Results 61-80 of 2,504 for speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick

Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Bill which is a welcome addition to the Statute Book. I am fortunate that on my travels throughout my constituency comprising Louth and east Meath the issue of sexual offences against children arose on very few occasions. This is despite the fact that Louth boasts two large urban population centres, in Dundalk and Drogheda. The purpose of the...

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this legislation. As an elected Deputy for the past 18 months, I have dealt with personal queries from distressed constituents throughout counties Louth and east Meath. From Laytown to Greenore, Clogherhead and Tallanstown, the message has been the same - people need to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As a businessman, I have seen the...

Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (18 Jul 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I propose to share time with Deputy Tom Barry. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important legislation. The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010 includes provisions allowing all holders of valid firearm certificates issued for shotguns between 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2012 to be deemed to be the holders of a hunting licence under the Wildlife Acts for the purposes of hunting game bird and...

Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (19 Sep 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012. The Bill will amend and consolidate previous legislation on animal health. It also aims to ensure the welfare of all animals, including non-farm animals, is properly protected. Penalties for offences will be increased significantly. The primary aim of the Bill is bring all animal health and welfare legislation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Department of Health Statement of Strategy 2011-14: Discussion with Secretary General of Department of Health (20 Sep 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Work is under way on the completion of the framework for smaller hospitals and the development of hospital groups. I intend to refer to Louth County Hospital.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Department of Health Statement of Strategy 2011-14: Discussion with Secretary General of Department of Health (20 Sep 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Yes. All acute medicine was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, in July 2010. A minor injury unit was established at the time in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk. The aforementioned unit provides for patients aged 14 and upwards who present with less serious injuries that do not require hospital admission. Day surgeries are in place and since mid-August, an additional...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Thirty-First Amendment to the Constitution (Children) Bill. This is vital and entirely worthy legislation. As other speakers - including the Minister - indicated, it constitutes a firm commitment by the Government to protect children, support families and treat all children equally. The Bill is the culmination of immense work by the offices...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Thirty-First Amendment to the Constitution (Children) Bill. This is vital and entirely worthy legislation. As other speakers - including the Minister - indicated, it constitutes a firm commitment by the Government to protect children, support families and treat all children equally. The Bill is the culmination of immense work by the offices...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Business of Joint Committee (27 Sep 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank the former Minister of State for the good job she has done. She was a very passionate Minister and I wish her the best in her political career.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Role and Functions: Discussion with Irish Medicines Board (27 Sep 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank Mr. O'Mahony for coming before us. Why are Irish citizens forced to pay more for medicine than their counterparts in other countries? The HSE is paying up to 12 times as much as the NHS in Britain in respect of the same generic drugs. For example, it paid 42% more than the NHS for the commonly prescribed anti-depressive Lexapro. The HSE pays €44 for 20 Lexapro tablets,...

Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill. The Bill proposes necessary technical amendments to the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, which introduced a State regulatory regime for the designated health and social care professions not previously regulated. The main purpose of the Bill is to amend the Act to allow the Minister for Health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Policy to Minimise Unemployment: Discussion with Department of Social Protection (3 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: First, I welcome the Self-Employed Alliance Dundalk. I myself was self-employed for a number of years. I took a chance and I gave employment. I do not understand the reason self-employed people cannot pay the same PRSI contributions as their employees. Being self-employed, one pays all one taxes, one pays one's PRSI, one's universal social charges and one's PAYE obligations. One takes a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Entitlements for Self-Employed: Discussion with Self-Employed Alliance Dundalk (3 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the representatives of Self-Employed Alliance Dundalk. I am a newly elected Deputy and know how hard it is to appear before an Oireachtas committee to make a statement. The delegates have done a fantastic job. Mr. Kevin McArdle’s presentation was very honest. He did not leave anything out and everything he said is true. It took a lot for a very established businessman in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Entitlements for Self-Employed: Discussion with Self-Employed Alliance Dundalk (3 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Our guests put their savings and every penny they have into their businesses. I commend them. Members from the Louth and east Meath area are present and would be happy to help. Too many people talk without acting. Do not be afraid to ask for our help. As a newly elected Deputy, I know the efforts our guests have invested.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Entitlements for Self-Employed: Discussion with Self-Employed Alliance Dundalk (3 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The presentation this morning discussed the financial position and how the Department goes back two and a half years in a business history. Two and half years ago I am sure people's businesses were thriving, so there is no true reflection of what is happening now. There should be some kind of emergency provision so that people could get money now while the Department considers the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the witnesses to this committee. The main reason we are dealing with this issue is to make people aware of the damage that being overweight and obese can do to one's health. It is important to show people how they can combat this problem. Obesity levels in Ireland have risen dramatically in the past 20 years. In the 1990s, only one in ten Irish men was obese, and the level today...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Awareness is the most important aspect. For months I have been saying it should start with parents at the kitchen table.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The first step is that when children leave the house in the morning with their lunch boxes, the parents have been educated about the food they should be given. We have to make people aware. Many in my constituency are looking for advice on weight and obesity. It is most important that when groups appear before the committee, they give us the facts and figures. In turn, we can give the...

Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012 which provides for the implementation in national law of certain fiscal rules contained in the Treaty on Stability, Co-ordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. It continues a programme of reforming Ireland's budgetary framework in line with developments at national and EU level. It is aptly named...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Oct 2012)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I thank the witnesses for coming here today. When I was canvassing during the general election campaign 19 months ago I could not help but notice the number of people who were overweight or obese. I said to myself at the time that if I could do something to help such people, I would. The problem is alarming. I congratulate the Minister for setting up the special action group and some of...