Results 9,161-9,180 of 11,894 for speaker:Niall Collins

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Niall Collins: I recall after the general election when the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, attended the Chamber, he always had a big support group around him on the backbenches.

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Niall Collins: Alas, when he comes in here these days, he is alone. At least the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has one Member beside him which means he is doing marginally better.

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Niall Collins: I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate tonight because it is of immense importance to all of us who represent rural constituencies. The farming and agrifood sector contributes almost €24 billion to the economy, supporting up to 300,000 jobs but in my constituency there are 5,991 farms averaging 34.5 ha. Of them 4,945 are cattle farms and of those 3,847 earn...

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Niall Collins: I grant that he has attended several high profile climate change conferences around the world which were publicised. We need a strategy to address climate change because it is for real. My second suggestion concerns the EU solidarity fund. The Minister was quoted on RTE last week as having broached the subject with Commission officials and I think he said that they were rather...

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Niall Collins: He will get an opportunity to reply to the point in some forum, maybe not tonight. My final suggestion relates to contingency planning for 2014. We do not know how this summer will pan out. Deputy Michael McNamara said that the worst is over for this year but we do not know that. Will farmers have two silage cuts this year? We simply do not know. A long-term contingency plan must be put...

Order of Business (8 May 2013)

Niall Collins: Will we see the legal services regulation Bill before the summer recess?

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Slaughter Statistics (8 May 2013)

Niall Collins: 30. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses slaughtered each month in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21485/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (8 May 2013)

Niall Collins: 40. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the redistributive payment proposal from the French Government and a similar proposal included in the Council of Ministers' proposals are till on the table; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21466/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 May 2013)

Niall Collins: 165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will sanction funding approval in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork to enable construction to commence without further delay. [21155/13]

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 May 2013)

Niall Collins: I compliment Deputy Pringle on introducing this Bill on an extremely serious issue affecting society with which Members must deal and which they must face. Fianna Fáil absolutely supports this legislation. The Bill builds on the work of the Turn Off the Red Light campaign, which aims to tackle the scourge of prostitution across Ireland. The shift of criminal responsibility onto the...

Other Questions: Visa Agreements (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: Has the Minister a figure for the economic impact or can he undertake to furnish that?

Other Questions: Visa Agreements (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: Can I ask a supplementary?

Other Questions: Visa Agreements (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: The Minister has outlined some of the schemes in operation. For the Olympic Games in London last year the visa waiver programme was in place but that was possibly a disappointment because there did not seem to a huge take-up of it. The Minister mentioned the Irish short stay visa waiver programme and there is also the start-up entrepreneur programme. I want to ascertain if there has been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judiciary Issues (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: Each body must respect the constitutional independence of the other and get on accordingly but the Minister did not answer my question on the new forum. How often is it intended to meet and what issues have been flagged as being on the agenda?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judiciary Issues (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: 4. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the mechanisms of the new communications between the judiciary and the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20856/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Judiciary Issues (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: I thank the Minister for his response. I wish to make a number of comments on the recent controversy involving the Minister and the Judiciary. First, I believe it was not entirely of the Minister's making. Obviously he was partly to blame, but there were two sides to it. The Judiciary must accept that the people of this country voted by way of a referendum to allow the Executive to have a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: 1. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for Garda recruitment in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20855/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: The time has come to stop dodging the issue of recommencing Garda recruitment and training. We have discussed it many times in the House. The Minister indicated that recruitment would recommence, but in no way was that indication prefaced on the passing of the Croke Park II ballot by the unions. Croke Park II was a complete shambles and the Government took it for granted that public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: The Minister has still not defined for the House what smarter policing entails. Recruitment into the Defence Forces is continuing and the Minister has not nailed his colours to the mast as regards his preference for the minimum complement of the force. He has stated he would like to see it remain at 13,000. This is like a wet paper bag, in that one could just tear it apart. What is the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Garda Recruitment (2 May 2013)

Niall Collins: The Minister is usually the type of man who digs in. This time, he is the type of man who engages in U-turns.