Results 2,301-2,320 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. We saw last week that the military exercise by the Russians off the south-west coast of Ireland was moved outside the exclusive economic zone, EEZ, only after the intervention of our fishermen with the Russians. We need a full debate on this issue in the Dáil on how, as with Brexit, our Government stood idly by while these fishermen's lives and livelihoods...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: Last Friday Bridie Roycroft, postmistress of the ever-popular Ballydehob post office, posted a statement on social media stating that the sorting of post by postmen and postwomen in Ballydehob, Schull and Goleen post offices was now being moved to Skibbereen after decades of being done locally. This is another loss of income for postmasters in rural communities, who will lose a big chunk of...

Legacy Issues in Northern Ireland and New Decade, New Approach: Statements (1 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: Between 1969 and 1999, approximately 3,500 people died as a result of political violence in Northern Ireland. The conflict, often referred to as the Troubles, has its origins in the 1921 division of Ireland and has reflected a struggle between different national, cultural and religious identities. There has been much discussion in the Republic about our own history, as we reach the 100th...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: Mental health must become a national priority, as our country must face up to a crisis beyond any other we have ever had. The Rural Independent Group's pre-budget submission sought increased funding of at least €85 million for mental health services this year to deal with the emerging mental health crisis. The increased allocation by this Government is only half that of our...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (1 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: 806. To ask the Minister for Health if the recently-appointed Chair to lead the three-year review of abortion legislation was one of the small number of candidates he identified as suitable and invited to apply for the role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5090/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (1 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: 807. To ask the Minister for Health if the recently-appointed Chair of the three-year review of the 2018 abortion legislation successfully applied for this role given that the tender was not publicly made available through the e-tenders website and public procurement policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5091/22]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: In the past few weeks, Cork County Council has rejected a planning application for almost 100 houses in Clonakilty. The reason for the refusal was the Irish Water report in the planning in which it stated that water supply deficiencies are too high in the Clonakilty area to allow extra development. In my time as a councillor between 2004 and 2016, water problems in Clonakilty were being...

Easing of Covid-19 Restrictions: Statements (2 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: Rural Ireland is likely to be disproportionately affected by the impact of Covid-19. An ambitious and co-ordinated tourism plan from public and private stakeholders must be considered to prevent the industry from faltering. Tourism was one of the first sectors hit by Covid-19. It is likely to be the last to recover. A co-ordinated plan is now required in the short term. A rapid and...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: While I know it is not the Minister's area of responsibility, I will start by speaking on behalf of the students in my constituency who are not happy with the way they have been treated in relation to this year's leaving certificate. These students have been hugely impacted by Covid-19. They have had their senior cycle education totally disrupted. Some had underlying conditions which meant...

Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (2 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: I will certainly support an amendment if it helps in some way to give more clarity to the forestry sector, especially to those who are supplying and working in it. We have gone through a horrendous year and a half with situations involving people that reach all the way back to the landowner. It is very simple. If people cannot fell their forest, they will not sow it. As previous speakers...

Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (2 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 11, line 23, after “detects” to insert “, beyond a reasonable doubt,”. This amendment is about a sea infringement being beyond reasonable doubt to provide fairness and equality for fishers under the law and the Constitution, otherwise, the Government will create a new and dangerous precedent for treating fishers as second-class...

Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (2 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: I have two minutes to speak on this issue. I could spend an hour speaking on it. This Bill aims to criminalise the entire fisheries sector and creates an unequal and deeply unfair legal system for fishermen and women. Therefore, it is important for the Minister to support us on this amendment. He said that we are the last to bring in the penalty points system. We are the last when it...

Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (2 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: I move amendment No. 2: In page 12, line 4, to delete “30 working days” and substitute “60 working days”. This is a fair amendment. You must look at the type of work a fisher does. If something as huge as penalty points is hoisted upon his or her back then he or she will need time. They will need time to challenge what is probably an unfair conviction being...

Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (2 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: The Minister was right when he said it is bizarre. It is quite bizarre, to be quite honest, to think that we are only going to get two hours tonight to debate this hugely important issue of what is basically the destruction of the Irish fishing sector. We will only get through to five or six amendments and then it will be all over and gone, and that is it. Unfortunately, we need more time....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: Many farmers in this country are facing a wipeout this year due to the astronomical increases in fertiliser costs. A farmer who paid €300 last year for a tonne, or 20 bags, of the most popular type of fertiliser will pay €900 this year. This is an astonishing increase that will leave many farmers with a nightmare decision as to how they will pay for fertiliser this year....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply, but it was muddled to say the least. The most he said is that farmers will get an information pack. Farmers do not want an information pack; they want some of the kind of relief of the sort that Mr. Santini of the EU agricultural committee told us two weeks ago can be given by the Government. We know of farmers who could not get credit and who had...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: Two weeks ago, the Government announced a €1,000 payment as recognition for the work done during the pandemic by care workers in hospital settings, and that must be welcomed. Last week, we saw added to the people who will receive the payment the home help staff who continue to do Trojan work in their communities. One sector has been overlooked, and those are the carers working in...

Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. While this Bill is welcome, it comes very late for many workers who have worked hard in the workplace, and have been let very badly down. The Bill is technical in nature and comprises four sections. The purpose of the legislation is to provide for the making of a once-off State-funded payment to workers facing redundancy who have lost the opportunity to procure...

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Michael Collins: I will keep to my time as I must head back to west Cork afterwards. This Bill amounts to nothing more than tokenism. It is much too little and is way too late. It will have little to no impact. I and my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group have been calling on the Government to act on crippling energy price hikes for more than a year. Earlier this week the Central Bank announced...