Results 6,661-6,680 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (6 Apr 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 653. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide further information on the statement of the chief executive of Bus Éireann last year that Bus Éireann made €4 million profit from school transport and that this money was given to Bus Éireann to buy new school transport buses but spent on school transport information and technology development; the amount of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (6 Apr 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 654. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost of the maintenance of buses used for school transport by Bus Éireann in tabular form; the average cost of the maintenance of buses per bus, per year; the number of buses being charged for maintenance; the average number of buses actually being operated on actual routes each day; the average percentage of buses being...

Agriculture and Fisheries Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I wish the Ceann Comhairle the best of luck in his new role. I wish everyone in the House well in the coming week. I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this issue. As the Minister knows and as Europe knows, many sectors of the agriculture industry are in trouble at the moment. We are well aware that the dairy sector was put out as the new Santy that was coming right across...

Nomination of Taoiseach (10 Mar 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on his appointment. I do not envy his job, given some of the bickering I have heard today. I have not been in the Dáil long. I hope that, across the divide, we will give everyone an opportunity to speak and not butt in and criticise what they have to say. Every Member of this Dáil is elected by people who went to a ballot box and put their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (3 Feb 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 43. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tier 3 farmers will be allowed into the second tranche of the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4495/16]

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In the 1970s, far-sighted senior engineers in Roscommon, including the county manager at the time, saw a niche in the market in Monksland near Athlone. They sought funding from central Government at the time but were refused. With whatever money they had, they developed an area in which multinationals or local businesses are located. Some 1,000 jobs have been created in that area. A...

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: For the people who live in those areas, it is clear. It has been said openly that if this happens, the rates would go to Westmeath. When the British were in Ireland, one small chunk of the west of Ireland was put into Westmeath. There is poverty in that area because of the way Westmeath looked after it. I am worried because of the political connections of chief executive officers in some...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Feb 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 500. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the commencement date for construction of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; given that the tender process is complete and all legal issues with the site are now sorted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4593/16]

Social Housing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank Deputy Calleary and commend Deputy Cowen on the motion. As we speak, one would be able to buy two or three houses with the money used to proved people with temporary accommodation. That is the reality of what is going on in the country. I have seen the number of voids throughout the country which are the result of people not making decisions. Whenever one asks questions, one is...

Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Like the previous speaker, I support the Bill. I would like to ensure a few matters are covered. We all know, from all different walks of life and business, people must have insurance and indemnities. Long ago, when we were young and able to play football, if we got an injury such as a busted eye we could go to the local doctors and they sewed us up quickly. Nowadays, with insurance and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With regard to broadband, has ComReg done any analysis in the west of Ireland? Are broadband speeds in the west of Ireland as a region lower than in the east, in Dublin and so on? Reference was made to the number of houses getting better broadband; the number mentioned was 2.3 million, which I believe includes businesses. How many of these are in Dublin and the east coast, and what is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Mr. Godfrey says that ComReg has the best interests of people at heart, tries to get better coverage and makes sure that everything is done right. However, what he is basically saying to me is that it is the hurler in the ditch - that whatever the Government does, it does; that ComReg cannot guarantee, or will not force or oversee, the suppliers or the Government in providing coverage to all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: How many people work in ComReg?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I believe Deputy McEntee asked what sort of mechanism ComReg uses to test this along the way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Is Mr. Fahy telling me that the document we read last year may or may not be accurate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We got a document a few months ago telling us how broadband provision had improved in different areas and how strong it was. It referred to a pilot scheme. That pilot scheme may or may not be accurate; is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There is no point in writing something unless you are 100% sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We need to be clear on this, because people read this stuff and tear their hair out when they see that their broadband connections might get worse. We need accuracy in all of the frilly documents issued rather than something that makes someone look good. We need reality and to know what is happening on the ground. If something is not accurate, it should be pointed out and people should be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Does Mr. Godfrey think, on the basis of what he has heard, that there is a need to change the guidelines relating to licensing and that suppliers of mobile phone coverage should be obliged to meet more stringent tests throughout the country? Who finances ComReg?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electronic Communications Markets: Commission for Communications Regulation (27 Jan 2016)

Michael Fitzmaurice: When would that be?