Results 901-920 of 1,350 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the announcement of the completion of the review of the national childcare scheme by the Minister with responsibility for children. Particularly welcome is the Government's decision to adopt a number of the recommendations, specifically to ensure an additional €270 million in funding is provided for childcare services, which money will be used to control fees which for many...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: No country has been as affected by emigration over the decades and centuries-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Indeed, since 1800 more than 10 million Irish people have emigrated. I, therefore, welcome the decision that was taken by the Government to introduce a programme in January to regularise the undocumented migrants in this country. This is a welcome and important decision. It will give an opportunity to people who live in our communities or work in our shops, restaurants and care facilities,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: The decision is very welcome and must be championed by all Members.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I commend everybody who campaigned for it so that is the Migrant Rights Council of Ireland, many NGOs and many individuals. It was a very brave decision to campaign for this because many of these people live in very vulnerable situations where if they get sick, they are frightened to ask for help or if they are victims of crime, they are reluctant to go to the Garda or any authority figure.I...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I feel we are standing very close so I apologise. I do not want to crowd him but this is my allocated seat. It is a coincidence that the Minister is coming to the Seanad with this legislation today considering the storm that is attacking our island. Our thoughts are with all the coastal communities that are being battered by Storm Barra....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: The first five minutes will be split between Deputy McAuliffe and me. Unfortunately, both of us must leave the meeting but we hope to rejoin it. The Minister of State has our apologies. It is not a reflection of our interest in his work and that of his Department, which is highly commendable. We congratulate him and everyone in the Department. I will focus on a small but important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Briefly. I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I appreciate his assurances and accept his commitment and that of the Minister, but I must reiterate the considerable disappointment and frustration at the lack of any visible progress or action on the national monument. A hundred years had passed by 2016 and we are now going into 2022. I urge the Minister of State to visit the site...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of meeting students from Dominican College on Griffith Avenue. I had a great discussion with Dearbhla Lawlor and Toby Long. They are leaving certificate students and among the subjects they are studying are politics and society. As part of their leaving certificate course, they undertook a research project to identify and analyse the social and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank Mr. Cronin and Dr. Ó Cadhla for meeting with us today. This is an important piece of work they are undertaking on the designation of geographical areas within the marine and maritime area not just for protection and conservation but also for promotion in the future. I thank them and their colleagues for the work they are doing in this space. As the Chair said, as a committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It does.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I would like to express condolences and sympathies on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group to the families and individuals who lost their lives in the English Channel. It was a really tragic event and all our thoughts are with the individuals. We ask the acting Leader to write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and our MEPs in Europe to emphasise again to them the desire of this House and...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (24 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Tomorrow.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Accommodation (23 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, for coming to the House. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State when I say I would have preferred the Minister, Deputy Harris, to be here. I appreciate the Minister of State's time. I understand that the Minister is at a Cabinet meeting. The issue I wish to raise is access to third level education and, most importantly, the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Accommodation (23 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I accept and welcome the innovations that the Government has made in enabling the TUs, the consideration of the affordable cost-rental model, the other innovations in the capping and limiting of the rents and upfront payments and the reduction of the notice periods. We have to go further, however, to fully ensure that any of the purpose-built...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Today is 23 November. It is almost exactly one month to Christmas. I know that we all want to look forward to Christmas but all of the media talk and speculation is about lockdowns, shutdowns and circuit breakers. It is three weeks since I contributed to the Order of Business because I was also hit with Covid-19. Everybody is very alert to the infection rates and we are all frightened....

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House for a second time today. We appreciate his time, as well as the effort that he and the Department have put into trying to tackle the crisis that is affecting far too many people who are renting their homes not just in Dublin, but all over Ireland. All Members know that rents have become unaffordable. It is for that reason that this new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Heritage Council: Chairperson Designate (23 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the witnesses for attending and apologise for being late. The Seanad is sitting to deal with legislation so I will have to leave again but will look back on the proceedings later. I thank the witnesses for their time and for the work they and the Heritage Council do throughout the year. We have a very rich and unique heritage and it must be a great privilege for the witnesses to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Heritage Council: Chairperson Designate (23 Nov 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I will be brief. I apologise I had to leave earlier. I thank the Heritage Council for the work it is doing in all towns and villages. I specifically mention the north inner city in the capital city but I am conscious that it touches every town and village. It is important work. The support that they can give to individuals and community groups that on a voluntary basis take pride in...