Results 1,481-1,500 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Mental Health and Older People: Statements (9 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment and I agree with my colleague, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, who said last night that there is no better person in terms of her care for the unborn in our campaign some time back. She gave great support to that and if she gives the same support in the job she is in, we are in safe hands. The mental health system is preparing for a tsunami...

Public Health, Well-being and National Drugs Strategy: Statements (10 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: No, I am on my own.

Public Health, Well-being and National Drugs Strategy: Statements (10 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I am. Is the Minister of State aware of the closure yesterday, out of the blue, of the Cara Lodge Residential Treatment Centre, run by the Matt Talbot Adolescent Services in Ahiohill in Clonakilty in west Cork? This was a free residential centre with a programme for 14 to 18-year-old males with substance misuse issues. The centre had a capacity for six young people and they could remain...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Examination of HIQA Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland (10 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I start by thanking the staff of nursing homes in west Cork. To the best of my knowledge they have been free of Covid-19, which has been a great relief to the families of residents. I refer also to community hospitals. Fabulous work is going on there in difficult times. Great thanks and praise are due for that. I would like to ask the witnesses several questions and give them a chance...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Examination of HIQA Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Nursing Homes in Ireland (10 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: Who signed that statutory instrument? In my view, it has cost the lives of many people in community hospitals where there were Covid-19 outbreaks.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I raised the issue of the cross-border directive with the then Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, 12 months ago in the House. The question was whether the cross-border scheme would continue in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Many people have gone to Northern Ireland for hip, knee and, most importantly, cataract surgery. In the last year and a half, myself, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, Councillor Ben...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: The Taoiseach is saying it is over.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: Is the legislation in place?

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment as this is my first time speaking to him since his appointment. The plight of taxi drivers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has been very severe. It is impacting on taxi drivers across the entire country. Clearly, taxi drivers have been forgotten in the response to Covid-19. The Government must step in and establish a taxi...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: The Matt Talbot Services announced the closure of the Cara Lodge in Ahiohill, Clonakilty last week with the loss of 27 jobs in west Cork. As well as the loss of these jobs, a much-needed service for young people in west Cork will close. We have never had such a high incidence of mental health issues and substance abuse among our young people and there has never been such a need for this...

Workers' Rights: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank Deputy Joan Collins and the rest of the Independent Group for tabling the motion. Former Debenhams workers in Cork are carrying out a 12-hour fast while on a picket line today to raise funds for Marymount hospice in the city. They feel that the people of Cork have been so good to them that it is time they paid them back. Tomorrow will mark 161 days of industrial action taken by...

Protecting Jobs and Supporting Business: Statements (16 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: This is a hugely important time to protect jobs and support businesses but the Government is doing the exact opposite. Take how businesses and private residents in west Cork were destroyed following recent flooding in Bantry, Skibbereen, Rosscarbery, Bandon and Rathbarry, when the only support they got was humanitarian aid, which businesses cannot get if they already have insurance. No...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: The Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, acting as Minister for fisheries, signed a statutory instrument which introduced a penalty points system on fishing fleets a few weeks ago while the Dáil was in recess when we had no chance to debate or stop that or at least submit amendments. Those penalty points have the potential to do major harm to the Irish fishing industry. I remind the...

Expenditure Response to Covid-19 Crisis: Statements (Resumed) (17 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I will concentrate on the tourism, entertainment and community and voluntary sectors in my contribution. The tourism sector is hugely important for my constituency of Cork South-West. The increase in VAT rates from 9% to 13.5%, which happened pre-Covid, had devastating consequences for the tourism industry. It was a serious error made by the Government which it could have rectified, as the...

Climate Action: Statements (17 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I am delighted to see the Minister back in the Chamber and I wish him and his family the best. Climate change is a key topic and I am keen to ensure our actions in the Dáil will continue the safeguarding of our livelihoods and our way of life in our Ireland. I congratulate the Minister on the recent passing of the National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central...

Community Safety and Fireworks: Motion [Private Members] (22 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: The setting off of fireworks in and around a home must be terrifying for anyone who has to tolerate the behaviour of those who show scant regard for people and their property. We must go back to the root of problems as it is mainly our youth who involve themselves in these mindless acts. Not all youth are involved in disruptive behaviour, however. This can be seen from the Garda youth...

Community Safety and Fireworks: Motion [Private Members] (22 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: Hear, hear.

Sick Leave and Parental Leave (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I agree with my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group. It is a bit rich of the Labour Party to put this forward today, when it absolutely destroyed women's pensions. It comes before me in my constituency every week because of the Labour Party's errors and what it did to persecute the women of this country. It has forgotten that quickly but we have not forgotten it because we have to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: During the recent election campaign, the Taoiseach's party issued written reassurances on the future of Bantry General Hospital and the anaesthetist post there. In the programme for Government, however, no specific commitment was made on Bantry hospital, even though commitments were made for many more hospitals. Almost two years ago, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, visited...

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (23 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I know that school transport does not fall under the Minister's brief but it is a nightmare throughout my constituency in Cork South-West. I am getting calls from frustrated and angry parents from Kinsale to Mizen Head. Coaches and buses are available. Drivers are available because they are not driving tourists around Ireland. Why can those vehicles not be used to transport our children...