Results 1,061-1,080 of 1,401 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: This is a very important point as it goes to the core of what we are trying to do. Senator Garvey has either deliberately misled people who are watching this debate-----

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I am sorry. My apologies. It is Senator Gavan. That was unintentional. I do apologise. Senator Gavan started by talking about people who do not qualify for social housing because their income is above the income threshold for social housing. Those are the people who this legislation is seeking to help. We are seeking to provide people who earn in excess of the social housing income...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: On the issue of shared equity, it would be helpful if the Minister of State confirmed the position for the House. The objective of the State in providing the shared equity scheme is to financially support people so they will be able to afford to purchase their own home. Applicants will be eligible only if they are unable to secure a mortgage. All applicants will have to have realised their...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Affordable cost rental is important. This is the first time ever in the history of our State that we will provide affordable cost rental accommodation for our citizens. It will be for people who are earning just above the social income threshold but who do not qualify for social housing and are struggling to secure affordable homes to rent. There is a historical model of renting in...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: That is unfair.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I move: That Seanad Éireann: believes that: - a secure home is a basic human right; - Covid-19 highlights the essential protection a secure home provides; - far too many of our citizens are homeless; - essential middle-income workers are struggling to secure an affordable home; - young people should expect to secure an affordable home; - the State has responsibility to protect...

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance and his very positive response to this debate. I thank my party for supporting this motion and its very kind words. I do not think I worked that hard at all but I will take the compliments. It is a real honour for all of us to serve in this House and it is a real honour for me to serve and to be part of the Fianna Fáil Party group...

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I apologise. I will restrict my comments to Senator Warfield. He was here, for which I give him credit, and put forward amendments.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: My attention was drawn to that and I apologise. I was unaware.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I was about to commend the Senator on that.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I was going to commend the Senator on that.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Please do not talk down my time.

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I apologise. I really was not aware. Senator Warfield is correct. He was here and did put forward amendments. Those amendments were debated and the Minister of State, my party and other parties engaged in those debates. When the time came to vote on the actual Bill, the Opposition called a vote and Sinn Féin would not appoint tellers so its Members would not have to vote. That is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It has been a long and hard year for all of us. There has been little good news. However, I acknowledge the good news that has been the vaccination programme. More than 50% of the population have received their first dose of a vaccine and 300,000 doses were administered last week. There is an expectation that a further 2 million doses will be administered by the end of June. All of that...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: In terms of this amendment it is important we do not confuse ourselves, or anyone watching, as to what is being proposed. The Member from Sinn Féin has spoken and articulated the challenge facing working people in this city in trying to buy their own home. It is a terrible reality and one which this Government is legislating to change. The primary objective of the legislation, as...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I stated facts.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I would like the Minister of State to respond. I understand Senator Higgins's legitimate concern. We are all concerned that the price of housing is unaffordable and that is what this legislation is about. The Government is changing the laws so we can deliver affordable homes. The Government will use all of the State's resources, including land and assets, to deliver affordable homes....

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: There-----

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I have tabled an amendment to this section and I would like clarification on whether it will be discussed now. The amendment tabled by Senator Warfield speaks to the Government's objective of trying to have not-for-profit State-led and State-sponsored provision of affordable housing. I ask the Minister of State to give strong consideration to accepting this exact wording, or certainly to...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Committee Stage (28 May 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It will add confidence to the Opposition with regard to its concerns about the Government's intentions. We will speak to it when we get to it.