Results 321-340 of 2,503 for speaker:Peter Fitzpatrick

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The numbers in our Defence Forces are under 8,000 which is an all-time low. I have raised this matter with the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach in recent weeks. It is due to compulsory retirement and is an absolute disgrace. In the past few months, 51 recruits were in Gormanston Camp training to become soldiers but only 12 passed out. A number of them had to be transferred from Cork to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I know the Minister supports it but the bottom line is that action is needed now. We cannot get recruits. We cannot get soldiers. The current strength of 8,000 members is too low. I mentioned Gormanston training camp. We cannot even get personnel to train soldiers. We have qualified soldiers who it cost the Army a lot of money to train. They cannot even pass on their experience because...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 242. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if, in lieu of forcing personnel who want to remain in the Defence Forces to retire on age grounds, he will consider a proposed fix of rehiring them under 2013 contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13558/23]

Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The programme for Government, under Sláintecare, sets out a pathway for expanded access to healthcare in keeping with the vision of universal healthcare. We need to get to a point where we truly have healthcare delivered free at the point of delivery. Three principles should underpin all of our approaches to healthcare - affordability, accessibility and accountability. With regard to...

Reform of Carer's Allowance Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Family Carers Ireland, in its biannual state of caring report, reported that 1,484 carers were caring for a total of 1,984 people across a range of caring situations, including parents caring for a child with an illness or disability, those caring for an adult, carers of older people and those caring for multiple people. Carers do a fantastic job and, as I have often stated in this House,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to concerns raised regarding the SPHE junior curriculum (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14337/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (22 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 195. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence regarding access to services in south Louth CDNT (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14364/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 77. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a passport, which is out of date for more than five years, is seen as a first-time passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13512/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Disaster Response (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 91. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the action Ireland is taking to provide humanitarian and medical aid to the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13516/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 111. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of online passport applications that are currently waiting to be processed; the general processing times for online applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13514/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 124. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason there is such a disparity in online passport application processing timeframes compared to postal application processing timeframes, given that the online application process is not accessible to all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13515/23]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 125. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of postal passport applications that are currently waiting to be processed; the estimated timeframe for this backlog to be cleared; and the general processing times for postal applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13513/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (21 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 1407. To ask the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; the reason their scheduled appointments have been constantly postponed for the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13309/23]

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: The driving test centre was at a temporary location for two years.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Tá fadhb ann. Tá tiománaithe óga ag fanacht ró-fhada lena gcuid tástálacha a dhéanamh agus níl sé sin ceart. Last week, the temporary driving test centre in Marian Park closed, leaving 2,717 customers who have applied for a driving test in Drogheda having to transfer their application to an alternative centre, such as Navan or Dundalk....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: As the Taoiseach knows, one of the most important things is achieving a driving licence. In three massive towns, Dundalk, Drogheda and Navan, the situation is getting worse. I got an email yesterday from a young man in Navan and he is saying the exact same thing. He is getting on and trying to apply for a test. Every time he is on, they tell him to come back in another week and another...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: Last week, PayPal announced a cut of 62 jobs in Ireland and the closure of its Dundalk office at the end of March. PayPal stated that there were to be a small number of jobs lost in Dundalk - 27, to be exact. This is less than the average, based on the 2,000 worldwide losses that PayPal announced in January. However, I empathise with those affected by these job losses. It is difficult for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I have spoken to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in recent weeks about privates in the Army being forced to retire at the age of 50. I know a man who is only 50 years of age. He has a family of three and is being forced to retire. He is a chef. The Army has only paid him pennies. He wants to work on. I have asked the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste what they are going to do. In two...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (7 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 226. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the criteria in relation to the first-time buyers grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10921/23]

Future of Regional Pre-Hospital Emergency Care: Motion [Private Members] (1 Mar 2023)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue and thank my colleagues in the Regional Group for tabling the motion. Yesterday, I spoke about the recruitment and retention issues in respect of recognition, pay, resources, working hours and poor working conditions within the National Ambulance Service. With this motion, my colleagues in the Regional Group and I are seeking to...