Results 2,061-2,080 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Planning and Development (Amendment) (20 per cent Provision of Social and Affordable Housing) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (21 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I will be supporting this Bill and I welcome it today. We have been in this House speaking about social housing, council housing and whatever else we used to call it since I was elected to the Dáil in 2016 and before that, to the council in 2014. To be honest, nothing has progressed but it has got worse and worse. An unmerciful influx of people have been coming into my office every...

Residential Tenancies (Tenants' Rights) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: This Bill supports tenants and I give a cautious welcome to that because many tenants are in difficult circumstances. I notice this from week to week in my office when people come in who have been evicted from their homes and have very little recourse. If this Bill helps in some way, I will support it but we must also have respect with regard to landlords. I do not mean those who have 50...

Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I suppose the reason many of the Deputies are missing is because the debate is about fishing. It is the fishermen of Ireland who will be affected by the decisions the Government is going to make today. I heard what Deputy Leddin had to say and I am disappointed that he does not fully realise the suffering fishermen are experiencing. Stocks are falling throughout the world because we are...

Garda Siochana (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage (22 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I, too, have great reservations about the new divisional structures. I need to see that they will not dilute services on the ground to the people of west Cork who have seen a dilution of services in recent years. Some years ago, we had the closure of many Garda stations under the then Fine Gael-led Government. This led to the decimation of rural Ireland and started a flood of closures...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: Some of the questions I am asking have already been asked. Deputy Leddin said this is not a matter of the green agenda, but it is certainly an extraordinary situation we find ourselves in with regard to both forestry and peat and the Green Party is at the helm. We see the disaster that is unfolding. Some Minister somewhere along the line is unable to resolve this unfolding disaster for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Public Sector Staff (23 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: 4. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be set aside in order to provide an additional two weeks' annual leave to health workers (details supplied). [45920/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Public Sector Staff (23 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: All front-line health workers who worked through the Covid-19 crisis should be given an extra two weeks' annual leave or the option to receive two weeks' extra pay instead. Will the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform set aside the money for these healthcare workers to show them the respect they deserve?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Public Sector Staff (23 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister for his reply. The healthcare workers gave so much in a very difficult time and continue to do so. Other than a clap here in the Dáil and a few nice words, they have got nothing. Even in regard to the smallest thing, the nurses had to pay their registration fees last year. That little bit of acknowledgement could have been given so that we could at least have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Public Sector Staff (23 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I understand the costs might be significant, but the value of these workers must be acknowledged by the country. I know the budget needs to be stretched considerably. The cross-border health initiative has not been properly discussed. The Minister has said the HSE is looking into this, which concerns me particularly when I consider how admissions were closed for 16 or 17 days at Bantry...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: On 26 June, I raised the issue of the crisis the West Cork Development Partnership finds itself in with the walks programme, which benefits more than 600 farmers in west Cork. The Sheep's Head Way and the Beara Way are among some of the stunning walks covered by this scheme, bringing in €14 million in walking tourism revenue to west Cork. For the past few years, west Cork has had two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of the Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (28 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I have been looking at the whole veterinary system. I thank Deputy Cahill and the team for bringing forward this Bill, of which we are fully supportive. I have concerns because I come from a peninsula in west Cork. We have got incredible service down the years that has perhaps spoiled us. Many of these veterinary surgeons have progressed in age, like us all, and I am worried. Have our...

Housing for All: Statements (28 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I am sharing time with Deputy Mattie McGrath. I sincerely hope this plan will, as its name suggests, deliver housing for all. Such delivery is badly needed in this country. We have a housing crisis throughout our cities and we certainly have a massive crisis in west Cork. Last Friday, 12 people came into my clinic in Bandon, seven of whom have a housing issue. Two of them are homeless....

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion [Private Members] (28 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: We have massive waiting lists in this country. There is no point in my saying any different because that is quite evident. The lists are, unfortunately, growing. People are waiting for four or five years for a 20- to 25-minute cataract procedure. That cannot be allowed to happen because those people will go blind if some solution is not found. Waiting lists for knee and hip treatments...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion [Private Members] (28 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that. It is a good solution if that is happening today. If that is the best I can pull out of the Minister, I appreciate it and thank him.

Data Centre Moratorium: Motion [Private Members] (29 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I support the motion, which is welcome. Data centres are popping up all over the place. There are 17 of them in this country, which places a significant demand on energy supply. Most of them are in Dublin. The huge demand on energy concerns me. Does it mean we will face further amber alerts or are we drifting towards blackouts, as has been stated for some time now by the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I have no doubt that after the easing of the Covid-19 pandemic that the biggest crisis that this country will have to deal with will be health and waiting lists. At the present time we are shockingly ill-prepared for the crisis which leaves many questions hanging over the head of the Minister for Health. I ask the Taoiseach to look at his own county and the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I welcome his confirmation that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will work with us on the CoAction issue in Castletownbere. This is a very serious and upsetting issue for many of the families. I did not break the news for nearly two weeks until I got no reply from CoAction as to what is going on there and as to why they are closing the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: When it was in west Cork, it was all right to talk about it for 16 days and to push it aside and say, "Ah sure, you don't understand what is going on, Deputy Collins." I certainly did know what was going on. I was told that myths were being spread about Bantry hospital and that it is a fact the doors were closed.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: The Taoiseach should open his eyes and wake up to what is happening. It is happening in his back yard, on his watch.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: It is a fact. The facts hurt.