Results 3,761-3,772 of 3,772 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Issues Facing the Road Haulage Industry: Irish Road Haulage Association (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: I welcome the witnesses. At the very beginning, Mr. Hyland said that this was a very important committee. However, if the hauliers are not operating properly, then this country grinds to a halt, so they are far more important than whatever we can do here. We must make sure that does not happen. It is hugely important to us that they are here today. I listened with great interest to a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Issues Facing the Road Haulage Industry: Irish Road Haulage Association (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: How much is a mirror?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Issues Facing the Road Haulage Industry: Irish Road Haulage Association (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: Okay.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: This is the fifth week in a row I have asked that the Minister for education come to the Dáil to talk about the capitation grant and class sizes. It is hugely important now. We are facing into the summer break, almost immediately after which we will have the budget. It is a huge concern in the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, INTO, especially with regard to the capitation grant...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (8 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: Independent Ireland will not be opposing this Bill going through the Dáil. That might be an example to the Minister as to how we are open to doing business. When we put forward a motion two or three weeks ago we put forward about 20 proposals, the Government put forward 24 or 25 amendments to make sure it did not go through the Dáil. It might have resolved the situation around...

Student Fees: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: I have attended most of the debates on college fees in the past week and the one thing I found was that nobody got clarity. This is a terribly unfair situation for parents to find themselves in. They are very concerned. There is no point in saying something here that is not true. Every politician, including the Ministers, must surely realise from emails the concerns of parents. In a...

Student Fees: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: Heads down the whole time, looking at your phones when you should be listening to the speeches.

Student Fees: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: No respect for the young people up there.

Transparency for Supermarket Profits: Motion [Private Members] (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: I thank the Social Democrats and will support this very important motion. Since 2021, grocery costs have surged nearly 40%, adding €3,000 to annual family expenses and pushing more than 100,000 children into consistent poverty. These are some examples. Brennan's white bread, 800 g, increased from €1.87 in 2022 to €1.99 in 2025. Avonmore milk, 2 l, rose from...

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: The all-island strategic rail review, published in July 2024, outlines a comprehensive vision for enhancing the rail system across Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050. Recommended in it are additional capacity, faster services, higher frequency, electrification and new routes. These are great except if you live in rural Ireland, where I happen to live. Light rail is to come to Cork...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2025)

Michael Collins: Reducing the length of time with regard to a planning permission might be okay with the large developments but I would be very concerned about the one-off housing. A lot of people might apply for planning but may not have the money to get started, especially with the price of materials at the moment. I refer to one-off housing in rural Ireland. I have often met people, as we all do in our...