Results 7,961-7,980 of 8,023 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: EU Regulations (9 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 424. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the consultations that took place regarding the EU standard EN 1090 regarding structural steel and aluminium which came into effect in July 2014; if pre-legislative scrutiny took place; the groups which were consulted regarding its potential impact; his response to its introduction at each stage; and if he will make a...

Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The first thing to discuss in relation to water is its quality. The sad reality in Roscommon for the past few years has been that water quality has been disgraceful. We now see the problem extending to places like Williamstown. We hear Irish Water tell us that this, that and the other is being done, but sadly some of the objectives it says it will reach are unrealistic. Only yesterday, I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Fuel Fraud: Revenue Commissioners (3 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: When the mix is done and the dye is put into the diesel, is a sample taken from each lorry that goes out at Dublin port?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Fuel Fraud: Revenue Commissioners (3 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Everyone is being tarnished with the one brush at the moment. We need to start a process of elimination on who is being tarnished. I spoke with a person who works on the docks in Dublin. This person has been working on this for years. He leads me to believe that when the mix is done, it is a machine that comes out over the lorry and puts in the dye, and that there is no sampling from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Fuel Fraud: Revenue Commissioners (3 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank Mr. Moran for coming in. It is widely known by those who have attended petrol-stretching meetings around the country that contaminated fuel was delivered to 14 or 15 filling stations in England a few months ago. All of it had to be taken out again. I know Revenue is aware of this. Has that fuel been traced to see where it went? Is there a risk that any of it came to Ireland?...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: While some parts of the Bill are welcome, I question some parts of it. In the past few years public confidence has been eroded in certain procedures in An Garda Síochána. We need a new vision and a new way forward to bring the people back to recognising the great work 99.9% of the members of An Garda Síochána do. It is grand bringing forward Bills in the Dáil, but...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister for being present to listen to the few of us who are present at the moment. Parts of the Bill are good but I worry about other parts. Many families in the country are in distress with their mortgages currently and are afraid of more money being required by them to buy insurance. If they are struggling at the moment, they will struggle even more if we try to put more...

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Thousands of jobs are being lost around the country. Consider the hallmarking (amendment) Bill on metals. In the fabrication industry, there is no joined-up thinking between the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Social Protection and the Environment, Community and Local Government. New CE markings are required for welders. It costs €20,000 to get each company...

Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The hallmarking (amendment) Bill.

Human Rights Budgeting: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I compliment Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan on this motion and it is a testament to her commitment. From talking to her, I know she is a woman who cares about this issue and about her community. We can talk until the cows come home about human rights budgeting. There is talk about growth and turning the corner but the reality is that in different parts of the country tonight there are people...

Other Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I will address my comments to the Minister of State, Deputy English in particular. In many areas of the country, young unemployed people aged between 18 and 20 years are not in a FÁS scheme. Will the Minister consider a different approach? Anyone who is unemployed should be given a place on a scheme until he or she gets a job. Will the Minister consider this as a means of helping to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Expenditure (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I welcome the opportunity to give the Minister this information. When I inquired about funding in a LEO office I visited yesterday, I was told that if the business is not based on exports then it is a non-runner. We need to know where we stand, and we must encourage everyone who sets up a business, whether they sell to their neighbour or to America. We must get it into people's heads that...

Other Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 102. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department is identifying unemployment black spots in order that investment may be targeted towards those areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44000/14]

Other Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I wish to ask the Minister whether the Department carries out an analysis to establish the location of blackspots around the country in order to focus on the creation of employment in such areas.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Expenditure (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 100. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the strategy he and his Department are developing for smaller towns, such as Castlerea, Boyle, Mohill and Tuam, that will make it viable to live in the west of Ireland; if his Department has a strategy to tackle unemployment black spots in this region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44403/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Expenditure (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: In the smaller towns in the west, such as Castlerea, Boyle, Tuam and Mohill, there does not seem to be any strategy to create employment. We are back to these obstacles being put in the way. I firmly believe that the Departments need to adopt joined-up thinking. For example, I am aware of a hotel that could have been sold and 15 jobs created but for exorbitant rates. At this stage, we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Enterprise Support Services Expenditure (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Statistics, when one reads them out, sound great. There are staff in the higher Civil Service who write for the Minister and all these statistics are dazzling. However, the reality is each of us on the ground knows the problems involved in setting up business right across the country. We need to forget about those who love writing a beautiful essay; we need to work constructively together....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: While I welcome the initiatives to which the Minister referred, my understanding is the number of visits to the likes of Leitrim, Roscommon and some other countries nationwide has been limited compared with the locations to which the major industries have gone. I believe it is necessary to start dangling an odd carrot and while the financial services centre has been highly successful here in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: While one talks about creating employment in this country, I refer to a matter about which I spoke to the Minister in recent days. I spent the weekend on the telephone trying to get to the get to the bottom of it. An EU directive has been introduced and it has resulted in job losses at a number of the SMEs to which the Minister refers. Rules and regulations are being imposed but information...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation (25 Nov 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 98. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the Industrial Development Agency investment-jobs in the pipeline for the towns of Athlone, Ballinasloe, Carrick-on-Shannon and Roscommon; the dates by which any such project is expected to be delivered upon, as these towns are in urgent need of investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44402/14]