Results 1,341-1,360 of 3,763 for speaker:Michael Collins

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (17 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I have two and a half minutes of questions and I ask the Minister to afford me two and a half minutes of answers. I ask him to forward in writing any answers he cannot provide now. Three weeks ago, I asked him about congregated settings and Bantry General Hospital. I thank him for the answers which were furnished to me this morning. A little bit of clarity is needed on congregated...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank our guests for coming here today. I sympathise with the families of those who died in nursing homes and community hospitals due to coronavirus and pay tribute to the dedicated staff in each of these care facilities who are working under enormous pressures. While we are concentrating today on nursing homes, we should not forget community hospitals that were not brought up to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Was a risk assessment done on infection control before the statutory instrument was signed?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Does the Department of Health accept that in the context of Covid-19, the statutory instrument which resulted in the date being pushed out has cost lives?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Has the Department of Health considered doctors and nurses in nursing homes and community hospitals to do coronavirus testing?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: At the present time, people have to go to specialised centres to have coronavirus testing carried out. Has the Department considered having doctors and nurses in these nursing homes and community hospitals carry out coronavirus testing?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Nursing Homes (Resumed) (18 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Does the Department of Health intend to keep flying coronavirus tests out to Germany at a cost of up to €200 per test when we can have them done in the Republic for less than €50 a test?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State's Response to Impact of Covid-19 on Gaeltacht Areas and the Islands (18 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister of State and his officials. There are quite a few islands in my constituency of Cork South-West: Dursey, Bere, Whiddy, Long, Heir and Sherkin as well as Cape Clear. Since the Minister of State's appointment as Minister with responsibility for the islands, he has been no stranger to west Cork, with many visits to Sherkin Island and Bere Island, which first come to mind....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Why was the Federation of Early Childcare Providers omitted from today's meeting? It is a huge organisation which represents a cross-section of the sector we are looking at today. I feel very strongly about this, especially as it represents a lot of rural childcare providers facing serious survival issues and it is not here before us today.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Yes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank Ms Ní Sheaghdha and Mr. Bell for appearing before the committee today. Shortly after the beginning of the Covid crisis, the Taoiseach and other Ministers made announcement after announcement that the childcare issue for front-line health workers was to be resolved. No matter how often the promise was publicly announced - in some cases the public were told it would be resolved...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: There is also a worry that Covid-19 may strike again. If that happens, does Ms Ní Sheaghdha think we are prepared for a childcare service for front-line workers?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Does Mr. Bell think a package should be put together for front-line workers who have had to use all their annual leave?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses for being here before us today. My first set of questions is for Ms Teresa Heeney. Is she a childcare provider? Many providers are on the Covid social payment. What are her thoughts on that? Was she surprised when the Department of Children and Youth Affairs pulled funding from the childcare schemes? How many providers does Early Childhood Ireland represent as a...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Does Early Childhood Ireland represent providers and staff? Does Ms Heeney believe it is possible to represent both providers and staff?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Ms Quinn may also be able to answer some of the questions I asked.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed). (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: The Department's flagship service is the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme for seasonal services but it is barely sustainable for providers. If childcare closes down in a village or town, that learning in the community is lost. I have a number of questions for both Dr. Lynch and Ms McNally. I will read them out and they might be able to answer them now but if not they might...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Childcare: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed). (23 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Dr. Lynch said that 18 services are closing. Are they in rural or urban areas?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I welcome our guests and thank them for being here. I have a number of questions. I will begin with questions to the witnesses for the Department and the HSE. In response to a question I put to the Taoiseach three weeks ago, I was told that testing for Covid-19 cost €200 per test. My presumption was that was the cost of testing carried our in German laboratories. Earlier, we...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: At a meeting of this committee last week I was told that testing has cost in the region of €500 million to €600 million. Did this factor in the purchase of a PC-12 by the Air Corps to take Covid tests to Germany?