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.
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]
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 PresidentMary 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]
References
^"Michael Fitzmaurice". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.