Results 2,101-2,120 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Budget Statement 2022 (12 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: This is a very anti-rural Ireland budget. To be honest, reading the many emails I received this evening about the budget from various organisations, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael politicians should be wary when they go back to their constituencies because they are going to get it in the neck. Farming organisations and rural people are furious. They working hard. Why is this happening?...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 1: Tobacco Products Tax (12 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I will not support this price jump of 50 cent for a packet of cigarettes. I am probably one of the lucky people in this country who does not smoke, thankfully. I have many very close friends who smoke and I have spoken to them at length to try to see if they might give it up, and they are finding it very difficult. We need to look at educating people in some way, not punishing them. Maybe...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I want to wish Deputy Mattie McGrath the best. He has had a surgical procedure and is out this week. I also echo the congratulations to the Minister and his wife on the birth of their baby boy. What efforts are the Government making to provide dedicated student accommodation in the recently established university towns of Clonmel and Thurles in County Tipperary?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: While the establishment of a new technological university in the County Tipperary towns of Clonmel and Thurles and the resumption of on-campus learning is very welcome, these recent changes have resulted in an increase in the number of students seeking student accommodation in this area compared with previous years. The university towns of Clonmel and Thurles have no dedicated student...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister. Deputy Mattie McGrath and Councillor Máirín McGrath were watching the budget closely yesterday. They were more than surprised that there was no mention of student accommodation in this year's budget, despite the housing crisis receiving significant attention. This has been described as "disappointing" by the president of Trinity College's student union. The...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I am glad to get the opportunity to speak today when the dust has settled on what is a very anti-rural budget for the people of rural Ireland. I can give several reasons for that. Sometimes one can see something positive, but one has to look at the small print. When one looks at the small print, one sees the reality of the story. This would be an ideal opportunity to turn things around...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: That is fine. I am saying that it is a 50% increase. That is all I saw in the document that came out yesterday. I have moved on from that to the next issue. The Minister of State has a right to reply later, but I am giving him the facts about public transport for young people. If it is the case that PSO routes are not included, this will disqualify most areas in rural Ireland. It will...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: Happy? The Government could have done something about it. The French did and the Spanish did.

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: Unfortunately, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister were asleep at the wheel and we will pay a high price. What was in the budget yesterday for the people of the islands of this country? Will there be a social housing budget that has not been there for many years? I did not see it in the budget. I did not see anything about islands. There are some beautiful islands off...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: This has been an anti-rural Ireland budget with nothing for the fishing industry, little for the farmers and a carbon tax attack on the people of rural Ireland alone. One of the few shining lights in the budget was a 50% reduction in fares for students travelling on public transport but the devil is in the detail here too as it exempts those who are not on public service obligation routes....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: It is travel. Do something about that.

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: The Rural Independent Group made a series of submissions to this budget which were, by the look of it, rejected out of hand. One of the first proposals was the budget should be rural-proofed. Certainly, this budget has not one shred of rural-proofing written into it. As a matter of fact, it is an anti-rural Ireland budget. I will tell the Minister of State how it is going to affect the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: 169. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the certificate of recovery has a timeline of six months when the HSE is saying a person is safe for nine months; his views on whether the certificate of recovery should be changed to nine months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50202/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I welcome our guests. Many of my questions have already been asked. Everybody has to be very concerned about the quality of our waters and we have regulations in place. The funny thing is the witnesses said at the beginning that the problem is mainly caused by human activity. My belief is that the problem is the lack of human activity. I can bring the witnesses around west Cork any time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion (13 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I have one other question. If a farmer has an infringement on water quality, what rules does the EPA apply?

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I have great concerns about this EU-Singapore agreement, which is meant to build along the lines of a friendship with the Asians and intends to grow co-operation across many areas where a free trade agreement has been drawn up since November 2019. There are many human rights issues with regard to Singapore and its government in comparison to our country. We are a neutral country, which is...

Access of Competent Authorities to Centralised Bank Account Registries: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I wish to share time with Deputy Michael Healy-Rae.

Access of Competent Authorities to Centralised Bank Account Registries: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: I am happy to have an opportunity to speak on this issue. Pursuant to Article 32a of the fifth anti-money laundering directive, member states are to put in place national centralised and automated mechanisms, such as central registers, and central electronic data retrieval systems that allow for the timely identification of any natural or legal person holding or controlling payments,...

Rental Sector: Motion [Private Members] (19 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: Rents have gone crazy for those who are trying to rent, as if the Minister of State does not know already. It traps people who are renting. They will not be able to afford to buy a home for themselves. The national average rent is €1,352. If a family or couple is trying to rent a property at €1,352, they will never be able to own their own home. They are tied into and...

Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017 [Seanad]: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2021)

Michael Collins: Children with autism have suffered enough. Every Deputy is contacted by local schools seeking SNAs for children with autism and other disabilities. A school that rang me last week was seeking three SNAs for children with serious autism and various disabilities. It was offered just one part-time SNA. I was interested in what was said about a lack of action on the part of special...