Results 941-960 of 3,651 for speaker:Michael Collins

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: Is he saying that there is no difference between somebody coming in from Wicklow to Dublin and an individual travelling from Goleen to Cork? There is a massive difference. There has to be. However, we have a serious crisis on public transport west Cork. It is astonishing that for some reason the NTA refused the offer of an on-the hour service from West Cork Connect, thus leaving adults...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: With fuel prices at an all-time high, many in urban areas like Dublin and its surrounds have turned to public transport, since the costs of owning a car have gone out of ordinary earner's reach. This cost has multiplied considerably in rural communities, especially since the introduction of carbon tax. Owning and running a car for young people, in particular, has become the same as owning...

Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: The explanatory memorandum states that: "The purpose of this Bill is to consolidate and update the legislative provisions that regulate the Employment Permits system, namely the Employment Permits Acts of 2003 and 2006". I want to take the opportunity to thank the staff in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I do not want to single out anyone but there is one specific lady...

Community and Voluntary Sector Workers: Motion [Private Members] (12 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: I was talking to some of my constituents in recent days and they are furious at the rate of pay for CE supervisors, which has not been revised for more than 15 years. The Government and the Dáil are aware of the contribution that these projects make to CE participants and communities throughout Ireland. Generally, a supervisor needs a car to complete his or her work on a daily basis....

Community and Voluntary Sector Workers: Motion [Private Members] (12 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: Some of them are only getting €20 more a week for working in their local community. I know that myself. In Goleen we have CE workers in community and voluntary organisations, and with the Goleen and District Community Council. We have rural social workers, Tús workers and HSE employees in section 39 organisations, who are providing meals on wheels. These workers are carrying...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: I welcome the witnesses. I share their disappointment with the three Departments involved, the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Environment, Climate and Communications, and Agriculture, Food and Marine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: Sadly, one has refused. It might have cleared up a few matters today. It might have put in a foundation to save these horticulture jobs, which are vital in rural communities. That may be why those officials are not here today. It might have its own meaning. I will lay out all my questions because different witnesses may want to answer them. From what I can gather, there are major...

Disability Services: Motion [Private Members] (11 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: The shortage of respite services for children and adults with disabilities in west Cork is having an impact on carers who have had no break in recent years since the onset of the pandemic. Carers go through hell a lot of the time. The budget has let carers down. In what world should it be acceptable that someone who works and cares for another person should be means tested? After all,...

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: Households are facing annual gas and electricity bills of €6,000 from early next year if prices keep increasing at the current rate. The Government, which has a controlling shareholding of 95% in the ESB, fails to protect consumers by explicitly directing the ESB to either cap prices or not proceed with any price increases at this time. Such action by the Government is possible. It...

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: We never said any such thing.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Offices (11 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: 506. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of supplementary welfare offices in west Cork; if it is correct that Bandon and Castletownbere community welfare offices have been closed and that all correspondence is now being directed to Abbey Court House, George's Quay, Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49801/22]

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022 was published on 16 August on the Houses of the Oireachtas website. The Bill seeks to amend existing legislation in respect of registration-related issues which affect certain cohorts of registrants with the Medical Council and the health and social care professionals council, CORU. I know that the Minister, Deputy...

Public Transport: Motion [Private Members] (5 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Independent Group for an excellent discussion this morning, and for the motion. A few months ago, the Minister continuously announced a decrease in the cost of transport services, mainly in and around Dublin. That suits his constituents, but we have to drag him here tooth and nail through the Dáil to give that 20% decrease that he gave to the people of rural Ireland...

Defective Concrete Products Levy: Motion [Private Members] (4 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: I fully support this Sinn Féin motion. The 10% levy on blocks and other concrete products introduced in the budget will have to be passed on to customers. This has led to fury in west Cork among good, honest builders who know the customer cannot afford it and among the young people who want to start their lives by building their new homes. The new levy which is designed to contribute...

Housing for All Update: Statements (Resumed) (4 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: The Minister of State has spoken about Housing for All. One of the previous speakers on the Government side said that housing completions are up, and I will not argue with that. However, the problem is that the number of evictions is up. I know that for a fact because I am the only Deputy in west Cork who has clinics 52 weeks of the year for two or three days a week. I meet people from...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (4 Oct 2022)

Michael Collins: 630. To ask the Minister for Health the number of submissions that have been made to the three-year review of the abortion law that were received in the public submissions process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48150/22]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Sep 2022)

Michael Collins: Over the past number of months, like many other Deputies in the Chamber, we have met different sectors in respect of the budget. One of these which stood out clearly to me to be struggling was the hotel sector. In west Cork, I met the owners of the Emmet Hotel, the Fernhill House and Gardens Hotel in Clonakilty, and the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery. These are brilliant, grand, family...

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6 – General (Resumed) (28 Sep 2022)

Michael Collins: It would be wrong of me to come in here and condemn the budget from start to finish. There were positive points in respect of the VAT rate, the availability of defibrillators, free schoolbooks for primary school students and the 0% VAT rate for newspapers. Those are positive steps in the right direction. There are, however, many weaknesses in this budget that need to be exposed. I have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Sep 2022)

Michael Collins: Only three weeks ago, the Mental Health Commission report on the mental health unit at Bantry General Hospital instructed the closure of one quarter of its beds; a loss of seven beds in total. This would have been a devastating blow to mental services in west Cork that serve from Kinsale to Ardrum and parts of County Kerry. The report by the Mental Health Commission recommended the closure...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Sep 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach very much for his reply. I have actually visited the unit and I did respect the privacy of the patients; I stayed at the door and spoke to the staff there. I have gone in to see patients because I have sometimes been asked to do so. The Taoiseach said an independent body makes that decision. That is fair enough. However, the independent body made that decision in...