Results 1-20 of 1,352 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: The first issue I raise on behalf of the Fianna Fail group is the ongoing genocide and starvation in Gaza. Since 2 March, no humanitarian aid has been delivered to Gaza, with a global hunger monitor warning that more than half a million people, which is a quarter of the population, are facing starvation. RTÉ News is reporting that the United Nations aid chief, Mr. Tom Fletcher, has...

Seanad: National Biodiversity Week: Statements (14 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Minister of State and join with him and colleagues in offering deepest sympathies and condolences to the Minister of State, Deputy O’Sullivan, on the death of his dear sister, Anne Cullinane. May she rest in peace. I acknowledge the presence of the former Minister of State with responsibility for biodiversity, Senator Malcolm Noonan. During the previous Oireachtas...

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Minister for being here to consider this legislation which seeks to protect retail workers in their workspace. More than 300,000 people work in retail in every town, village and city in the country. They provide a vital front-line service in all our communities. What this Bill seeks to do is protect them from attack, be it...

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister and the Government for not opposing this Bill. It is an appropriate response considering the cross-party support for the sentiment behind this Bill. The support exists because we all really do value workers. We value retail workers. I take the points made by the other contributors. I refer to the debate on the need to, potentially, expand the definition of workers...

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Committee Stage ordered for Tuesday, 6 May 2025.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 9 be taken before No.1. The Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025 seeks to provide protection to people working on the front line of retail. There are more than 300,000 people working in retail throughout the country, in every town and village. We buy our milk and newspapers from them. They are essential in all of our communities....

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: First Stage (29 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 to create specific offences for assaulting or threatening retail workers carrying out their employment.

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: First Stage (29 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Tomorrow.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (10 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Aire to the Upper House. Comhghairdeas to him on his appointment as Minister for Justice. He has been a breath of fresh air since taking office. His hands-on approach to the bread-and-butter issues of justice in our communities and throughout our country is welcome. I wish him well in his role. He has a big task ahead. I am seeking an update on the Department's work on...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (10 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I acknowledge the ownership an tAire has taken of this issue since he took office. It is welcome that he proposes to introduce exclusion orders and that he is preparing the Defamation (Amendment) Bill to introduce a defence of retail defamation. I acknowledge the work of An Garda Síochána under Operation Táirge; the more than 8,000 arrests last year are welcome. However, the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I draw the House's attention to the publication yesterday of the 2025 quarter 1 business outlook report from Dublin Chamber of Commerce. This body represents more than 200 businesses in the capital. Being a Dub, I am always looking for an opportunity to champion our great capital but it is really important for everybody in the House to recognise that by 2040, more than 54% of the country's...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Today is World Autism Acceptance Day 2025 and it is an important day in the calendar when we are asked to pause and to recognise the importance of neurodiversity, to give recognition to the strengths and talents of autistic people, and to promote and champion understanding, acceptance and support for neurodivergent people. I congratulate everyone who participated in Dublin city's first...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (2 Apr 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today and for facilitating an early debate on housing for this Seanad. It is the single biggest threat to far too many of our citizens' lives, young and old. I really appreciate and I believe the House really appreciates the priority the Government and the Minister, in his new Ministry, are giving to housing. I wish him well. He has our...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: This morning, I share the great news with the House that Drumcondra is the first village in Ireland to receive the prestigious autism friendly award. The award celebrates communities across Ireland that have demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering autism inclusion and understanding. It is awarded by AsIAm, the autism campaigning organisation. The autism friendly project in Drumcondra...

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, to our debate this afternoon.

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: We will allow the Minister of State to continue for another minute.

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. He will have a further ten minutes to come in at the end of contributions from the Senators. Before I call Senator Joe Flaherty from Fianna Fáil to make his contribution, I welcome the students of St Peter's in Wexford, who I understand are the guests of the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy, who I am sure wishes she could be here with them...

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Well said. Professionalism is in rare supply in the other House at the moment. I call Senator Joe O'Reilly. Is the Senator sharing his time?

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Will Senator O'Reilly need the full ten minutes?