Results 1,921-1,940 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Insurance (Restriction on Differential Pricing and Profiling) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I will definitely be supporting this Bill today. I welcome any move to tackle the problem of some consumers being charged higher prices than others with a similar risk profile. This adversely impacts more vulnerable consumers and older people. All consumers deserve to be treated fairly when purchasing insurance. It is essential that consumers and businesses should be treated fairly,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (16 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses. I concur with the previous speakers in commending the Chairman, who has been extremely vocal on this issue in the Dáil and elsewhere. I have read the reports prepared by the witnesses. I am shocked by the seemingly decimating impacts of the changes relating to peat extraction on the Irish horticulture industry. It is evident that many jobs will be lost and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (16 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Chairman and I appreciate the opening statement from the witness. I and perhaps other members were shocked when we heard what has been said but we probably already knew about this from the decimating impacts of the changes to peat extraction on the Irish horticulture industry. This is a complete fiasco and absolute disaster. We need legislation to define peat extraction for...

Dumping at Sea Act 1996 (Section 5(12)) (Commencement) Order 2021: Motion (11 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: The dumping at sea motion provides that the responsibility for the Dumping at Sea Act be transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency. Dumping at sea creates water pollution but it does not stop at the sea. There has been a lot of discussion today about renewable energy, oil and gas, which is away from where we are going. Dumping at sea is an awful and huge issue in the area I live,...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (11 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I would like the Minister of State to come down to some of the hospitals and nursing homes where the standards that she and her Government colleagues apply have not been applied and the Government has not-----

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (11 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I have two and a half minutes. At the end I will have a few questions to which the Minister might reply in writing. The HSE has confirmed that Ireland will slow down its vaccine roll-out this week. The revised plan means only 29,000 vaccinations will be given out this week. That is a staggering 17,000 fewer than planned. The number under the original plan was 46,000. Surely a better...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: Like Deputy O'Donoghue, I am getting calls from doctors, nurses and home helps in west Cork that have not been able to get the vaccine yet. At the same time, I am getting calls indicating that in places councillors are getting the vaccine. Is this turning into a nod and wink situation where the vaccine will be given to some but not to others? At the very least, doctors, nurses, home helps...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. Is he aware that there is a potential carbon-neutral development proposed off Barryroe in west Cork? There is the potential to develop a gas field which is not only capable of continuing the supply we currently have from the Corrib field but is also capable of delivering a unique carbon capture and storage facility in County Cork, which could make us...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: The Government committed in 2019 to raising the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources from 30% to 70% by 2030. We all know that wind and solar generation are the best way to reduce emissions with conventional fossil fuel plant playing an important role for many years to come by providing back-up and spare capacity as we move from fossil fuels to a cleaner future. I support...

Counterfeiting Bill 2020: Second Stage (11 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: As well the Minister of State knows, this Bill provides for the transposition of outstanding elements of Directive 2014/62/EU, a directive on the protection of the euro and other currencies against counterfeiting. The directive calls on member states to introduce criminal offences and sanctions relating to counterfeiting of the euro and other currencies. It introduces common measures in...

Appointment of Member of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Motion (10 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: The Legal Services Regulatory Authority is the body responsible for processing allegations of wrongdoing against solicitors and barristers, but it should do more than that. It received an average of more than four complaints per day in its first six months of work. According to its annual report up to September 2020, the authority received 636 complaints concerning lawyers between 7 October...

Covid-19: Motion [Private Members] (10 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: -----the vaccine for the home helps and carers, and other issues.

Covid-19: Motion [Private Members] (10 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I have an issue with the Labour Party approach and the zero Covid strategy that will kill the entire domestic economy, as Deputy Mattie McGrath has just said. I look at small businesses such as barber shops, bars, hairdressers, nail salons and sit-in cafés. Lockdowns are putting these businesses under severe pressure. They are not sure if they will be able to reopen or what the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (10 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: 114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter regarding driver testing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6476/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (10 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: 117. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the RSA website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6497/21]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (10 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: 362. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the person or body that signed off on the final draft for the fisheries element of the Brexit trade agreement; if the draft proposals prior to sign-off contained a table of the cuts in respect of the species for all the respective coastal member states; and if he considered at that point lodging an official objection to the proposals on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Regulation on Veterinary Medicinal Products (Resumed): Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (9 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: The Independent Licensed Merchants Association submitted substantive evidence that Ireland can meet the terms of the derogation of Article 105(4) in its legal opinion, which was immediately made available to the Department. To date, the Department refutes that, defending the fact that it has legal advice to the contrary. Why has the legal advice and the brief to the Council never been shown...

Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: The Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020 creates a single aviation regulator for safety, security, economic regulation and consumer protection. It is something with which I am in full agreement. Last April I raised rapid testing at airports with the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and have repeatedly raised it since. That is going back nine or ten months ago and I was very disappointed...

Covid-19 (Childcare): Statements (4 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: It is claimed that NPHET and the Government deem schools safe to reopen. Therefore, why has it taken so long to get special education schools open? We welcome the decision by the Government, or the agreement in principle, to reopen schools on Thursday, 11 February, with a 50% student attendance. Special classes in other schools are to open on 22 February. However, what level of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: The roll-out of the vaccine is a great concern for so many working on the front line. Carers and older people must be offered the vaccine and foremost in the process should be our GPs, nurses and home help personnel. I have spoken to GPs and nurses in west Cork in the past couple of days who have not yet been offered the vaccine, despite us being told it has been offered throughout the...