Results 421-440 of 3,651 for speaker:Michael Collins

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: What about the existing-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: I wish you, a Cheann Comhairle, the staff here in the Dáil, including the gardaí, and all here in the Dáil a very happy Christmas. Is the Tánaiste aware of the many crises hitting farmers recently? I will start this week with knackeries, where a strike is ongoing, leaving dead animals on the grounds of farms for days, open to dogs and vermin attack. There is also the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: I was not there.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: I was not invited.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: Did it deliver?

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: 481. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth given that many private early childcare providers are going out of business due to lack of funding, if he will give a breakdown as to where the existing funding is going; and the reason it is not getting to the early child care providers who are running a top class service on a shoe string budget. [56224/23]

Digital Services Bill 2023: Second Stage (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: There are parts of the Digital Services Bill I would support but I will not be supporting the main part of it. It has serious consequences for many people. We have talked about different areas, from hate speech to freedom of debate in this Dáil and throughout the country. It is hugely important. There is a huge difference between freedom of debate and people inciting hatred. Sadly,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: It is a very serious matter.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: Many private early childhood care providers will not be returning to work after Christmas due to strike action. Most of these excellent providers face ruination. The answer of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to this huge crisis is that enough money is being spent on childcare. This may be the case for those down the line, but private early childcare providers are on their knees and have no...

Increased Fossil Fuel Divestment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: He should talk to those who drive lorries to bring food-----

Increased Fossil Fuel Divestment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: -----to the tables of this country. Wake up to reality. You are miles away from it right now.

Increased Fossil Fuel Divestment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: This motion may be well-intentioned but it fails to grapple with the harsh realities of Ireland's energy landscape and the potential economic fallout of its proposed policies. In the real world, Ireland, like many other countries, is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with about 88% of our energy in 2023 coming from these sources. A sudden shift away from fossil fuels could have significant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recent Reclassification of Beef Indexes: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: I welcome the witnesses but the ICBF has lost the dressing room. It is quite clear it lost the dressing room. Its board has lost the dressing room. Who is the board made up of? They are disconnected from the reality on the ground. There is an absolutely outcry about what it has done. Farmers have lost confidence and the political system has obviously lost total confidence in the ICBF...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recent Reclassification of Beef Indexes: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: Who requested Teagasc to develop a new algorithm?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recent Reclassification of Beef Indexes: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: Was the data from the commercial and pedigree population split or combined while conducting the analysis?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recent Reclassification of Beef Indexes: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: Is combining the data not like comparing apples with oranges? Should allowances have been made for pedigree breeds?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recent Reclassification of Beef Indexes: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: Administration is not a strong point for all farmers, so the accuracy of the subjective data coming from farmers will not be very high. Is this not impacting on the integrity and accuracy of the calculations?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recent Reclassification of Beef Indexes: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: Is there any reason a different index calculation optimised for the role of the continental pedigree herd breeding the seed stock and foundations for future generations cannot be developed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recent Reclassification of Beef Indexes: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: This is a serious question. Are the ICBF witnesses fully aware of the impact of the new index on top cows and ability to make a living on farmers’ income, wellness and mental health? Some people have lost 40% of their income because of this decision. It was wiped out overnight. Do the witnesses have any understanding of what they have done? Will they go back to their board and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Recent Reclassification of Beef Indexes: Discussion (13 Dec 2023)

Michael Collins: I do not fully agree with Mr. Coughlan when he tells me he is well aware of this. If he were well aware of it, he would have gone back to the board and looked again at this decision and its impact on the people who are losing incomes, but he is entitled to his view. Are we entitled to obtain the minutes of board meetings? I asked Mr. Coughlan a question. Will the board consider...