Mary Fitzpatrick
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“It would help inform policy, not just in the drugs space but in all areas of mental health, physical health and our social well-being. I draw the House's attention to the publication this morning of the Government's latest progress report on housing - Delivering Homes, Building Communities.”
“This morning's news coverage is dominated by calls from medical professionals for a ban on e-scooters. This follows calls for bans on social media. The Government has moved to ban vapes. We are actively engaged as a country in banning a lot of things at the moment and there is very good reasoning behind a lot of these proposals.”
“That is just in the first quarter and it is up 33%. More than 46,000 new homes have commenced. There is a lot of activity in terms of supply. Affordability is a huge issue for a lot of people but, in the last year, more than 20,000 first-time home purchasers acquired their own home.”
“I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for her forbearance and patience with us. I thank Martin and all of the staff of the Seanad Office on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group. It is a tremendous personal honour and privilege for me to serve with all of the Senators.”
“We all understand the value of our local democracy and the incredible role our elected representatives undertake to represent and champion their communities and ensure they are properly served. The Minister came into the House and gave a response which, unfortunately, there was not a hard copy of to share with Senators.”
“Population growth and changing demographics mean that electoral areas must be reviewed and it is really important to ensure that there is fair and adequate representation. Every citizen's voice should carry equal weight, regardless of where he or she lives, so the boundary review is really important.”
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“I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today to engage with us on this really important issue. I wish her well in her role as Minister of State with responsibility for drugs policy. I am very confident that she will be an excellent Minister of State and will make her mark in this Department because I know she is a very human individual and she always looks at the human. She looks beyond the policy and the statistics and at the human experience. Drugs affect far too many of our citizens. Senator Costello and I are both from the capital. People might think it is a Dublin issue, but it is not. It is in every community in every part of the country now. We wish the Minister of State well and want to support her. She is in the role at an opportune time, because one strategy is coming to an end.”
“They know that a painstaking conservation-led project is being undertaken there. They know the State purchased 14 to 17 Moore Street and put a national protection order on the site. They also know that the State has already spent almost €10 million developing it. I ask Senator Murphy and every member of Sinn Féin to stop with the fake news and scaremongering and get behind the State's plans to keep these important historic sites in State ownership and develop them-----”
“It is important then that Sinn Féin stop this dangerous false narrative that somehow there is a plan to sell it off to private enterprise. There is absolutely no plan. In fact, the responsible Minister confirmed that not once, but twice and maybe three times, last week on the record of the Dáil. Sinn Féin has posters up on the main streets of our capital city that say "Save the GPO". It has an online petition - I wonder what it is using that for - asking people to sign to fight to save the GPO. The GPO is not under any threat. It is in State ownership and will remain in State ownership. The State is investing in developing the GPO and, as Senator Murphy mentioned, 14 to 17 Moore Street. The Senator might want to consult Deputies Ó Snodaigh and McDonald. They were there yesterday with me.”
“I second the proposal from the Sinn Féin Senator for a debate on the GPO. It is an incredibly important building and important site in the history of our State. The disinformation and untruths being put out by Sinn Féin about the plans for the GPO are alarming. We heard them repeated in this House again today. I do not know whether Senator Conor Murphy has been down to the GPO, but it has been operating as offices, retail and a commercial facility for decades, for more than a century in fact.”
“I join in the welcome to our visitors from the west. They are very welcome. They are in great company with the esteemed Senator Crowe and I hope he looks after them well. I am sure he will. I have just heard the very sad news that Brother Kevin Crowley has passed away. Kevin Crowley hailed from Cork and he passed away in his home county. He came to my constituency of Dublin Central many years ago. It is very sad news. For 56 years, Kevin, the volunteers and the people in the Capuchin Day Centre have never turned anyone away. They have always treated everyone with dignity and respect. They have cared not just for their hunger and their need for food and water, but for their well-being. It is very sad. May he rest in peace.”
“They have a finger on the pulse and are uniquely positioned to set the agenda for the local community safety partnerships, which will bring together the statutory agencies - the local authority, the Garda, the health service, Tusla, education and welfare and so on - to address the issues on the agenda. I wish all the local community safety partnerships much success. I hope they deliver for each of their communities. Will the Minister indicate the timeframe within which there will be an evaluation? I cannot recall whether it is a three-year evaluation period. If the Minister has that information to hand, it would be useful.”
“It is encouraging to hear of the efficiency with which the Minister has progressed the regulations and the preparations in train in the local authorities. I welcome the fact there will be five in the city and, to reflect its growing population and expanding demographic, two in Fingal. I echo the Minister's comments on local councillors. They get elected because they know the people they represent and the local area. They care about it. They put themselves forward, primarily in a voluntary capacity, motivated by pride in their community. They want to champion and achieve the best for the community.”
“They can inform and should be the ones informing the agenda for each of the local community safety partnerships. They should be in a position to put themselves forward and be selected as the chairs of those community safety partnerships. Will the Minister provide clarity on the arrangements to be put in place for the capital? We have four local authorities in Dublin. It is the capital. The Minister has put significant priority on increasing safety in the capital. I welcome and support that and I believe these arrangements will greatly enhance potential for increasing community safety in the capital and in each of the 31 local authorities. I look forward to the Minister's update.”
“We want community safety partnerships that reflect the community concerns and the concerns that people encounter in their daily business, going to the shops, maybe antisocial behaviour they witness that is intimidating and discouraging people from going out and using their local public places. I would like the Minister to update the House today on when the community safety partnerships will be implemented and up and operational and the membership of those community safety partnerships, and that they will have members elected from their local communities, the local authority members. They are the people who get the complaints, the people on the front line listening to residents and community groups and understanding where antisocial behaviour is happening and where crime is taking place.”
“The Minister has taken great strides to increase garda numbers, and we commend him on that and on his plans to increase prison places and the proposal to potentially introduce electronic tagging. These are all really good initiatives, and the Garda is to be commended and the Minister's work and his Department's work are to be supported, but community engagement is incredibly important because we cannot have a garda on every single corner and every street at every hour of the day. It is just not practical, it is not possible and none of us want to live in a police state.”
“I and my colleagues in Fianna Fáil supported that legislation and worked very hard to secure in that legislation a commitment from the Minister that when the community safety partnerships would be established the regulations would stipulate that the local elected representatives in each of the local authorities would have strong representation on the partnerships and that the partnerships, once established, would have as their chairpersons members elected to the relevant local authorities. The reason I and my Fianna Fáil colleagues worked very hard to secure that commitment from the Minister for Justice is that we understand it is incredibly important that all our communities feel safe, with safe places to live, to work and to visit, and that young children, their families and our senior citizens all feel they live in a safe environment.”
“I too welcome the visitors from Ringsend. It is opportune that the Minister would take this Commencement matter while his constituents are in the House. Ladies, you are most welcome. This morning I ask that the Minister update the House on the community safety partnerships that are due to be rolled out in the 31 local authorities. In the previous Oireachtas term, the Minister for Justice brought through the House the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.”
“The postmasters' union has made constructive and positive proposals and the Minister should update this House before the summer recess on his proposals to ensure there is a sustainable, successful future for the post office network. I offer a huge "Thank you" and sincere good wishes to Dessie Farrell. He announced his retirement as manager of the Dublin senior football team at the weekend. I thank him on behalf of the people of Dublin for the service he provided our county. He and the lads have done us proud. Dessie comes from my club, Na Fianna. He has had a proud relationship over 40 years with Na Fianna and with GAA in Dublin. As manager of the Dublin team, he did great work. I wish him well in his retirement.”
“I commend Senator Black on the work she did on this issue and the Government for supporting her in it. I refer again to the State's post office network. It dates back to the 1700s. The Leader and I know, as does everyone in this House, that the close to 1,000 post offices around the country do not just sell stamps and deal with payments. They are a lifeline in many communities. For some people, they are their only human interaction. They are the trusted face of the State in our communities. We had the Irish Postmasters Union and An Post in the committees last week. It was a timely engagement. I ask that the Minister come to the House and debate the future of the post office network.”
“I welcome that history will be made in the Oireachtas this afternoon when the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade commences pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill 2025. The legislation is an opportunity for us, as a very small country, to lead the international community on this issue and to make history. Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, and, ultimately, its passing, will assert our solidarity with the Palestinian people and bring about accountability for the occupying forces in the occupied territories. I wish all Members of both Houses well in that work. It is really important that the Bill be progressed quickly and efficiently.”
“The Minister needs to come to this House and explain why she is ignoring that motion, which was unanimously passed by this House, and the action she is going to take to rectify the situation. It is unacceptable. I commend Senator Nelson Murray on the work she has done raising the issue of insurance premiums, an issue I have also raised. We have heard about a proposal that is going to go to Government to increase personal injuries guidelines by 17%. Small businesses, clubs and charitable organisations are crippled by insurance costs. We cannot have it and we must bring the Minister in to address it again.”
“The most recent EU-commissioned report said that Israel is perpetrating indiscriminate attacks, starvation, torture and apartheid. What is being perpetrated is inhumane and the EU must move to suspend its agreement with Israel. I read with great annoyance and disgust the announcement in the papers that the Minister for Health has moved to name the new children's hospital with complete disregard for this House and for the public support for the naming of the hospital after the great Kathleen Lynn. The Deputy Leader will recall that, during the previous term, this House passed a unanimous motion, which is not a common occurrence, proposed by me and supported by all of the Senators to name the national children's hospital the Kathleen Lynn National Children's Hospital.”
“I return to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and continue to express our concerns for the human atrocities being perpetrated there. We have moved to a point where we are not talking about women, children and men dying of starvation. We are talking about them dying of thirst. Water is something we take for granted. I reiterate our criticism of the division within the EU in its approach to tackling this war. I appreciate that the EU is unified in its commitment to a ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid and unified in its commitment to address these atrocities with Israel, but the situation is beyond tolerable. I believe the EU must move to suspend its agreement with Israel. These are not words I say lightly but it is beyond tolerable for any of us.”
“I ask him to go back to the Minister and her officials and specifically request that she Minister will meet me, the other public representatives from Dublin Central and the parents committee to discuss with us how this issue is going to be resolved, how she is going to ensure that construction recommences, and what arrangements she is going to put in place for the school so that there is a date by which the construction will be completed and those involved know where they are going to be attending come September and into next year. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could facilitate that request.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that he has been sent with a reply from the Minister for Education and Youth. It is disappointing that the Minister herself is not here, considering the importance of this school project and the unacceptable delays with it. The reply the Minister of State has been provided with - I thank him for sharing it with the House - basically confirms everything we all know.”
“Teachers, pupils and parents want to know the plan to get builders back on site, recommence and accelerate construction and put a date in place by which they will move into their new school building. What will happen in the interim? At this point, the best guess is some time in 2026. I hope the Minister of State has an update.”
“Those páistí and múinteoirí were promised a new 16-classroom, state-of-the-art, designed and built school that would be ready for them to move into this year. It was not entirely a surprise when we got word it was delayed because we had heard about it towards the end of last year. We were given assurances by the Department that everything that could be done was being done, a project management team was in place and everything to recover the lost time and accelerate the project would be done. As I said, though, work has stopped and there is no prospect of a date by which the school can move into its new building. That is why I submitted this Commencement matter, to ask the Minister for Education and Youth to come to the House to update not just me but, more importantly, the school community.”
“The design was already prepared, with world-class architects and construction companies involved in designing and building the school. I have been down to the site; it is a challenging site. Any place in the inner city, particularly a brownfield site, will always be challenging. We are a medieval city, too, so there are always issues around foundations and archaeology. There are Luas lines and power lines going by. We live in the real world, us Dubs. We are very practical; we understand. We have all chosen to live in the city, bring up our kids in the city and have them educated in the heart of our great capital. I cannot tell the Minister of State how depressing it is to say that, if he and I were to go down to Dominick Street today, no work would be going on. Building work has ceased.”
“I will not get into the monetary cost of what has been spent by the State in providing inadequate education facilities for the finest young children and teachers in the country. I am biased because I am based in Dublin Central, but they are the finest. The páistí and múinteoirí are fantastic people. It was my great privilege as a city councillor over a decade ago, with other councillors, to transfer land so that school could have a permanent, purpose-built building on Dominick Street. I made it number one on the agenda when Fianna Fáil went into government in 2020 that Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire have a purpose-built school. I give credit to Deputy Foley, because it was to our great satisfaction that, during the previous Government term, the purpose-built school commenced.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I appreciate the Minister of State's attendance. This is an important issue. Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire is a primary school that has been located in temporary facilities - the Minister of State may struggle to believe this - for 23 years. To give a perspective on the human impact of that amount of time, the principal, Paul Hansard, a very fine principal and school teacher, attended the school himself. He went to secondary school, college, became a teacher and has been the principal for a number of years. That gives a perspective of how long the school has been in temporary accommodation. The cost is hundreds of thousands of euro every year.”
“The inner city is the heart of our capital and we must ensure this city task force is successful. I commend the Government on bringing forward a comprehensive roadmap. It is a ten-year plan, which acknowledges and signals the seriousness of the issue and the commitment required to make it successful. There are three phases of delivery and five key strands of work. Not for the first time, I ask that we have a debate in this House with the Taoiseach on the city task force. It is important, not only for those of us who live in the city, but for our country. Dublin city is the first place that many visitors to this island arrive into. The impression they receive is incredibly important and we must ensure that it not only looks its best, but that it is at its best.”
“I welcome the approval yesterday by the Government of the city task force, a plan for Dublin city. This is a really important moment in the history of our capital. The plan has three primary objectives, namely, to get more people living in the city, to have safer and cleaner public streets and public spaces. and to have an always-on vibrant city that respects our heritage. They are three no-brainer objectives that we should all be able to get behind. We first called for a dedicated authority to regenerate the inner city back in 2018. Unfortunately, we were not in government at the time, but those who are now in government have thankfully seen the light and we have a city task force. In that intervening period, however, much damage has been done to the inner city and the world has changed.”
“On a point of clarification, the amendment is well-intentioned and we all share the objective of reducing the cost of rent and homes and making them more affordable for everyone, but do the Members who are proposing the amendment have analysis of what the impact would be? Is it something they could share with us?”
“There is a massive appetite in urban areas for the affordable cost rental model, one that provides affordable rents on a long-term basis in a stable, secure home. I hope that when we come back in September for the autumn term and we are progressing the Minister's legislation for post March 2026, he will also be able to talk to the House about what is being done to accelerate the supply of rental homes and, most importantly, affordable cost rental. In urban areas, it is really important that people have the opportunity to rent affordably and securely in a stable environment and in well-maintained properties. I commend the Minister on the work he has done. I thank him for coming to the House. We will be supporting the Bill.”
“Everything that can be done should be done to accelerate the increased supply of homes through planning exemptions, the land zonings the Minister is progressing and the work he is doing in increasing funding to Irish Water and the utilities that are so essential to the building of new homes. We and the Department must also look at something that was done by the previous Government, that is, the increase in funding for social and affordable housing, and not just affordable housing to purchase but also to rent. Affordable cost rental in urban areas is essential. It was an exceptional achievement to get it through from a legislative perspective to being progressed as a policy and progressed with funding. To actually see affordable homes being advertised in Dublin city is welcome. The Minister knows this; I have heard him speak about it.”
“I know additional resources have been given to the RTB but a review of the adequacy of those resources and the operations, effectiveness and accessibility of the RTB for all renters would be important. The Minister said in his opening comments that this is only one element, and I want to acknowledge that. I acknowledge the energy the Minister has applied to what is a huge task, one that I know is a top priority for Government. Increasing housing supply and affordability will not be achieved through this one Bill but it is an important step and an important legislative development. For that reason we will obviously be supporting it. I also heard the Minister mention the planning exemptions he is progressing, which are very important.”
“It is important people know rent pressure zones are extended, the caps are extended to all renters and the Minister will progress legislation that will introduce from next March the new scheme which will involve for the first time a national rent control, end no-fault evictions, cap rents at inflation and only allow resetting of rents when there is a change of tenancy. It is shifting protections to renters, which is important. I ask the Minister and the Department, when progressing the legislation for March 2026, to look at other areas around renters that need attention. The rent register should be progressed. I know the Department has been working on it. Could the Department progress a deposit scheme for renters in parallel?”
“That means that for the first time renters all over the country, no matter where they are, will be protected by rent pressure zones. There will not be one level of protection for a renter in one location and another level in another location. There will be equality for renters. In bringing forward this interim measure, it is important to communicate this to renters. There has been clear communication from the Minister but as the legislation passes in the Seanad today, hopefully, and is signed by the President, there should be further communications to the general public.”
“The latter are often pilloried and demonised, particularly by the Opposition, but it must be recognised that we need all types of homes. We need the State to provide homes and there is historical, unprecedented State funding going in to increasing supply and affordability. It is also important that there is private investment. That private investment will come from developers, construction companies, banks and private equity, as well as from investment funds and other ethical investors. If we are to encourage that investment, it is important to increase supply and to provide certainty, clarity and stability. This interim measure the Minister is bringing forward will introduce that. Most importantly for renters, it extends rent pressure zone protections.”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the House and for the work he and his Department have done to bring forward this interim legislation. With almost 250,000 registered tenancies in the country, an awful lot of people living in rented accommodation need what the Minister is promising to deliver through this legislation and all the other work he is doing: certainty, stability and clarity. It is important that people have security and know they have a home that meets their needs. I know the Minister understands the crisis and emergency around housing. I appreciate the work he and the Department are doing. All the NGOs must also be recognised, as well as the local authorities, the approved housing bodies and those who invest their private equity in increasing housing supply.”
“I wish the Minister of State well in her role and I urge her to use the powers of her office to effectively support our SMEs not just to survive but truly to thrive and be sustainable into the future.”
“As the Minister of State in this Department, I urge her to work with the officials in her Department and other Departments and across government in this regard. We should also work with other governments because we operate in an open global market. Our SMEs compete both locally in our towns, villages and cities and also increasingly on a European and global basis. Things like the US tariffs that are being threatened bring huge impact and worry. Small enterprises throughout the country, not just in the docklands or in the capital, will be impacted by these potential tariffs. Likewise, European regulations and decisions that are made at a great distance geographically have a direct impact on the viability of small businesses in each of our communities.”
“Senator Nelson Murray clearly articulated that if you are in the food businesses and seeing double-digit percentage increases, it goes to the bottom line and viability of businesses. That is undermining service provision, employment and what is available in each community. Quality employment is critical for enterprise because workers are productive when they feel valued by the employer. They are productive when they feel engaged in a meaningful economic activity and when they get satisfaction from that work. They get satisfaction both in doing the work and in being rewarded for it. It is a fair and reasonable expectation to be properly and adequately rewarded for their contribution. That cost is a significant challenge.”
“We want to acknowledge the recognition that this Government has given in its earliest days to the importance of enterprise. We acknowledge the establishment of the various groups by the Government, including the cost of business advisory forum, the small business unit within the Minister of State's Department and the action plan on competition. The Minister for justice has also established the retail crime forum. As my colleagues have said, the struggle that independent employers and enterprises have are very real and are threatening their viability. They are threatening their ability to continue to trade and to provide services, employment and products. Energy costs have been mentioned as an example of the real challenges. The supply side price increases are a challenge.”
“Those are people who get up in the morning thinking about the product and service they are going to provide, the people they are going to employ, the customers they are going to serve and ensuring that their business activity is viable. They go to bed at night thinking about exactly the same things. For them, it is a way of life. It is not a job or place of employment but their life. It is what they live, breathe and think about. It is important, therefore, that the Government places a high priority on supporting those individuals not just as constituents or citizens but as employers, business creators and service providers. Over 99% of Irish businesses identify as SMEs. The sector is enormous and intrinsic to the economy and society of the country. It is incredibly important and that is why the Fianna Fáil group has raised it.”
“The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I thank her for being here to respond to the Private Members' motion proposed by my colleague, Senator Crowe, and brought forward by the Fianna Fáil group. I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment. It is long overdue and well deserved. She has hit the ground running and we are all confident that at the end of her term, she will be able to point to significant success and achievements in her Department. We are all behind her. That said, our motion is serious for individuals such as Senator Nelson Murray and her family, Senator Crowe and his family and the members of RGDATA. I was nominated by RGDATA to contest the Seanad election. It represents over 3,000 indigenous independent Irish retailers.”
“Before I call Senator Conor Murphy, I welcome Deputy Ryan O'Meara from Tipperary and his guests. I am proud to welcome former Councillor John Sheehy and his son, Brendan, and Mr. Pat Dowling. They are visiting the Seanad from Ballina, County Tipperary. We are delighted they are here and hope they enjoy their visit. They have a great host in Deputy O'Meara. I acknowledge Mr. Sheehy's service as a former councillor because it is important. I know that he served his country and community for a long time and I express appreciation for that. I thank him for all the work he has done and hope he enjoys his visit to Leinster House.”
“Before I commence the debate, I welcome the guests of the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, who are visiting us from Broadford school in Kildare. They are all very welcome. I hope they are enjoying their visit to Leinster House. They brought the sunshine with them from Kildare. I presume between now and the end of the school year there will be no more homework for them. That is the rule in this House, so they should be sure to remind their teachers when they get back to Kildare. I hope they enjoy their visit.”
“On a point of order, it is really important that in this House, when we discuss issues, we do so in an accurate and objective way. It is misrepresenting the situation to suggest that taking a health-led approach is soft on drugs, and that is exactly what the Senator said.”
“It absolutely misrepresented the work of the drugs committee, the intention of the drugs committee and, most importantly, the Fianna Fáil Members in this House, in the Lower House and on the committee. I ask that those comments be retracted.”
“Saying that being soft on drugs is somehow trying to stigmatise and polarise that debate is unhelpful, it is ignorant and, more importantly, it is untrue. It absolutely misrepresented-----”
“The littering, the drug dealing, the antisocial behaviour and the dereliction all need to be tackled so that Dublin city will be a safer place for all of us who live and work here and for everyone who visits. Dublin city is full of great people and really strong communities that make it a fabulous place to live in, but it is being failed and the city task force is desperately needed. I have to absolutely reject the comments from Senator Mullen. I ask the Leader to urge Senator Mullen to retract his statement about Fianna Fáil in trying to politicise the issue of drugs, which is an incredibly serious issue. I am privileged to have been elected vice chair of the new committee on drugs. I served on the previous committee. Adopting a health-led approach is an humanitarian response.”
“I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Carmencita Hederman. Carmencita served as a Dublin city councillor for 25 years and she served in the Seanad. I had the pleasure of serving with her daughter Wendy on Dublin City Council. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this time. I have raised Dublin city a number of times in this Chamber. I welcome the announcement from the Taoiseach that he intends to bring a memo to Government next week to establish a Dublin city task force. The urgency and the need for the Dublin city task force cannot be overstated. Again this week, we had another report from Irish Business Against Litter, IBAL, about littering in the inner city. Much to our abhorrence, Dublin's inner city has not only persistently rated as littered but has deteriorated.”
“Finally, I ask that the Irish Government seeks permission from the Israeli Government to go and visit the EU office in Gaza and demand that the European Union retains that office in Gaza.”
“I am proud that we have used what influence we have to condemn the atrocities, genocide and war on humanity. I am proud that as a small country, we have tried to lead other bigger countries to join in our condemnation and work for a ceasefire and a two-state solution. Before the Minister of State, the Tánaiste said that it is not enough. The Minister of State recognises that it is not enough. We all recognise that it is not enough. We are a strong member of the European Union. When history is written, the European Union will not have covered itself in glory or anything near that. The European Union needs to act with strength. It is not sufficient to review the agreement between the EU and Israel. There must be an immediate suspension of that agreement.”