Results 7,601-7,620 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) IAG (12 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank Mr. Walsh.

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There are some good things in the Bill and some things we would like to improve. I accept a strategy is currently being developed for rural areas. We welcome anything that will put a bit of life into rural towns and villages. Shops and businesses are closing down in rural Ireland and high rates are the main problem, with businesses are being stifled as a result. Every business that closes...

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In light of the insolvency legislation, is the Government working with the Department of Education and Skills? In recent months I have come across many people who are going through the insolvency process. They have sons and daughters whom they will be sending to college. Their overall earnings are above the threshold but the reality is that they earn but €24,000 or €25,000...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister for his presentation. I have read a few lovely flashy documents about the roll-out of broadband. I see that two service suppliers are talking about services in certain areas. Certain towns have been earmarked, but the problem is that when one rings the people concerned to ask them for a date, one is told that every town will have a service by May or June 2016. I...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is a problem. There is an urgent need for a roll-out of broadband to all rural areas. It is one of the critical pieces of infrastructure that will ensure the revival of rural areas. I made the Minister aware a few days ago of companies that were in constant contact with other countries. The simple fact is that we will lose jobs. When does the Minister envisage broadband services being...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The amount of sports coverage TG4 does is a credit to it. Should the likes of TG4 be promoted even more in support of the Irish language and given the good value viewing it provides, especially to people who are interested in sport?

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I presume the Minister works in liaison with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. When will the new planning guidelines for wind turbines come into force? Families have been very distressed by the granting of planning permission for these turbines. It is causing major problems. There are people who propose to generate energy - who have made their...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I do not know if this comes within the remit of the Minister, but I have seen businesses operating where there is no gas on the pipeline and the opposite where they are connected to it. Is there any strategy in place in respect of smaller towns, not very small towns but smaller towns, where there may be fairly large businesses employing a good few people, to bring the gas network to these...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Invasive species are a problem that has arisen in different parts of Ireland - for example, Lanesborough, and the "hot water" area beside the ESB. Remedial works were to be carried out there to solve the problems. However, there seems to be a huge delay. Is there a strategy in place for when these problems occur? Why are there delays in carrying out these works? This issue is very...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: My other question relates to the eel fishing ban. I understand a report is coming out in 2015. If a report is due in May or June, certain information should be available at this stage. What is it looking like? Will a certain amount of eel fishing be allowed? What is the Minister of State's view on this?

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Clean up the river.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: When will the consultation take place?

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Numbers (11 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 37. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the figures, categorised on the basis of sex, for the number of persons who are currently in receipt of reduced State contributory pensions, due to the rate band changes she implemented on 1 September 2012, whereby rate band 20 to 47 was abolished and replaced by rate bands 20 to 29, 30 to 39 and 40 to 47; and if she will make...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: daa: Chairman Designate (10 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: We must be careful with the language we use. All airports need fairness and Knock has been on the hind teat. We should not single out any airport but we should get people to all parts of Ireland. This is very important, whether it involves Cork, Kerry, Shannon or Knock.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Implementation (10 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 253. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason he has not sought the opening of formal negotiations on giving effect to the various elements of the Civil Service renewal plan with the public service unions; if his attention has been drawn to the unions that have indicated their willingness to participate when his Department issued the prerequisite invitation to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (10 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 336. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans, if any, to review and, if necessary, to amend the 1986 regulations contained in Statutory Instrument No. 15 of 1986, specifically in relation to Order 40, subsections (6), (9) and (15), which impose a strict requirement for the accurate inclusion of the prescribed information in all circumstances; and if she will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (10 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 513. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the merits of expanding the University of Limerick’s health and sciences faculty's third study into flexibility and neuromuscular development in adolescents in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5735/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (10 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 553. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if recognition will be provided by Student Universal Support Ireland towards insolvency arrangements in the calculation of reckonable income for the purposes of student grant awards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6115/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (10 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 574. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of contracts which were put out to tender by the local authorities in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for water services, that is for waste water treatment, water treatment, bore holes, pumping stations and so on; if he will provide a breakdown of these figures per each individual local authority; and if he will make a...