Results 121-140 of 266 for long speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: UK Driving Licences (27 Mar 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...the spirit of partnership and in the context of the common travel area, I put it to the Minister that we should not ask people to change over their driving licences. There was a common travel area long before the UK or Ireland was in the EU. If the Minister cannot do that perhaps he could tell the House who is making up these rules. Is the EU pushing the Government on this? What part...

Credit Union Restructuring Board (Dissolution) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Mar 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...deficit in areas that the banks have left. I learned from the heads of the credit union that they wanted to help with housing, as Deputy Ó Caoláin stated. They have a large amount of money that they were willing to lend on a long-term basis to help with the housing crisis. It is my understanding they have never been taken up on it. We must keep money circulating. Credit...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (12 Mar 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister of State for his reply but we know that there is a new contract. The problem is that one long-term contract was being issued. Let us be clear that there has been a very good service for many years. We, as public representatives, did not hear anything to the contrary. In recent months, however, most Deputies have been getting phone calls on this issue. Will the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (12 Mar 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. Over a long number of years the delivery of incontinence wear has been hugely important to people in various parts of this country, including in very remote areas, where this service has been made available by the HSE. It has been invaluable, especially for families that are vulnerable or may have a vulnerable person in their house who...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...live anywhere in this country. We must focus on that. A lot of companies would come to Dublin in a hard Brexit scenario. What about rural areas like Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal and places right along the western corridor? We are reliant on agriculture. That is the reality. We have to make sure that air and sea travel is not disrupted. This will become more important in the event of a...

Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (12 Feb 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...There are many people scratching their heads after a while and costing the State money. Also, indemnity insurance needs to be called in. We should not let people off the hook. I refer to those people along the chain who allowed this to happen. I believe that if someone delivers something on time, the people involved, be it the civil servants or the private sector, should be given a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Smart Community Initiative: Discussion (6 Feb 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...but it takes a while to do this because of the funding streams required. In fairness, some education and training boards, ETBs, are involved but they may have to go through LEADER, which is a long process. Is there any way we can streamline the Department's rural development programme the specifically target smaller towns such as Glenamaddy, Ballygar, Strokestown and Castlerea? In that...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I will not delay people long. There are many positives in the Bill. We know the situation in Dublin and in the larger cities, but also in all counties and in smaller towns. I refer to the problems of housing and homelessness in this country. We have seen some of the major landlords coming from foreign lands and dictating the pace of what they do and getting away with many different...

National Broadband Plan: Motion [Private Members] (22 Jan 2019)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...supposedly been coming to rural areas since 2012. I am from a rural area. I worry about competence in respect of what is happening. I am not saying it directly to the Minister because he is not long in the job but if someone has been trying to do something for seven years and is unable to deliver, serious questions need to be asked of the people involved in the process. Do children in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Sale of Permanent TSB Mortgage Loans: Discussion (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: If somebody was negotiating with the bank for a loan because he or she was selling a house, before it fully goes through a few months later, which is how long it takes, who will make the decisions? Before the bank takes the price that is offered for the house, is there an obligation on the bank to contact Mr. Ryan? We will work on this question since Mr. Masding does not wish to work on the...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I will not speak for long. I just want to make a few points. In recent weeks, many Deputies have met doctors, nurses, midwives and others in the health care sector. We are used to listening to different scenarios. Some of the people we met have stated that they may have to leave work. That happening in any country would be sad. We could have done this in a way that allowed people to...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I have listened to the debate in recent days and I have spoken twice. I believe in the necessity of keeping data and ensuring that they are compiled because they may help people in the long term. I have heard Members talking about different nationalities. There are those in parts of this country who do not have the same social and economic opportunities as others. We need to compile data,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the group for its presentation and I have a number of questions. Mr. Verbruggen said he was going to do analysis. Has the analysis started? Is it nearly done? How long will it take? Is there agreement on the scope of work RPS is doing? Is it just to deal with the railway or with flooding as a wider issue? I know he is using the framework that has been done. At the end of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick Railway and Investment in Heavy Rail: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ...carriages are needed. When will that be provided for the Sligo, Westport and Galway trains? I welcome Iarnród Éireann's announcement on more services. I have been raising that issue for a long time. I have another question on which I ask Mr. Meade to be clear in his answer. Has the western rail corridor review, which Iarnród Éireann is supposed to be doing,...

Local Government Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The Minister of State is correct. Fair play to him. Tipperary also touches it. There are a lot of people on the periphery who are concerned. Near Creggs, the guys who go along cutting the hedge will not cut it on the right-hand side for about 100 yards because it is in Roscommon. It worries people because they think if there is a merger of city and council they will be forgotten about...

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 Nov 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the Acting Chairman. I will not hold the House too long. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I welcome the increase that will apply to pensioners and others in receipt of social welfare. There are some worries, however. As every Deputy is aware, there are people in the State who might have worked for a few years and put up a few stamps or they may not have put up...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (14 Nov 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Whether a person is refused or granted asylum, the process is taking far too long. Those people are kept locked up given the way it is done. Media reports from the last few days suggest that some people appear to be making a business of going around the country getting hotels to access the financial gain, to put it bluntly. When agreeing terms with a prospective person or company, does the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Regional and Rural Transport Policy: Discussion (23 Oct 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: ..., Donegal or anywhere in Ireland. I spoke to a person who met their boss from America and who hired a helicopter to bring them to Donegal because they were afraid that if they were on the road too long, the boss would pull the investment. It is about jobs in these areas. I do not know why we cannot make the decision. It is our business, as public representatives, to bring in something...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Regional and Rural Transport Policy: Discussion (23 Oct 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: How long does Ms Hanlon estimate this will take?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Regional and Rural Transport Policy: Discussion (23 Oct 2018)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I know. In addition to costing money, they take a long time. When will we know one way or the other?