Results 1-20 of 1,343 for speaker:Mary Fitzpatrick

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?

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

Mary Fitzpatrick: Okay. We will do that. Please, carry on.

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

Mary Fitzpatrick: I am sure the Minister of State is giving this matter his attention.

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

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Seanadóir. I call the Minister of State to reply. He has ten minutes.

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

Mary Fitzpatrick: I will give the Minister of State a minute or two.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vacant Properties (20 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. In a world where we are surrounded and bombarded daily with bad news housing stories, I want to talk about one positive housing story. The croí cónaithe vacant property grants were introduced by the previous Government in 2022. I had the privilege of working with the previous Minister, his Department and our local authority...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vacant Properties (20 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State for his kind words. Solving the housing crisis is our number one priority. The work the Government and the Minister of State do, and which all of us can do to support the Government to achieve that outcome, is a privilege for us. I acknowledge in the Minister of State's reply the fact that the croí cónaithe grant can be used in combination with the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I ask the Deputy Leader to ask the Minister for Justice to introduce legislative protections for retailers to protect them from spurious and vexatious defamation claims. The Deputy Leader and I are aware that shopkeepers are up early in the morning, providing essential front-line services in all of our communities. A recent survey of retailers found that 94% of them have been impacted by...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (4 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I acknowledge the work being done by the Department, the Minister of State, the Minister and all of the stakeholders. It is good news. Women will be pleased to hear that there is a date of 7 March for Estradot transdermal patches. That in and of itself is really positive news. I ask the Minister of State to go back to the Department and ask for a date by which HRT will be made available...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (4 Mar 2025)

Mary Fitzpatrick: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, for coming to the House. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit on her appointment. I am sure she will be very successful in her new position. I am disappointed that the senior Minister is not here to take this matter. but I genuinely appreciate the Minister of State's time and the support from the Department. I am...