Michael Fitzmaurice (politician) explained

Honorific-Suffix:TD
Office:Teachta Dála
Term Start:February 2016
Constituency:Roscommon–Galway
Term Start1:October 2014
Term End1:February 2016
Constituency1:Roscommon–South Leitrim
Birth Date:18 September 1969
Birth Place:Glinsk, County Galway, Ireland
Nationality:Irish
Party:Independent Ireland (since 2024)
Otherparty:Independent (until 2024)
Children:3

Michael Fitzmaurice (born 18 September 1969) is an Irish Independent Ireland politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Roscommon–Galway constituency since the 2016 general election, and from 2014 to 2016 for the Roscommon–South Leitrim constituency.[1] [2]

Before becoming a politician, Fitzmaurice used to run an agricultural and turf contracting business.[3] He is the chair of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association.

Political career

He was elected to Galway County Council for the Tuam local electoral area following the local elections held in May 2014.[4] He entered national politics after winning a by-election caused by the election of Luke 'Ming' Flanagan to the European Parliament. He was endorsed by Flanagan.

He was a founding member of the Independent Alliance, which was formed in 2015.[5] On 18 May 2016, Fitzmaurice, was the only Independent Alliance TD to vote against Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. He later announced that day he was leaving the group and would not join the government.[6]

In February 2024, he joined Independent Ireland, a party founded the previous year by Michael Collins.[7]

Policies

Fitzmaurice is in favour of cutting "turf" (peat). Turbary rights have been affected by the Habitats Directive, which has resulted in the protection of some raised bogs in Ireland since the 1990s.[8] As at the end of 2018 protection of some bogs as Special Areas of Conservation remains in force, but Fitzmaurice and other politicians have succeeded in removing protection from some bogs designated as Natural Heritage Areas under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.[9]

He supports water meters, although he thinks some usage should be free to consumers.

Fitzmaurice is a critic of environmental vegetarianism. Defending Irish livestock farmers, he criticised the former President Mary Robinson for advocating reduced meat and dairy consumption so that people have a lower carbon footprint.[10] Along with several other TDs, he later criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for comments about trying to reduce his consumption of meat.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michael Fitzmaurice. Oireachtas Members Database. 13 July 2019. 16 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416113214/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Michael-Fitzmaurice.D.2014-10-10/. live.
  2. News: Michael Fitzmaurice wins in Roscommon/South-Leitrim by-election. RTÉ News. 11 October 2014. 11 October 2014. 13 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141013005856/http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1011/651577-by-elections/. live.
  3. Web site: My Farming Week. Irish Farmers Journal. 15 October 2014. 13 June 2015. 24 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010543/http://www.farmersjournal.ie/my-farming-week-michael-fitzmaurice-williamstown-co-galway-167054/. live.
  4. Web site: Michael Fitzmaurice. ElectionsIreland.org. 11 October 2014. 10 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141010131556/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=10755. live.
  5. News: Feargal Quinn to announce he is to join Independent Alliance. The Irish Times. 29 June 2015. 19 September 2015. 12 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812162355/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/feargal-quinn-to-announce-he-is-to-join-independent-alliance-1.2266057. live.
  6. News: Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice quits Independent Alliance. Gallagher. Páraic. Newstalk FM. 18 May 2016. 18 May 2016. 1 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032231/http://www.newstalk.com/RoscommonGalway-TD-Michael-Fitzmaurice-quits-Independent-Alliance. live.
  7. News: Michael Fitzmaurice to join new Independent Ireland party. Paul. Cunningham. 12 February 2024. RTÉ News.
  8. Web site: 'This is about heritage and tradition': Turf cutters say the new bogs strategy won't solve the problem. TheJournal.ie. 22 December 2017. 7 October 2018. 7 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181007145535/http://www.thejournal.ie/turf-cutting-3-3766317-Dec2017/. live.
  9. News: West's own coalition succeeds in de-designating . Farragher . F . 20 December 2018 . . 21 December 2018 . 21 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221230356/https://connachttribune.ie/wests-own-coalition-succeeds-in-de-designation-of-nha-bogs/ . live .
  10. News: Independent TD calls Mary Robinson's advice to stop eating meat 'bizarre and unhelpful'. TheJournal.ie. 29 September 2016. 10 November 2018. 10 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181110200030/https://www.thejournal.ie/michael-fitzmaurice-mary-robinson-3002853-Sep2016/. live.
  11. News: Taoiseach's comments on meat could impact agri business, says Fitzmaurice. Irish Examiner. 15 January 2019. 19 January 2019. 20 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190120043147/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/taoiseachs-comments-on-meat-could-impact-agri-business-says-fitzmaurice-897657.html. live.

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