Results 461-480 of 3,651 for speaker:Michael Collins

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (23 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I will try anyway. I will start by wishing the Minister the very best on the birth of her grandchild. What a joyous occasion it must be for her. It is a bit unfortunate that she is here with us today but we will try and speed this up. I offer great congratulations to the Minister and her family. It is a beautiful thing to hear a child crying inside here, as we did a moment ago. It is a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: The lowering of the nitrates derogation from 250 kg N/ha to 220 kg N/ha will have devastating consequences for clean Irish agriculture. Farmers throughout the country have spent tens of thousands to bring their farms up to environmental standards, with very few of them now falling behind. Despite the huffing and puffing, it looks like the Government has thrown in the towel on fighting to...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy Report: Statements (22 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I was delighted to hear, a little while ago, that nine-year-old Emily Hand is now on a list of hostages to be released. Please God, that is followed through for her family and the people who have been extremely stressed about her well-being. Let us not forget that if we had expelled ambassadors and gone ahead with the drama that Members were calling for in the Dáil last week, this...

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I and my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group condemn all war and violence. We also condemn the killing of innocent people in this war but we do so by condemning both sides and not turning a blind eye to what happened on 7 October, when women were raped by Hamas terrorists, others were killed and children were killed. Over 200 hostages were taken into Gaza by Hamas and up to 1,200...

Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 (Bill 54 of 2023): Report and Final Stages (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I do not support this Bill and I will not be supporting it going forward. The right to protest and the freedom to exercise one's religion are pillars of a democratic society. By eroding these rights through restrictive measures, we risk sliding down a slippery slope towards an authoritarian regime that is far stronger than what I would ever have expected. I believe in the basic right of...

Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 (Bill 54 of 2023): Report and Final Stages (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: They have no respect for anyone, by the look of it. I believe in peaceful protest but there have been statements made in this Chamber to say that women should never be blocked going for any medical care. Of course they should not be blocked, regardless of what medical care is, but I cannot understand what the problem is with the right to peacefully protest within a certain slight area away...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: In recent weeks, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, published advice it gave to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in October 2022 that delaying road projects in Mullingar, Cork, Leixlip, Cahir and Limerick would lead to 77 deaths and 381 serious injuries but he ignored that advice. This ignored report did not even look at our minor roads which are starved of funding. One municipal...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: As the Taoiseach knows, I have warned for years about the potential for an energy crisis and our exposure to elevated prices. Sadly, what I had warned about has come to pass. The current energy crisis has disrupted our economy and driven inflation on a massive scale. It poses real risks to our economy as, like it or not, we are dependent on oil and gas for the functioning of our economy....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has confirmed that the new facility, which is likely to cost hundreds of millions of euros to build, will be funded by a new levy on consumer gas bills. The Green Party loves taxing the Irish people. It seems to have a fierce habit of that. I presume the Taoiseach will not agree with that. There are already taxes on fuel, as...

Escalation of Violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I fully support the calls for a ceasefire, expressing our deep concern over civilian casualties. The recent focus on Gaza's hospitals is atrocious and must stop. Unfortunately, these hospitals are reported to be a potential Hamas headquarters, which raises serious concerns about civilian safety. In fact, Hamas was reported last week to have used communication channels to warn civilians not...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I am delighted to get the opportunity to speak about this Bill. I think I was the only politician from County Cork, if not Munster, who made an open submission to the Electoral Commission. To be honest, I feel it was ignored, much to the detriment of many the areas in west Cork that have been put into north Cork. The last census proved that the population of west Cork has grown. If I had...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (14 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 102. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) receives a date for their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49515/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry (14 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 119. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason a person's insurance premium has increased so much (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49341/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (14 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 229. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will allow an organisation (details supplied) to apply for a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49518/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: Yesterday's news of a case of BSE found in an Irish animal has halted valuable exports of beef to the Chinese market. This could not come at a worse time for Irish agriculture, which has been hit from every direction both from Europe but more alarmingly, from our own Government, which continues to treat farmers like environmental terrorists. This is from the farmers' mouths at recent...

Home Care Workers and Home Support Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (8 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: In my view, elder care is at a very low ebb. As such, I commend Labour on putting forward this motion, which is an important one. It is impossible to get home help for many of my own constituents. People who are trying to get out of hospital cannot get out of hospital. It is a sad situation that they find themselves in, having to stay in hospital before a home care package can be put in...

Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: The budget for 2024 glaringly falls short of addressing the pressing housing issues that continue to plague our society, exposing a litany of deficiencies in its proposed measures. Most notably, the absence of any increase in voted capital expenditure compared to the level set in 2023 raises serious doubts about the Government's commitment to tackling the crisis. It is abundantly clear that...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Policy (7 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 299. To ask the Minister for Finance if, considering that the average cost of a house in Ireland is currently estimated at €305,000, and recognising that prices vary significantly in cities like Cork and Dublin, he will provide a breakdown of the approximate income levels that individuals or families would need to afford a home in these high-cost areas; to provide similar insights for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (7 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 799. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide information and statistics on the average processing time for granting work licences to nurses from countries outside the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47482/23]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “Report on abolition and replacement of universal social charge 3.(1) The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, produce a report on abolishing the universal social charge for all those who earn less than €70,000 per year. (2) The Minister shall, within three months...