Results 501-520 of 3,759 for speaker:Michael Collins

Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: The proposed Bill seeks to modify the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, allowing adults legally to possess a specified amount of cannabis or cannabis resin for personal use. This initiative to amend the law commenced over a year ago and there are no legal obstacles to the amendment. In Ireland, drug use has been on the rise since data collection began nearly two decades ago. Cannabis use...

International Court of Justice and Genocide in Gaza: Motion [Private Members] (30 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: Genocide is a uniquely horrific crime. The Holocaust saw the murder of 6 million Jews and was seen as so monstrous that the UN adopted the genocide convention promising never again to allow an attempt to wipe out a group of people or part of one simply because of their nationality, race, religion or ethnicity. That promise has been repeatedly broken, in Bosnia, Darfur and Rwanda to name but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that but they might be able to enlighten us briefly on some of the other issues too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: As other members wish to speak, I will be brief. Bluefin tuna is of serious concern to many fishermen and they feel there is huge opportunity in Irish waters. This committee has been talking about this issue for a while. I have been here since 2016; it is now 2024 and we are no further ahead. Nobody is going home with a bluefin tuna in a box in Ireland. Ms McSherry stated that the quota...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: Okay. I thank Ms McSherry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses. They know what happened last time. It was out of our control but there were three and a half hours of voting. That was unfair and unexpected. The main reason they are here today is because I called for a discussion on these issues as the passed through the committee, particularly on quotas and the current situation Irish fishermen find themselves in. The National...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (Resumed) (30 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: Certainly, but they also might be able to enlighten us on some of those issues because that light at the end of the tunnel is not there at present regardless of whether you are an inshore fishermen or a pelagic fishermen. In respect of COM (2023) 578 and COM (2023) 495 - there is one on the previous page as well - we need to know where Irish pelagic fishermen are going at this stage. Will...

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: I speak fairly often in this Chamber. There are a lot of things on which I would not be well versed but certainly when it comes to the community voluntary sector, that is the sector from which I came and which got me elected to Dáil Éireann so I speak with some level of expertise. I am part of 25 community voluntary groups for a number of years and they have delivered. The sad...

United Kingdom Import Controls: Statements (25 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: The three main changes for Irish traders are: advanced notification for live animals, animal products and certain plant products; full UK customs controls; and health certification for certain animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk foods and feed of non-animal origin. The Minister for agriculture, Deputy McConalogue, stated that these rules represent a significant change for...

Tribunal of Inquiry into certain matters relating to the Complaints Processes in the Defence Forces: Motion (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: The Women of Honour group, which was in the audiovisual room yesterday, serves as a support network for former and current female Defence Forces members who allege they were abused within the military. The group has issued a warning and has expressed concern that the issues plaguing the Defences Forces will persist unless the terms of reference for an inquiry into these abuses are expanded....

Gaza and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: This is a war that has caused immense suffering and destruction for the Palestinian people who have been living under a brutal siege and bombardment for more than two months. This is a war that has also threatened the security and the stability of Israel, which has faced relentless rocket attacks and terrorist infiltrations from Hamas. This is a war that has endangered the prospects of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Crisis in Ireland's Inshore Fishing Industry: Discussion (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: It is great to have representatives of the inshore fishing sector appear before the committee. I welcome Mr. Dixon, Mr. Desmond and Mr. Menarry. It is a rarity. This is a hugely important sector that has put bread and butter on the tables of many people throughout the country, particularly in our coastal communities. The sector has been under pressure. I grew up in west Cork. Many of my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Crisis in Ireland's Inshore Fishing Industry: Discussion (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: The industry has been grappling with the issue of low prices of brown crab. Could Mr. Desmond explain how this has influenced the overall dynamics of the industry? What are the financial implications for fishermen and how has this trickled down to affect families?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Crisis in Ireland's Inshore Fishing Industry: Discussion (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: The industry has been witnessing spiralling costs and an income impasse as a result of a wide range of factors, from equipment to regulatory compliance. Will our guests shed light on how these escalating costs have added to the challenges faced by the fishermen? How has the financial burden impacted on their families, their quality of life and their future prospects?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Crisis in Ireland's Inshore Fishing Industry: Discussion (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: Mr. Menarry referred to shrimp and brown cab and the fact the season has squeezed, with a month or two coming off both the end and the start. Are buyers sourcing those products sourced elsewhere?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Crisis in Ireland's Inshore Fishing Industry: Discussion (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: What measures could potentially address these challenges and ensure the sustainability and viability of the industry for the future?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Crisis in Ireland's Inshore Fishing Industry: Discussion (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: Earlier, Mr. Desmond stated: The end of February 2019 brought renewed hope to the inshore fishermen all around Ireland when the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, launched the strategy for the Irish inshore fishery sector, which was to run from 2019 to 2023. This strategy set out a vision for the future of the inshore sector to provide a prosperous...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses for being with us today. Fishing is a very difficult subject. Witnesses from the National Inshore Fishermen's Association were before us earlier and they painted a very bleak, shocking picture. I would appreciate it if the departmental officials replayed the proceedings and listened to the facts. One would like to say the facts should not be on the ground. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (24 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: I am not.

Housing and Homeless Prevention: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Jan 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank Sinn Féin for putting forward this motion. In November, Ireland had 13,514 people, including 4,105 children, in emergency or homeless accommodation, according to the Department of housing. The homelessness crisis in Ireland is growing due to this Government's lack of action. This is causing distress for many people, especially children, and is now considered a national...