Results 1,141-1,160 of 1,350 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: My first question is for the CCMA. Mr. Curran referenced the county and city development plans. This process takes about two years. Considering all the pent-up need for affordable housing and how long we have all waited for an affordable rental scheme, I really hope we will not be waiting for two years for the local authorities to give us a projection on the need for affordable housing for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It is my understanding that local authorities have already available to them land with a capacity for 110,000 or 120,000 units. Is this correct? Is there a report to which the witnesses could refer us that will give us details of what land is in local authority ownership in each jurisdiction and the capacity for housing on these land tracts?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (26 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad this morning. Senator Seery Kearney and I wish to address the issue of the precarious nature of employment being experienced by front-line delivery workers who work in the gig economy. The Minister of State will be aware from going through Dublin city that the streets are empty except for front-line workers such as the emergency...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (26 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for his response, but I concur with Senator Seery Kearney. The world has moved on. The gig economy is real, it is alive, and a great many of our citizens are earning an income and a living in the gig economy. The Government needs to respond to that reality. I appreciate the Minister of State coming to the House, I appreciate that the House has given time to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the White Paper released by the Government outlining a plan to end the temporary arrangements which were put in place as an emergency response by way of direct provision. I also welcome the commitment to State-provided and NGO-supported accommodation for those seeking asylum in our country. Those seeking asylum will be staying temporarily in this accommodation. Wrap-around...

Seanad: Ábhair Ghnó an tSeanaid – Matters on the Business of the Seanad (22 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I support the issue raised regarding the Deliveroo front-line workers. I have submitted a Commencement matter, which the Cathaoirleach may consider for debate later this week, with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Leo Varadkar. This is a huge issue affecting not just the northside and southside of Dublin, but other cities around the country. I express to the Leader...

Seanad: Councillors' Pay: Motion (22 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Those contributions are spot on. I was first elected as a city councillor in 2004. Over the past 16 years, I experienced at first hand how the role and its associated demands have changed. I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House today to address this important issue which goes to the core of our democracy. I thank the Independent Senators for facilitating the House with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Today, I would like the House to remember that 100 years ago tomorrow the Irish Republican Army in east Cork suffered the largest loss of life of volunteers at Clonmult, some 7 miles outside of Midleton, when 12 young men - two of whom were my grand-uncles - were killed and eight were taken prisoner. The defeat was a great boost to the British at the time. The event has largely been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Engagement with the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Would the Minister like to use my first minute to answer that question because we all want to hear an answer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Engagement with the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister for that, for coming before the committee and for the work that he and his Department are doing. The report from the commission was always destined to disappoint and has caused more upset and hurt than anybody would ever have wanted or intended. It has also caused a lot of anger. Its failure in tone, as the Minister has articulated, and failure to recognise basic human...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I am participating in the meeting from Leinster House. I thank the witnesses for their contributions. We all accept that the crisis of supply and affordability in terms of housing is our single most immediate challenge. I appreciate the work the witnesses are doing to help us address that challenge. I will ask a couple of specific questions, the first of which is meant to clarify...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Actually, just before Dr. O'Toole does, I want to get to my point because I only have five minutes. Does that mean that the ESRI did not take into account local authorities' shared equity, the AHBs' supply side or the co-operatives? If so, will Dr. O'Toole confirm that the statement does not assume that this will be a time-based measure and will only be available to first-time buyers who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Is it then excluding all the supply side measures and all the restrictions to be applied to it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Does Dr. O'Toole agree that would be achieved if it is limited to people who cannot borrow from commercial banks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Why? I would have thought it is very easy for someone to demonstrate that they went to a bank and were refused. How is it difficult to demonstrate that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: May I just ask-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I will come back in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank Dr. O'Toole. What the Chairman suggested would be useful. Twenty of 23 of the Bill's heads deal with the local authority affordable purchase scheme. We would welcome the ESRI's comments on that element. Deputy Gould mentioned that he had been proposing affordable housing for ten years. I suggest that, if he voted for Fianna Fáil, he would start to see that being delivered....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Examinations (15 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for attending. Anybody watching will be disappointed that the Minister for Education is not here but I understand this is because she is participating in the talks to try to finalise arrangements for the leaving certificate examinations. From the start of the pandemic, which was almost a year ago, until now, 15 February, the Government has prioritised...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Examinations (15 Feb 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and for coming into the Chamber. A flexible and agile approach that puts the welfare of students as a priority is obviously welcome and we all support it. I must say, though, it is disappointing that the Department did not provide more information to this House and that the Sunday newspapers seem to carry more detail than this House is being...