Results 7,621-7,640 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

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

Michael Fitzmaurice: 597. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm, that in order to comply with the water framework directive, legislation is required for the registration and licensing of all private wells; the charge that will be applied for private well registration and licensing, if water charges are applied to water extracted from registered and licensed private...

Customs Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. When I studied the Bill and its digest this morning, I noted a number of references to EU legislation. Anything that consolidates legislation is to be welcomed. The Bill deals with issues under EU legislation, such as free trade and transferring goods with ease, but the reality is that we seem to pick and choose in respect of the EU. Some...

European Debt: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I commend Deputy Catherine Murphy on bringing forth this motion. The dog in the street knows that, like Ireland, most countries in Europe, including Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain, the PIGS, are carrying burdens they cannot afford. Every citizen in this country has bailed out the banks, in return for which they faced the big wand-stick from the Europeans, some of them unelected...

Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015: Second Stage (4 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Any legislation that protects consumers is welcome, but we have seen a stark reality in the past year with vulture funds buying up mortgages from the banks. As bad as our own banks are, these people have no mercy. As I have seen in my own part of the country, no mercy is shown to anybody who goes into arrears. At least some of our own banks might listen for a while. This cannot continue....

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (4 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister for his presentation to the committee. The Tuam-Gort project has begun. I served on the county council for a short time. I do not understand why a five-year plan is not undertaken with regard to NRA routes. The council was told the budget was a yearly allocation. However, I know of many areas where there may be 10 km of road which is all twists and turns and which...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (4 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Can the community schemes under the Department's remit be broadened? There is not a significant take-up under them. For example, in some areas people have to contribute to the maintenance of a local road even though it is classed as a council road. Can the scheme be broadened in order that roads that were not taken in charge could be funded by the people doing work on them, as used to...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (4 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: There is a problem in Roscommon regarding helicopters bringing people to hospital at night. Is there any link-up with the Department of Defence and the HSE to provide a facility at night? Everyone does not get sick while it is bright. We need joined-up thinking to solve this problem. Is this happening?

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (4 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With regard to the Wild Atlantic Way and the greenway cycle tracks, we are entering a new phase with the track from Dublin to Galway. We should step back a little and listen to the views of people in various areas who do not wish to have farms divided. I encourage the Minister to urge the officials who are dealing with it to take a common sense attitude. At present, resentment is emerging...

Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The amendment is needed. The Bill is too detailed, takes too long and is too prescriptive and cumbersome. They look for the CC of an engine and the mileage of a car. I am not one who would agree that it needs to go through the courts. It can be solved before that. We have a problem coming down the line in the next 18 months in the form of 57,000 houses. If the banks do not make some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I ask the representatives from IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland about a hypothetical scenario in five years' time if we get guarantees on Cork and Shannon. If disaster struck and the Shannon and Cork services lost those slots, what would be the consequences for people who are trying to go out and attract foreign direct investment in the area...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I do not believe in hypothetical guarantees. No more than anybody else in business, as the people from IBEC know, if I buy something, I would not have somebody else down the road running that business for the next five or ten years. If someone buys a company, he or she buys it and runs it himself or herself. I read Richard Branson's book over the weekend about what happened in England with...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (3 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 299. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the way the partnership is being structured; the position on the investor-state dispute settlement element of the proposed partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5002/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Conventions Ratification (3 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 357. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the likely ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the Irish State; when this ratification is likely to happen; if there is a reason it has not been ratified already; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4683/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (3 Feb 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 532. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a student whose parent is a State employee earning in the region of €65,000 per year, but who is engaged in the insolvency process and consequently has no disposable income whatsoever, is eligible for the student grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4783/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: Discussion (29 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. The word "connectivity" looks to be the big player in this debate. We spoke earlier about highs and lows, recessions and airlines going through bad times. Aer Lingus has come through the biggest recession this country has ever had, and has come through it well. We have made mistakes in the past. That is why we need to debate the issue and to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections: Health and Safety Authority (29 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I come from a farming and contracting background. Sometimes we have to look back to go forward. Farmers now farm by date and by the weather. After Christmas there are dates for spreading slurry. Everyone is under pressure to get the jobs done. We have to consider where we were compared with where we are now. When pressure is on and one is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections: Health and Safety Authority (29 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I wish to take up on Deputy Penrose's point. I know a gentleman in the farming community who lost his leg and subsequently approached the farming organisations and the HSA. He was willing to go to school. Sadly, he was rebuffed everywhere he went. Everyone was sending him to different places. As Deputy Penrose said, it is necessary to get someone who can talk in ordinary language when...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections: Health and Safety Authority (29 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Senator O'Neill asked a specific question on children and tractors and the related statistics. This has not been addressed. It is twice it has not been addressed

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections: Health and Safety Authority (29 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Anyone who has children knows that if a person is over in the shed, children, at four or five years of age, can come along the road and sneak away. There is no point in saying they cannot. It will create more accidents if children are not allowed to be on the tractor. A person might be in a shed believing the child is not coming over, but the child will sneak over. When writing to Santy...

Housing Affordability: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I commend Fianna Fáil its motion. This issue needs to be talked about. It is sad to note this evening the number of Ministers and Deputies on the other side who have walked out on one of the most important issues we could talk about in the country. Some 57,000 people face eviction over the next 18 months. They will basically be thrown out of their houses. There will probably be...