Results 1,821-1,840 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: I am in full agreement with this Bill. Our students and younger generation have suffered greatly during Covid-19. The pandemic has exposed the severe economic injustice students face in the rental market. Thousands of students and their families have been forced to pay for accommodation they were prohibited from using. It is no longer acceptable for the Government to act as a spectator...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: The fact that it appears we will have very little time to discuss the marine planning framework is another attack on the inshore fishermen of west Cork and the rest of the country. It is only right that we get time to debate these issues in a proper manner. I cannot understand why the Taoiseach does not want proper scrutiny in the Dáil. I know the Taoiseach has been attacking the...

Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: I propose to share time with Deputy Mattie McGrath. This is a technical Bill, the purpose of which is to amend existing legislation to allow the transfer of functions relating to heritage under a number of enactments to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. These powers and functions come under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Wildlife Act 1976, the...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: I am glad to get the opportunity to speak on the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021. In a recent case, the Supreme Court found that while the Oireachtas can impose mandatory penalties for offences, it can only do so where those penalties apply to all persons equally. Specifically, the Oireachtas cannot create a mandatory penalty, which only applies to a particular class of persons,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: 52. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a five-year commitment will be given to businesses in the tourism sector; and if measures such as a 9% rate of VAT, insurance reform, grants and other measures will be introduced to ensure the recovery of the sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular in areas such as west Cork (details supplied). [22306/21]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: Will a five-year commitment be given to businesses in the tourism sector? Are measures such as a 9% rate of VAT, insurance reform, grants and other measures being introduced to ensure the recovery of the sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in areas such as west Cork? I met the Minister some time ago when she was on holidays down in Ballydehob, so she knows the beauty...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: Hotels and tourism businesses flagged that tourism is one of the major employers in rural regions such as west Cork. It has been one of the sectors hardest hit during the pandemic. Many businesses are making decisions about whether they can survive, and if they can, they are cutting back on services and operating hours. We need a commitment for a minimum of five years to make these SMEs,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: After many good years of Fáilte Ireland supporting regionality and seasonality, the winters will now see businesses going back to shutting up shop to preserve money. Hospitality will have nothing to entertain and attract guests off-season and people will be out of work again for the four to five autumn and winter months. Employees in the sector must also be supported and incentivised...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: 331. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans being put in place to protect the employees of the hospitality sector (details supplied). [22309/21]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: 508. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of officials that worked on the Brexit talks that were permanently based in Brussels in the critical run up period from October to 24 December 2020; and the number of these officials that were from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and based in Brussels that worked as part of this critical background team in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: 509. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the briefings and the number of briefings he had with the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and his officials (details supplied) in advance of his meetings with President Macron of France and the German Chancellor, Mrs. Angela Merkel in December 2020 as part of his Brexit talks meeting schedule; if a copy of any...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: 510. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the level of engagement he had with a person (details supplied) on 5 December 2020 on the matters pertaining to marine and fisheries alone; if he will provide details of the discussions and conclusions reached on marine and fisheries matters at those talks as part of his engagement with the French leader in advance of the Brexit deal of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: 1141. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the 46 recommendations made by a company (details supplied) into the review of the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency; the person or body that appointed the Steering and Oversight Group; the date such appointments were made; if they are reporting back to him directly or to the Sea Fisheries Protection...

Covid-19, Mental Health and Older People: Statements (29 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: I have two and a half minutes to speak and I will use one minute for questions and the Minister of State might use the remaining time to reply, please. I asked the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, this question last week and he promised to come back to me but never did and perhaps the Minister of State may have the answer. If a person is over 60 years of age and is offered the AstraZeneca vaccine...

European Union Regulation: Motion (29 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: The proposals contained in the motion were published in December 2020. They could vastly increase the powers of the EU policing agency, Europol. They would grant Europol new data processing powers, a role in developing algorithms for the police and a mechanism to facilitate co-operation with non-EU states. The policy states: "In specific cases where Europol considers that a criminal...

National Marine Planning Framework: Motion (29 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: The Government appears to be pushing this motion through in a rushed matter and is only allocating 45 minutes for debate, five minutes for each group, which is a scandal. I note that no Member from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael is speaking on this today. They have spent the last six months turning their backs on the larger fishermen; now it is the inshore fishermen they are turning their...

National Autism Empowerment Strategy: Motion [Private Members] (29 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: Parents of children with a dual diagnosis of autism and intellectual disabilities do not feel represented by Inclusion Ireland at talks and when strategies are being implemented. They feel under-represented because the parties do not understand or cater for both autism and intellectual disabilities. Instead, each supports one or the other. The challenges faced by those with a dual...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan and its Implications for the Agriculture Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses for attending. I have a few questions on the climate action Bill but I would like to comment on some of discussion from An Taisce's side. The witnesses said they have engaged in constructive engagement. I have never seen any such constructive engagement during my time as a public representative. I am deeply disturbed about the High Court challenge An Taisce took...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan and its Implications for the Agriculture Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 May 2021)

Michael Collins: The climate action Bill will be highly destructive to every facet of the Irish economy, including the agrifood sector, which alone employs 164,400 people. This Bill aims to cut carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and meet net zero emissions by 2050 but makes no exception for agrifood. Am I correct in saying that? Also, as a result of this, the national cattle herd faces a 51% cut by 2030....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan and its Implications for the Agriculture Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Those are all my questions.