Results 1,981-2,000 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Michael Collins: I welcome our guests here today. I am unsure whether it is a conflict of interest any longer, but I was an organic farmer up to last year. My son is an organic farmer now. In the 20 years that I was an organic farmer, it was the nearest thing to the biggest farce that is out there at the present time. The price of cattle never changed. If a farmer lived in a peripheral area, such as in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Michael Collins: I will keep my questions brief. I have been talking about organic farming last week and this week and the difficulties that I know many organic farmers experience. They are finding it difficult to survive. It sounds like the Minister has many ambitious plans. I sincerely hope that these will be followed through because they are needed on the ground. People with a farm of up to 70 acres...

Future of Banking in Ireland: Statements (1 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I am delighted to get an opportunity to speak about banking reform on behalf of the Rural Independent Group. It is a huge issue, especially in light of two banks wanting to leave our country and having their minds made up but also in light of Bank of Ireland recently closing branches in Dunmanway and Bantry, in west Cork. That has been a devastating blow to those towns, which had been loyal...

Covid-19 Vaccine Roll-out: Statements (2 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: When I was a member of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response at the beginning of the Covid crisis, it was the only Oireachtas committee operating at the time. I was lucky enough to represent the Rural Independent Group on it. From the word go, I called for both PCR and antigen testing. Every time I called for it, the Tánaiste, who was Taoiseach at the time, and other...

Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I appreciate the opportunity to speak in this debate. The Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 proposes to amend the Workplace Relations Act 2015 and the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 in response to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Zalewski v. Adjudication Officer and others. The court upheld the constitutionality of the WRC's adjudication service but held...

Workplace Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: It would not be the first time I wandered but the Ceann Comhairle might bear with me because I was angered greatly by the Member from People Before Profit making that statement and not coming back here. It does relate to workers' rights and workers being treated badly. I do not mind. We all say things here for which we might have to make an apology. I would certainly do so if I said so...

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence: Statements (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: Tackling violence in domestic situations can be difficult for local gardaí. It helps when the local garda has some knowledge of a person. This is why we must encourage gardaí to settle into our communities and become involved in the area. A worrying recent development has seen Ireland being placed on a watchlist by the US Government due to failure to combat human trafficking....

Ban on Rent Increases Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: This is a very short Bill which seeks to prohibit any rent increases for all existing and new tenancies for three years. I will cut to the chase. In my constituency of Cork South-West we need more investment in social housing. We need to sort out our planning laws, which are completely outdated at best. It is time for rank-and-file change in the planning system. It is full of negativity...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 590. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department arrived at the target of 4,500 forestry licences for 2021; if this figure was formulated in conjunction with industry or other stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36174/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 591. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he is of the view that forestry licensing output will increase for the second half of 2021 given that only 1,594 licences were issued up to 18 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36176/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 592. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the forestry licensing targets of his Department by licence type for July, August, September, October, November and December 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36178/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 593. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the afforestation, roads and felling licensing output to date in 2021; the way this compares with licencing output to the same dates in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the percentage increase or decrease in output compared to those dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36179/21]

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Regional Group for putting forward this motion, which we fully support. The Post office network is facing collapse due to Government detachment. Our Rural Independent Group has seen a depressingly familiar fight against the Government’s failure to protect rural post offices. The serious warnings by the IPU about the inevitable collapse of the network and up to 200 branch...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I will try to cut to the chase. At Keelbeg, Union Hall, the Department funded the construction of a new pier in 1994 and 1995 under the then fishery harbour development programme. The pier has served the fishing community well, and landing values rated the pier above Howth and Rossaveal. The pier reached capacity in recent years but it has not been possible to advance plans for future...

CervicalCheck Tribunal (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I am sharing time with Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. Although the tribunal was established as an alternative to bringing a compensation claim to court, to date very few claims have been submitted to the tribunal. On 22 March 2021, no claims had been made to the tribunal. On 30 June 2021, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, stated that five claims had been received. In contrast, to date...

Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: Like the previous speakers, I believe this is a nice cosy deal for the vulture funds and cuckoo funds. It allows them to come in and purchase houses using the stamp duty break. It will not help the ordinary people on the housing list, some of whom have been on it for up to a decade. Unfortunately, this is certainly not going to help matters. In the past number of months, we have seen the...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: It is terrible that we are only getting 30 minutes for the debate tonight. It is shocking, to say the least, that this is going to be rushed through without any great scrutiny as such because it does need a lot of clarity. We are talking about the extension of planning permission. As I have been saying to the Minister for months, there is a massive crisis in my county regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 208. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason for the delay in obtaining passports for children especially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36982/21]

Long-Term Residential Care: Motion [Private Members] (13 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I welcome this excellent motion on the need for the Government to begin a full public inquiry into the scandal of the neglect and deaths in nursing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some community hospitals must also be brought into this public inquiry. At the outset, it is important to commend the many nursing home staff who worked hard under considerable pressure and stress, as well with...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (13 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 236. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the theory test for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37607/21]