Results 2,021-2,040 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Michael Collins: When you hear how many questions I have, you might be in shock. I will go through as many as I can and maybe I will come back in later so as to give other members a chance. On the weighing crisis, the SFPA submitted a draft new control plan in December 2020 and again in 2021 further information was submitted. This was four or five months before any control plan was revoked. Was that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Michael Collins: I will be brief because other members want to come in. The sanctions have been imposed on the entire fishing fleet, yet not one fisherman has seen any evidence or shared any information that was compiled by the 2018 audit or the 2019 administrative inquiry, which the SFPA carried out. Why withhold evidence and yet proceed to punish the entire sector? A real dangerous situation is happening...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Collection and Recycling of Farm Plastics: Discussion (29 Jun 2021)

Michael Collins: I do not have many questions as such because many of mine have been raised. I have a funny feeling that we will be returning to this perhaps after next week. There should be some evidence given. My major concern is for the farmer. He is paying for boreens and paying another tax for the purchase of farm plastics. My greatest concern is for the farmer and the cost to the farmer. My...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I am-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticulture Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I am conscious of the difficulties experienced in the past couple of months by nurseries all over west Cork and throughout the country as well which could, probably, lead to a loss of jobs. I am disappointed that there are no departmental officials before us today. While the witnesses are welcome, we are speaking to the converted. The horticulture industry, in particular the nursery stock...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Task Force: Discussion (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I welcome our guests. I spent weeks with farmers outside the factory gates, protesting for the right to get some kind of proper price for their animals. I welcome any report. I also welcome the appearance by representatives of the beef task force before us. Perhaps our guests will update us on how they have succeeded to date. There were many issues relating to the fifth quarter. Where...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Task Force: Discussion (6 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I asked about the huge money made on animal body parts, not just the meat value, in other areas. Has the beef task force looked at that? What percentage did Grant Thornton indicate was lost to the farmer on the fifth quarter of an animal?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (8 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I welcome our witnesses. I have two questions. Horse racing is a great sport enjoyed by so many. I have no issue with the Government providing funding for horse racing, as it does in respect of greyhound racing and so on, as long as the funding is divided equally among all sectors of horse racing down to ground level. I am not big into horse racing. Farming and fishing are the main areas...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: Many of the members have brought up some of my questions. There is no point in being repetitive. Being from a country background, I have an interest. Everybody has an interest in horse racing, but maybe not to the degree that other members have. I certainly would be supportive of all horse racing. I have been to the road trotting and the local guys there find it hard to survive with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: Does Mr. Grassick agree with what I said when the IHRB were before us last week in that it should be dismantled and an independent body answerable to HRI, the Minister and this agriculture and marine committee should be considered?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Independent Mink Farms: Discussion (15 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: The fur farming industry would not be my strongest point and the reason I am going first is I have an issue with my phone. It is 14% charged and it will not seem to go above that so I am afraid I will get cut off. I do not know any of the three people before us but I welcome them. I will put a question to Mr. Curran, which Ms Heffernan and Mr. Reynolds might also want to answer. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alleged Issues in the Horse Racing Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: Many questions which I had have already been asked. I thank our witnesses for being here. Regarding identification of horses, the manual passport system was introduced in the 1970s. Surely we have to bring the system up to some standard. The witnesses are talking about the Rolls-Royce standard. We as farmers have a system called animal identification and movement, AIM. Why have the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Discussion (20 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: We have been discussing this issue and many others. I appreciate the efforts that the Chair and committee staff have made to accommodate every party in respect of this issue. It is a crisis. I have been discussing this with the nurseries and the horticulture sector on a regular basis. They are pressurising us, as politicians, for results. I appreciate that we get ample time to question...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Discussion (20 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: Unless someone else wants to come in, I would like to ask a follow-up question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Discussion (20 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: I asked about nurseries and other businesses that have been heavily impacted. Has any consideration been given to a compensation package for these people whose businesses have been almost destroyed? There was no withdrawal plan and no time given to adjust. These nurseries have been caught out. As with everything else in this country, they can bring it in from abroad as long as we are not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister of State and her officials for coming before the committee today to discuss a real crisis in the forestry sector. My serious worry is for the 400 to 500 jobs in west Cork that are on the line. Many of these people are worried about losing their jobs. We find ourselves in the astonishing situation where we are looking to bring in timber from another country. I have a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (27 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 1718. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting list for specific speech and language disorder units for the treatment of severe speech delay and verbal dyspraxia in County Cork; his plans to develop further units in County Cork given that there are only four units currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35093/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (27 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 2774. To ask the Minister for Health the reason free dental check-ups under the school dental scheme which were carried out in second, fourth and sixth class are now only available to children in sixth class; the reason for the complete withdrawal of the service in some rural towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39104/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (27 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 2775. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a long-term plan for school dental check-ups under the school dental scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39106/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 Jul 2021)

Michael Collins: 3410. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the output to date in 2021 of afforestation, roads and felling licences; the way this compares with the licensing output for the same dates in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the percentage increase or decrease in output compared to those dates in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40458/21]