Results 1-20 of 1,361 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

Seanad: Situation in Gaza: Statements (29 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning. I thank the Tánaiste also and everyone in the House for making time. I believe there is unanimity in this House on the condemnation of the atrocities of 7 October. It goes beyond words to describe the horror that was experienced and visited upon the Israeli people when more than 1,000 people were killed and injured and more...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I add my best wishes to the O'Farrell family, who have waited 14 long years for an apology. It is far too long and no parent should ever have such a wait. Shane O'Farrell's parents, family and friends have done the State an incredible service by way of their determination, their courage and, more importantly, their love. I can only imagine that their love is what sustained them. I thank...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: It is just glorious. We celebrated Biodiversity Week earlier this month. If people want to see biodiversity in action in the city, it does not get any better than the Royal Canal. I commend the Royal Canal Clean-up Group, Waterways Ireland, the local authority waterways group and the Phibsborough village Tidy Town group on the work they do during the rest of the year when everything is not...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: While the Minister is grabbing this by both horns, I wish him well too. I have full confidence in his capacity to deliver in this very important Department. We are very privileged with the economy and we should not forget to appreciate and express our gratitude to everyone who works and contributes to the economy on a daily basis. We are the envy of many countries, not just in Europe but...

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

Mary Fitzpatrick: I congratulate the young people, families, staff and volunteers at Cabra For Youth, which is a youth service in Cabra founded over 17 years ago that engages with young people and their families. It operates both a mainstream youth service and a justice youth diversion programme. The service engages with young people from eight years of age right up into their early adult years. Last week,...

Seanad: Local Democracy Task Force: Statements (27 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I welcome the Minister of State. I thank him for coming to the House and gabhaim comhghairdeas on his appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for local government. He is an excellent choice for the role, having served as a local authority member and knowing the local authority system as intimately as he does. I have great confidence and ambition for the outcome of his local...

Seanad: Local Democracy Task Force: Statements (27 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: -----all put themselves forward for election out of a desire to serve their communities. I do not believe they go forward for any other reason but that. The State needs to support them. Senator Joe Conway described one of our councillors who is suffering with an illness and he said they did nothing wrong. Not only did they not do anything wrong but they did something incredibly generous...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: We awoke this morning to the continuing, distressing news from Gaza. It is almost impossible to listen, watch and witness the wilful, deliberate starvation and murder of innocent people in Gaza. We also have the news today of the shooting in Washington D.C. and the two deceased there. Obviously, I offer all of our condolences and sympathies to those who knew and loved those two innocent...

Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Business of Joint Committee (21 May 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, and comhghairdeas on your appointment as Chair of this important committee. I thank the secretariat in advance. I look forward to working with them. I am a second-term Senator and previously served on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the drugs committee and the children and disabilities committee. I was...

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...