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Review of Procurement Process for National Broadband Plan: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank Mr. Smyth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Sale of Permanent TSB Mortgage Loans: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Three or four months ago, or maybe longer, Permanent TSB decided to take this approach. When it decided it would take 66%, did it at any stage consider writing to customers to ask whether they had families, friends or anybody else who would be interested? For example, a mortgage worth €300,000 would become €200,000. Could the mortgages not have been offered to the ordinary...