Results 41-60 of 2,504 for speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick

Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I hope the Ceann Comhairle will be patient with me.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I am Dundalk born and bred.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I congratulate IDA Ireland and PayPal for choosing Dundalk as the location of its operations. The announcement will have a huge impact on the lives of those who are unemployed in County Louth. Ireland has an excellent reputation for producing skilled workers and I am delighted that PayPal has chosen to set up a new operation in Dundalk. This positive announcement will impact greatly on...

Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Feb 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Legal Services Regulation Bill. It was published on 12 October 2011 and is designed to overhaul the regulation of legal practitioners in Ireland. It implements a commitment under the EU-IMF agreement to remove restrictions to trade and competition in the legal profession. It establishes a new Legal Services Regulatory Authority, a Legal...

Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak about the Education (Amendment) Bill 2012, which abolishes the Educational Disadvantage Committee and allows for the employment of unregistered teachers in limited circumstances. It also gives the Minister for Education and Skills greater power in deciding procedures for the employment, redeployment and dismissal of teachers. It deals with the Scientific...

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2012, the purpose of which is to enable Ireland to confirm acceptance of the second amendment to the Greek loan facility, GLF, as part of the proposed new programme of assistance for Greece. While the legislation contains numerous measures, at its core it is simply about showing benevolence to our fellow man....

Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) and Subsequent Stages (14 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I wish to share time with Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) and Subsequent Stages (14 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to debate the Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012. It is a short Bill which contains only three sections and provides for the transfer of responsibility for the procurement of clotting factor concentrate products from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, to St. James's Hospital. There will be no substantive changes to the...

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this Bill. There are two key areas of reform. First, there is to be a further limitation and greater disclosure of political donations to reduce influence over political parties. Second, the promotion of greater gender parity in politics will be attempted through amending the rules of political funding. Today's Bill will provide that corporate donations...

Banking Sector Regulation: Announcement by Minister for Finance (29 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I am next to contribute on the Topical Issue Debate and have no problem waiting.

Sheep Worrying (29 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Recently some harrowing and shocking accounts of sheep worrying in the Cooley peninsula, County Louth, have come to my attention. The problem is nearing epidemic proportions and causing great strain among the farming community in the area. This area of north Louth has outstanding natural beauty and, as a result, attracts thousands of visitors for recreation. They are welcomed by the farming...

Sheep Worrying (29 Mar 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister for his reply. Up to 2.5 million lambs will be born across the country in the next three months. A dog attack is extremely stressful on sheep and can result in severe injuries and death. I recognise the majority of dog owners are responsible. However, a simple lapse of concentration can have disastrous consequences. I urge dog owners at this time of year to be careful...

Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to debate the Road Safety (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012 which overhauls the system for testing the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles and permits the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to assign new functions in this area to the RSA. In addition, the driving licence system will be centralised and transferred from local authorities to the...

Construction Contracts Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this Bill, which was introduced following the demise of the property industry and with its resulting casualties. Quite often these casualties were not just the larger, well-known companies, but the smaller contractors which had neither the resources nor the capital to sustain the loses they were ultimately to endure. This Bill will predominantly address...

Credit Guarantee Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 May 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I wish to share my time with Deputy Paul Connaughton.

Credit Guarantee Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 May 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: It is not just with pleasure that I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Credit Guarantee Bill but also with sheer elation. On a daily basis in my constituency office in Dundalk I meet people who are distraught about the lack of credit opportunities for their businesses which are usually small, with ten or fewer employees. Quite often they are labour-intensive and located in the lesser...

European Communities (Amendnment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: May I share time with a number of my colleagues?

European Communities (Amendnment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012. It is particularly apt to be discussing a European Bill following the recent adoption of the fiscal treaty by the Irish people. The relief among my constituents is palpable. I was in Drogheda on constituency work this morning and it is fair to say people were delighted the referendum was passed. An air of...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Jun 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill, which provides for a statutory fund to support the survivors of residential institution child abuse. This Bill establishes a residential institution statutory fund board, which will oversee applications for assistance and make arrangements for the provision of approved services or grants to former...

Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues: Statements (21 Jun 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on Ireland's stance on this important issue. Since the late 1950s, this country has been actively engaged in the diplomacy of nuclear non-proliferation. Joining the United Nations gave Ireland the opportunity to express a more positive and assertive neutrality. One of the high points of this strategy was the role played by the State in...