Results 1,161-1,180 of 1,401 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

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

Mary Fitzpatrick: I will adhere to the Standing Orders but there is a consensus in this House that what happened is unacceptable, particularly if it happened in the way it is being portrayed in the media.The legitimate questions that are being asked must be answered. If the Leader, on behalf of the House, can ask those questions directly of the CEO of the HSE and the CEO of whatever organisation it is that...

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

Mary Fitzpatrick: Absolutely, I did not mention it. On a more positive note, normally I would be standing in Cabra collecting money for the Irish Cancer Society. I am delighted to be here. I wish I was standing on the streets like thousands of other people who give of their time voluntarily for the society and cancer research. This has been a hard year for all of us, and particularly hard for cancer...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It is not the only-----

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. Fianna Fáil will be supporting the extension of the protections for renters up until 13 July, as this Bill proposes. It is important that we are very clear with renters. I deal with people every day who are either homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or in inadequate housing. Unfortunately my constituency is one that has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: That is fine. I thank the Chair. It was not a problem. It has been an interesting meeting. I thank Mr. Sunderland and Mr. Murphy, and Ms Carolan, for their contributions. They are really helping us. I agree this is a hugely important draft piece of legislation. I suppose democracy is up there for us with the rule of law and human rights and we must get this right. Their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: A woman after my own heart. I thank Ms Carolan. That is great. I ask her to send on the recommendations if she can. The committee can consider how we take this piece of work forward. That information would be very welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I wish to follow on from the previous contribution. When we focus on advertising in the digital environment we are kind of ignoring the elephant in the room. The Internet is on 24-7 and it is available in the palms of everybody's hands. It is the corrupting and corrosive effect of digital influencing on our democracy that we need to be trying to tackle. We need to try to protect the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 (16 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Chairman and the committee secretariat for facilitating this public meeting. It is disappointing that we could not reach an agreement on this issue in our private meeting yesterday. It is a really important issue, in respect of which there is real urgency. The protections for renters will expire if replacement legislation is not enacted. Yesterday, I asked whether the...

Seanad: Family Leave Bill 2021: Second Stage (12 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I am delighted to support this Bill. It is important that the Government is extending parental leave and adoptive leave for married same-sex couples and that we are supporting the work of Tusla by increasing the board membership. Having a child is the greatest life-changing thing that any of us can do and the riskiest and most ambitious thing that any of us can aspire to. I think it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the witnesses for attending the meeting and for all the work they are doing. It is very important work. It is critical for our country and society that there is a sustainable supply of social and affordable homes. We have to catch up on a full decade in this regard and I am sure the witnesses are acutely aware of the desperate need. We welcome and support their efforts. I wish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It is important that it is affordable, and we understand that, but also that it is viable. There is no point in the first 20,000 tenants getting a great deal and then there being nothing into the future. I absolutely accept that point. I have another question about affordability. There are different income households. There might be one household with a two-bedroom unit and it might...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I spent a long time on Dublin City Council and, with great frustration, witnessed decades pass with little delivery of social housing. I appreciate that the local authority did not have the legislation or the schemes to provide affordable rental or affordable purchase over the last decade or so. On the Land Development Agency working with this affordable legislation, can Mr. Coleman outline...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Who will be the shareholders in the LDA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank Mr. Coleman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Deputy Joe Flaherty sends his apologies. I confirm that I am in the Leinster House complex. I apologise for not clarifying that earlier. I thank Mr. Coleman for answering our questions. Does the LDA plan to use section 183? Did the section come from the Department or where did it come from?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: That is great.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I want to discuss the numbers that Mr. Coleman talked about in the earlier part of the meeting. He mentioned figures of 4,200 homes, 3,000 homes and the potential for a further 13,000 homes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: They were from sites that the LDA is assembling. I fully accept that the LDA is without legislation or statutory authority, and without any affordable, rental or purchase legislation or scheme yet. I heard Mr. Coleman talk about reporting within a year to the Oireachtas and the Minister on future projections. I ask him to elaborate on this and to explain it to us in more detail.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Resumed): Land Development Agency (9 Mar 2021)

Mary Fitzpatrick: One criticism has been that just 400 affordable rental units will be delivered this year. We all know that an awful lot more than that is required. Clearly, the LDA knows that and is planning to deliver an awful lot more than that. Apart from a magic wand, what else could the LDA be given that could allow for the delivery of a significantly greater number of affordable rental units within...