Joseph Martin FitzPatrick (born 1 April 1967) is a Scottish politician who most recently served as Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning from March 2023 to May 2024.

Prior to his most recent Ministerial appointment, he was Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.

[8] The legislation allowed British, Commonwealth or EU Citizens over the age of 16 to vote in Scottish Parliament and local council elections.

Evidence shows that opt-out systems can make a difference as part of a wider package of measures and this Act provides further opportunities to both save and improve lives.

"[15] In December 2020, FitzPatrick welcomed a review which made it easier for gay and bisexual men to donate blood in Scotland.

"[16] In December 2020, figures were released revealing that 1,264 people in Scotland had died from drug overdoses in 2019 – the highest number in Europe and three and a half times the rate in England and Wales.

[17] Activist Darren McGarvey claimed FitzPatrick as Public Health Minister was "incapable of leading us anywhere but the mortuary"[18] and opposition parties tabled a motion of no confidence in him in Holyrood.

[19] Two days before FitzPatrick left office as Public Health Minister he was challenged to attend an unsanctioned mobile drug consumption facility which was parked outside Holyrood by activist Peter Krykant.

FitzPatrick resigned, commenting that it had been the “privilege of my life to serve in the Scottish Government” but that the "most heart-breaking and difficult problems" he faced as public health minister were the harms and deaths caused by drug use.

[22][23] In June 2022, FitzPatrick met with Krykant and charity Cranstoun in the Scottish Parliament to discuss proposals for an overdose prevention centre (OPC) in Dundee.

In 2022, FitzPatrick led a Members' Debate in the Scottish Parliament condemning the findings of an investigation, undertaken by The Courier and Press & Journal, which found that 60% of female respondents had experienced sexism in football.

"[29] At First Minister's Questions on 12 May 2022, FitzPatrick condemned reports of sexist, racist and homophobic comments at the Scottish Football Writers’ Association gala dinner.

"[30] The Scottish Football Writers’ Association apologised after a speaker’s sexist and misogynistic jokes prompted attendees to walk out of its annual awards dinner.

It has been an honour to serve in the last government and I am proud of working with COSLA and Scotland's 32 local authorities during that time, particularly to deliver a council tax freeze to support people through the current Westminster made cost living crisis.

I know it's progressive policies like this that can make a difference to people and you will continue to take forward as First Minister and I commend your focus on child poverty.