Results 1,021-1,040 of 1,401 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to Local Property Tax: Discussion (6 Jul 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Before our guests respond to Deputy Gould, I have a related question. LPT, as the Deputy noted, has in some respects been manipulated for a certain advantage. Has consideration been given to adding a multiplier to act as a penalty on certain residential properties being left vacant? There is a particular issue in Dublin city whereby newly built properties, built for rental purposes and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to Local Property Tax: Discussion (6 Jul 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: What is the rationale for the Department not considering a vacancy tax?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Proposed Changes to Local Property Tax: Discussion (6 Jul 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank Dr. Walsh. I do not see any other members indicating. Ms Walshe's connection has failed and, as a result, she will be unable to answer the questions that have been posed. I suggest to Deputy Gould and Senator Cummins that we might talk to the Chairman and agree that the committee raise the issues relating to the timing relating to the information it is necessary for local...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Very briefly-----

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire for returning again to the House and bringing forward these amendments. I thank him for taking on board the feedback he has received from my party and obviously from others as well. This is the fourth or fifth time he has legislated to protect renters in the year he has been in office. I think it has been a year...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I will be very brief. I thank the Minister and Senators. This is an urgent Bill which we needed to pass and that has now passed. The linking of rent increases to the consumer price index is long overdue. I thank the Minister. He is correct in saying that this is a very constructive House. He is welcome to bring a Bill, that will address our housing crisis, before this House any day of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I am in Leinster House. I thank Ms Ryan, Mr. Moran and Professor Ó Broin. I appreciate their contributions. I commend them on their ambitions for Limerick and for the people they are representing. It is great. They are articulating a real ambition. I am a big fan of strong local government. I agree with our guests that we do not have strong local government. I have soldiered in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It is not just Waterford as in Dublin we have ambitions for our own directly elected mayor as well. Ms Ryan may think we have everything here but we certainly do not. Mr. Moran was trying to come in and I apologise as I did not mean to cut across him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I agree with Mr. Moran. My fear is that if we do not get it right for Limerick, not only will that then be a failure for Limerick but also for other cities into the future and a failure by us all to strengthen local government and local democracy. We will work hard, review those recommendations and look to challenge their inclusion in the ultimate legislation. I thank the witnesses.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I ask the Leader to raise, on behalf of the Seanad, the proposal of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review the planning process for strategic developments, specifically strategic housing developments. It has been reported, and I welcome the fact that the Minister has acknowledged through the proposal to undertake the review, that the strategic planning process is...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for accepting the amendment and moving his own amendments. It is very important that we as a House copper-fasten the superior authority of the elected members of each local authority. I am very conscious that local authority members, especially here in Dublin, are undertaking marathon meetings, most of which have been virtual due to Covid, and it is most...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I move amendment No. 5: In page 4, line 31, to delete “not less than three quarters” and substitute “a simple majority”.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Minister and congratulate him and everybody in the Green Party, for whom this must be a proud time, given the many decades it has been campaigning. It is a proud time for everybody around the country who, in a big and small way, has contributed to getting us to where we are. This is a historic piece of legislation and one that hopefully will serve generations to come,...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Okay.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (25 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, back to the Seanad. I thank him for bringing this legislation forward. I hope there will be unanimous support for the amendments the Minister is bringing forward. The proposal we are considering today is to extend the emergency protection periods for renters who have been negatively impacted by Covid. I commend the Minister and the...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (25 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Mortality in Single Homeless Population 2020: Engagement with HSE (24 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank Dr. O'Carroll for his report and all the work he does. I thank everybody who works with him as well. Their work is incredible. We are all humbled by it. I acknowledge that in his report Dr. O'Carroll says Ireland can be very proud of our response to Covid-19. He and everybody who works with him can be very proud too. It has been a tremendous response and is one we need to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Mortality in Single Homeless Population 2020: Engagement with HSE (24 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I will be very brief. In the interim, what is Dr. O'Carroll's view on our taking long-term leases to provide suitable accommodation for a secure period such as 25 years? The city council has done this, and I would be interested in his view on that as well. I thank Dr. O'Carroll for coming before the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Mortality in Single Homeless Population 2020: Engagement with HSE (24 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: He is not. On PEAs, I take Dr. O'Carroll's point that the numbers being accommodated in PEAs has significantly increased and has doubled. It now accounts for two thirds of the spend on emergency accommodation. As stated by Dr. O'Carroll the mortality rate is also increasing and almost on a par. We need to be concerned about that. The committee raised this issue with Brendan Kenny of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State and all in the Department for the work they have done on bringing forward the electoral reform Bill. Everyone has said how important and long overdue it is. I commend the Minister of State and the Government on having moved forward so swiftly with this. It is really important. Our democracy depends on free and fair elections, and at a time when our democracy...