Results 10,661-10,680 of 11,795 for speaker:Niall Collins

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: I commend the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman, Ms Emily O'Reilly, who is providing an outstanding service. No Deputy who has had dealings with her office could claim that they were anything but good. We need to promote the case for granting the Ombudsman further powers and for fostering and enhancing her role. The main aspect of my Bill has affected me and other public...

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: -----as persons engaged in misinformation, hypocrisy and irresponsibility on this issue and showing an entire disregard for environmental pollution. He said the Fianna Fáil Party was engaged in law breaking on the issue. I reject that charge outright. It is most unfair and I call on him to withdraw it. I was elected to this House in 2007 and re-elected last year. As such, I have a...

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: -----nor accuse them of being engaged in misinformation, hypocrisy and irresponsible behaviour or of breaking the law. He omitted Deputy Mattie McGrath from his comments. The IFA and the ICSMA are saying exactly what we are saying.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: Yes. Like those organisations, we are asking a legitimate question about the standards that will apply in respect of the inspection regime for septic tanks. When pressed by the interviewer, Joe Nash, the Minister could not define a "low-income family". The Minister insisted there would be no hidden charges arising from the registration and inspection regime. All the inspection will seek to...

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: The Minister has insisted that his only concern is to ensure private water treatment systems are working. The question, however - this is the crux of the matter, as we have pointed out from the beginning - is what standard will apply in this regard. That is the question we are reasonably asking. The Minister said that people should tell the truth. That is what we are doing, but the...

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: They are also obliged to pay development charges which go towards subsidising the cost of urban wastewater treatment systems. I roundly reject what the Minister has said about me, Deputies Ó Cuív and Martin Ferris and, by implication, Mattie McGrath-----

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: -----in regard to a public meeting that was held in my constituency some days ago. I challenge him to join me in another interview on Limerick's Live 95FM, the Minister's local radio station or Pat Kenny's radio programme. Rather than a one-on-one interview where his claims about me and certain colleagues could go unchallenged, I challenge the Minister to participate in a live debate. I am...

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: This is new Fianna Fáil.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: The Deputy should wake up. Some of us do it.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for bringing the proceedings to order. My Bill is designed to foster more transparency and constitutes a minor reform to the application of public administration across the country. What we have seen this morning has been disgraceful and has degraded the Chamber.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: Now that we have Friday sittings, the Government can say that the Dáil regularly sits on Fridays.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: The truth is that there is only one Minister in attendance. To their credit, there are also a number of Government backbenchers.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: Yes, the Chief Whip. We have no Order of Business, Leaders' Questions, questions to a Minister, votes or Topical Issues and one can only raise a point of order with great difficulty. We suspended twice even before we got the show on the road this morning. It costs €90,000 to hold a three-hour sham sitting. This figure was provided to the Committee of Public Accounts yesterday.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: It is a disgrace and an indictment of the Government. If we are to have Friday sittings, have a real sitting of the Dáil.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: Have the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and every member of the Government attend.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: This sitting is about optics in order that the Government can claim the Dáil sits on Fridays. Although we are making a legislative input, this sitting is not meaningful.

Private Members' Business. Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: If the Government wants to promote value for money and engage in real reform, let us have proper Friday sittings instead of locking down all of the Opposition. We will use this platform, but the Government will not and, as a result, will come out second best. In their hearts and souls, the Members opposite agree that this is a sham sitting. They are nodding in agreement and I hope they...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (12 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of properties expected to be registered under the household charge scheme. [1749/12]

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (12 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: Question 187: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount collected under the household charge scheme each day since the 1 January 2012. [1750/12]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Appeals: Social Welfare Appeals (11 Jan 2012)

Niall Collins: Question 421: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [1302/12]