Results 3,301-3,320 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2017)

Michael Collins: The witnesses from the ICSFA, Hedge Laying Association of Ireland, Inland Waterways Association of Ireland and BirdWatch Ireland are all very welcome. As a Deputy, I represent a rural constituency in south-west Cork. A witness from the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland said that it cares passionately about the wildlife. I am a farmer and I also care passionately about the wildlife. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2017)

Michael Collins: Yes, and this is about the Bill. It is about burning gorse on the land. It has forced farmers in some cases to try controlled burning, but they cannot do controlled burning if the season is not there to do it. Calendar farming does not work. Anyone who tells farmers they can do this or that at certain times is no farmer and simply does not understand. Calendar farming does not work. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2017)

Michael Collins: My question was not answered. Farmers are being fined in rural Ireland for having gorse on their land. When it was time for BirdWatch Ireland and the hedge growing group to stand by the farmers, where were they?

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I am happy to have the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I thank the Minister for signing off on the legislation for medicinal cannabis and I am delighted to hear that Vera Twomey and her daughter Ava will be returning home from Holland to Macroom for Christmas. I hope other sufferers will benefit from the medicinal cannabis in future and that unnecessary delays can be avoided. I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I welcome the IFA, those representing hillside farmers and the Irish Wildlife Trust. I must declare a conflict of interest in that I am a farmer. I am proud of that; I am a hillside farmer also. In my view if one wants to talk about farming, one has to wear a pair of wellingtons. People might not like to hear that but it is a fact. We know what it is like to live in rural Ireland from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: What planet do people think they are on? I did not mention anyone's name.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I can look anywhere. That is what God gave me eyesight for, namely, to look around.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: We are talking about roadside verges. It is hugely important that people cut their verges in a rural community. We have many instances of people who are on holidays in particular having their rental cars scratched because we have not been able to cut the verges. I am a member of a community council in Goleen in west Cork. In fairness to the local authority, verge cutting grants have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I did not say that to Mr. Fogarty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: Many of the issues Deputy Fitzmaurice brought up would be of equal concern to me, coming from a rural peninsula, Mizen Head, and a rural constituency, west Cork. These concerns are replicated across the country. I am involved in the Rural Independent Group and we all have the same concerns. Last night, we met representatives from Vodafone. Mobile telephone coverage has regressed. Mr...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Action Plan for Rural Development: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: With regard to the changes made to Leader, the changes are what messed up the whole thing because it was rolling out nicely in communities. Obviously, there would have been a bit of tweaking somewhere, although not in west Cork, thank God. Everything has changed. Mr. Mulherin could ask every Deputy in the country. It does not have to be an Independent Deputy. It could be a Government...

Social Welfare Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I am happy to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The Bill is important as it provides for the social welfare measures announced in the budget for the coming year. Many of these measures, such as the increase in maternity and adoptive benefits, are more than welcome. However, the measures only come into effect at the end of March 2018. As I asked the Minister during my statement...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is important to support the Bill, which seeks to amend the Planning and Development Act 2000. I wish to express my disappointment at the number of rough sleepers in our streets today. The Government has done little to fix the current housing crisis. It is now more than 15 months since A Programme for a Partnership Government...

Rural Crime: Motion (21 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I am pleased to be able to speak on this important motion and I am glad to see it coming before the Dáil tonight. Coming from a rural area in Cork South-West, I know too well the fear and worry of rural crime in our communities, and especially for isolated people living alone who may be elderly and vulnerable. Last week, I spoke about the Government's failure to rural-proof its...

Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I refer to the programme for Government at page 85 on care for elderly. In Leaders' Questions three weeks ago, I asked the Taoiseach about Bandon Community Hospital, a question he referred back to the Minister for Health, from whom I got no answer. Major works were completed in Bandon Community Hospital last August. Although December is approaching, the HSE has not adequately staffed the...

Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: We are waiting for it.

Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Second Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I am sharing time with Deputy Jim O'Callaghan.

Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Second Stage (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I am happy to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The Bill is very important as it addresses a variety of anti-corruption measures on a national and international level. This legislation is necessary in eliminating white-collar crime. Tonight, however, I wish to raise a case with the Minister that I have brought to his attention previously. The case goes back some time and...

Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: I am happy to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I thank Deputy Jan O'Sullivan for putting it forward. I support the Bill, which will amend the Housing Act 1988 and provide for a housing authority to recognise related homeless persons as a joint family unit when making decisions regarding their rehoming. As over 3,000 children live either on our streets or in emergency...

Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Collins: The seafood and marine section of the programme for Government refers to fishermen's income. Due to the recent Storm Ophelia, fishermen along the south and west coast sustained serious losses where their pots were either destroyed or lost. One fisherman, among many in west Cork, lost 250 pots. At a cost €60 per pot, this is putting financial strain on fishermen and their families....