Results 3,721-3,740 of 3,902 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Returning Emigrant Support Services: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank Mr. Staunton for his very detailed presentation. Before I go to members, I will ask Ms Karen McHugh to say a few words.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Returning Emigrant Support Services: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank Ms McHugh for her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Returning Emigrant Support Services: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank Deputy Heydon. We will take one more for now and then we will allow the witnesses to answer. I call Senator Conway-Walsh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Returning Emigrant Support Services: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank Mr. McMahon. Does Ms Sullivan wish to speak?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Returning Emigrant Support Services: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank Mr. Staunton, along with Mr. McMahon, Ms Sullivan and Ms McHugh. Senator Ó Clochartaigh said there was a great level of passion, which must be complimented. It was a very interesting debate. Many members are coming and going because they are also speaking in the Dáil but everything said by the witnesses will be on the record and members will have an opportunity to come to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (14 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: 290. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he is putting any protections in place for employees on a defined benefit pension scheme whose employers are trying to move to a defined contribution scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7109/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (14 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: 348. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the under-staffing in Cork University Hospital, which is resulting in bed shortages and cancellations of elective surgeries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6654/17]

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: It must cover the region of west Cork.

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: 4. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Enterprise Ireland and Industrial Development Agency jobs created in west Cork in 2015 and 2016 (details supplied). [6645/17]

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: Will the Minister please disclose the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland and Industrial Development Agency, IDA, in west Cork in 2015 and 2016?

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister. Good jobs are what any area would want and in west Cork, unfortunately, we have been forgotten for far too long. The Minister provided very rosy employment figures but the bottom line is that is not felt on the ground by many people. They feel there are not enough good quality jobs in west Cork. For the creation of any good employment, we need good road structure,...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: I beg to differ with the Minister about the good quality jobs as very few good quality jobs are coming to west Cork. We find it an uphill struggle in making this happen. Unfortunately, we are turning to work schemes to see if we can make up many of the job losses and the fact that many low-income farmers and fishermen find it very difficult to thrive. Even with that, only 39 came to County...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: This has to be targeted at west Cork and not Cork city.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: The "RTE Investigates" programme on Monday night was heartbreaking to watch but, unfortunately, the stories told sounded all too familiar to me. Countless constituents have come to me in similar situations: elderly people waiting up to two years to have cataracts removed, children suffering from increasing pain as a result of not having scoliosis treatment and cancer patients being given...

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: There are approximately 91,000 km of regional and local roads in Ireland. They account for 94% of the country's road network, which carry around 54% of all roads. The Minister, Deputy Ross, was in the Chamber earlier. He inherited a mess made by previous Governments which has left many roads with little or poor funding, especially in areas where political representation was weak. We raised...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: We are here to discuss the issue of a sustainable rural Ireland. I come from a part of the country that is the most rural - the Mizen Peninsula in south-west Cork. Unfortunately, we do not have a rail service and never will. At one time there was a rail line to Schull, but the tracks were pulled up and thrown away. We do not have a Luas service either. Therefore, we depend on having a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: I do not have many questions because unfortunately, the trains do not run my way. My only question, therefore, is whether the company has any plans to bring a rail service back to west Cork, even as far as Bandon. We are in a situation where many people who have to travel to Dublin must travel 80 miles by car before they get to the nearest train station. There was a rail line all the way...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: How do we plan for that to happen? We can all say "No" and we will get nowhere in life.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Collins: Earlier Mr. Meade said that the company has plans to extend the network. Where will that be happening? It is not happening in rural Ireland.

Bus Éireann: Motion [Private Members] (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Collins: I support the motion. Bus Éireann provides essential services throughout the country and it is important that its future be secured. Proposals to cut the Bus Éireann Expressway service would have a huge impact on the people of Ireland, in particular those living in rural Ireland. Bus Éireann plays an important role by providing rural communities with regular access to towns...