Results 2,841-2,860 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: What are we to understand from that? When the Minister made those claims, were we to understand that it would be illegal under the new legislation to abort the baby on the ground of disability? Many voters certainly did, and many reluctant "Yes" voters have said that reassurance was a big factor in the way they voted. It must be made very clear at this point that at no stage and in none...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: Had they searched the legislation, they would have quickly discovered that the Bill makes no mention of disability. Unfortunately, the majority of the media also chose not to challenge the Minister on the spin that was put out. He would like all of us to believe that if it is not specifically legal to abort on the ground of disability, it will somehow not happen in Ireland. That view is...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: I spoke on this amendment last night and I felt that, following a poll that was carried out after the referendum, it was clear that the people did not fully realise that the taxpayer would have to foot the bill. I raised questions on this last night and the Minister did not answer them. The questions were about the large numbers in the UK who have a second abortion and the many cases of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: In the programme for Government under health the Government stated efforts to increase access to safe timely care as close to patients' homes as is possible would be a priority for the new partnership Government. In west Cork, Bantry General Hospital is a modern vibrant hospital providing a wide range of services to 80,000 people in west Cork and many in Kerry. This year, more than 1,600...

Microgeneration Support Scheme Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It provides for the growth of electricity production for microgenerators through a supplier obligation to provide a tariff for electricity exported to the grid. In layman's terms, that will mean that this Bill will allow for householders to produce renewable energy from solar panels or wind turbines on their own homes or land. Energy...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (27 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: I am glad to get an opportunity to speak on this amendment, which I fully support. I will try to outline the reasons for this. I am delighted to get the opportunity to speak because it is part of democracy to get to speak in the Parliament. Many have tried to stifle that here tonight, but they certainly will not stifle me. Having spoken to many people on the issue, I put it to the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: In response to questions I asked in the House in 2017, and in March of this year, during my engagement on Leaders' Questions with the Taoiseach's stand-in, the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, I was told the Department of Education and Skills had given a green light on 2 December 2017 to four mainstream classrooms and two resource teaching rooms for St. Brogan's college, a secondary school...

Brexit: Motion (21 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. My Rural Independent Alliance colleague, Deputy Harty, made a valid point earlier this year when he pointed out that the Government is dedicating a lot of time to preventing the impact of Brexit from causing damage. Deputy Harty was right when he said closing the post offices in rural areas is like encouraging an "internal Brexit". I could...

Older People: Motion [Private Members] (21 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: Last month, my Rural Independent colleagues and I spoke on the Vulnerable Persons Bill 2015, where we highlighted the vulnerability of elderly people. We are here again speaking about elderly people and the difficulties that they face. Is it not clear to the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, that issues of the elderly are coming up every day, sometimes several times a day, in the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: Some 12 months ago we were assured that a consultant who was retiring in Bantry General Hospital would be replaced by a full-time consultant. We have now found out that no full-time replacement has been acquired and that the standing consultant is leaving Bantry General Hospital. This, coupled with the retirement of one of the two local injury doctors who has not been replaced either,...

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

Michael Collins: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It proposes the transfer of part of the administrative area of Cork County Council to Cork City Council. The recent proposed boundary changes which involve the transfer of a significant number of people from the county council to the city council will have a detrimental effect on the county. The loss of areas such as Glanmire, Blarney...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: What about the survey?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: Growing old in modern Ireland and particularly in west Cork is extremely difficult, to say the least, with people on massive waiting lists even though many are only seeking minor procedures. Many thousands more are waiting months for carer's allowance for caring for a loved one or a neighbour. Tens of thousands are waiting for eye surgery, mainly cataract surgery, which is a 15-minute...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: The Tánaiste keeps spinning figures and statements at us when we raise this issue. The reality in the community is very different. When did the Tánaiste last speak to a home help woman who delivers the service? When did he last speak to an elderly person who requires the service and cannot get it? I have been doing both throughout west Cork for a lengthy period. The results of...

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

Michael Collins: I did not interrupt the Minister. I ask her to give serious consideration to how that scheme is being run. We need to be given a full account in Dáil as to how it is being run, how much it is costing the State and what percentage people are on for bringing in people from all over the country. I support the small increases the Minister has made in the budget but I would have liked...

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

Michael Collins: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate, which gives legislative effect to a range of social welfare measures announced in the budget. It is important that I mention homemakers. These women have stayed at home to care for their children. While the homemaker's scheme introduced in 1994 went a long way to increasing the rights of homemakers by making it easier for them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Sustaining Small Rural and Community Business: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: I thank the representatives of Irish Rural Link and the Irish League of Credit Unions for their interesting presentations. I was particularly interested in what Mr. Boland had to say. He spoke about the lack of transport in rural areas. He spoke about broadband, carbon tax and meals on wheels. As I see it rural Ireland is dying on its feet. The recent proposals by the Minister, Deputy...

Housing Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak this evening. I have no doubt that at this stage almost everyone in the country is aware that our housing and homelessness situation is at crisis point. This Bill seeks to declare the housing and homelessness problem a national emergency. In March of this year, the Taoiseach stated he had no problem describing the housing shortage or the...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (13 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: On page 113 of the programme for Government, in a section which which deals with agriculture and the marine, the Government states that it will encourage banks within and from outside the State, including the European Investment Bank, to make competitive rates available to farmers with repayment options tailored for farm incomes. The reality is that over 28,000 acres of Irish farmland,...

Apprenticeships: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2018)

Michael Collins: I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this motion today. I thank Fianna Fáil for putting forward this motion of great importance. No doubt there is a lack of young people taking up apprenticeships. The recent Construction Industry Federation report, Trades and Apprenticeships Skills Survey, identifies the lack of skilled tradespeople and apprenticeships as small firms struggle to...