Results 181-200 of 3,628 for speaker:Michael Collins

Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: I am not going to stand here and say people will not welcome the rebate for energy costs. Of course, they will welcome it in very difficult times with the rising costs of energy, which are sky-rocketing to an extraordinary level. Without the Government tackling the energy companies as to where they can make savings, I know people can make savings by ringing around. I contacted a telephone...

Planning and Development (An Taisce) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: We did not interfere when you were speaking.

Planning and Development (An Taisce) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: Sit down and have manners.

Planning and Development (An Taisce) Bill 2024: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: The proposed legislation aims to limit An Taisce's influence in Ireland's planning and development process, especially in rural areas. It seeks to remove An Taisce as a prescribed authority under the Planning and Development Acts to address delays caused by its objections which have impacted housing and economic growth. The goal is to streamline the planning process, reduce bureaucratic...

Spending of Public Funds by the Government: Motion [Private Members] (8 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: The complete waste of money is appalling, about which there is an outcry the Government is ignoring. It is quite adamant this pouch scheme is going to work. It knows as well as I do that no phone is going to go into that pouch. It is only codding us. I would like to know who is making these pouches. We need a bit more information about this because it seems the Government is determined...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (8 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: We have been talking about housing since I came into the Dáil and it has not got any better. It has got worse under the Government’s leadership. Instead of a clear light going forward it is more difficult. Talking about young people, especially in my own constituency, rural planning is savage. It is a horrible issue for a lot of young people. The disappointment, hurt and...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: One of the best reports today was in one of the newspapers, that "Budget 2025 delivers vast spending – but a dire lack of vision stores up disaster for the country". That was true, in my view, on so many fronts. I look at the roads budget. I spoke quite a lot about other issues last night and I will not touch on them today. The VAT rate, at 13.5%, was one of the biggest mistakes...

Financial Resolution No. 3: Capital Acquisitions Tax (1 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: We are talking about the inheritance tax here. I welcome the move we have made, but I do not think we have gone far enough. It is not that I believe we should be throwing confetti up in the air in the budget and have everybody grabbing it. However, people paid for these properties. Most likely it is a farm or whatever. They are paying back the bank for this property. They are paying the...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Budget Statement 2025 (1 Oct 2024)

Michael Collins: In recent days, I see Bertie Ahern had a secret meeting with Simon Harris. It is little wonder that he taught him about leaks and spins. Leaks usually come out of Fianna Fáil but they are now starting to come out of Fine Gael, with the leaks we had in recent weeks relating to the budget. It is like a bucket with no ass in it. At one time, when the budget took place nobody knew until...

Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: This Bill aims to improve company rules set out in the Companies Act 2014 by enhancing corporate governance, ensuring companies follow regulations, streamlining daily operations and managing insolvency cases. It promises better management, increased transparency and stronger oversight. However, it may face challenges in its implementation and arising from additional costs for companies....

Health Information Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: I am communicating with them but I am not getting through. The purpose of this Bill is to ensure that digital health records are used safely and effectively to improve healthcare in Ireland. This is an extremely important issue. Maybe we have let it slip in the past number of years. We have not kept up to speed with what was going on around the world. Something that has been making...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: There is a major wastewater crisis in west Cork which is nothing short of a scandal. In Shannonvale near Clonakilty raw sewage is bursting out of the tanks into a now closed-off play park and seeping down to the waterway that feeds Clonakilty's mains water. This has been going on for 29 years. Dunmanway wastewater treatment plant has awaited upgrading for the past seven years. That led to...

Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: The means test for the carer's allowance is a significant barrier for many carers who need financial support. Currently, there are 299,128 carers in Ireland but only 96,826 receive the carer's allowance. This means a large number of carers are missing out on essential financial support. Abolishing this test will ensure that all carers receive the assistance they deserve regardless of their...

Healthcare Services in the Mid-West Region: Motion [Private Members] (24 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: I wish to express my sympathies to the family of Aoife Johnston and the families of many others who died in terrible circumstances. I support the motion. Those in our group have continuously highlighted serious concerns about the chronic overcrowding at UHL for several years, especially my colleague from Limerick Deputy O'Donoghue. The Minister for Health's neglect of this emergency has...

Healthcare Services in the Mid-West Region: Motion [Private Members] (24 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: That individual is doing his best to make sure that these people have a home and that it is the same home they always had. We have a crisis here that needs to be looked at on a deeper level. It has not been looked at. It has been neglected and is causing major concern in my area.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: The main point of the changes being made in this criminal justice Bill is to address how young people who commit serious crimes like murder are sentenced. Specifically, it deals with the situations where someone commits a crime as a child but is sentenced after they reach the age of 18. We are speaking about the sentencing of young people. I was talking to a mother the other day on the...

Childcare: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: I fully support Sinn Féin's motion. Childcare is essential for society, aiding children's development and enabling parents to work. Ireland faces a childcare crisis, however, with high costs, limited availability and inadequate support for professionals. This crisis demands urgent reform. Affordable, accessible and reliable childcare is crucial for families and the economy. It...

Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: It is envisaged the new Mental Health Bill will replace, reform and overhaul the Mental Health Act 2001. The Bill contains over 140 sections and introduces, for the first time, a robust system of registration, regulation and inspection of all mental health services, including community CAMHS. Will this happen, however? Every week, I hold clinics all over west Cork. I know from families,...

CJEU Judgment in Apple State Aid Case: Statements (18 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: I pay tribute to Apple, which has an incredible workforce of 6,000 - mainly in Cork. This is a big issue today. We praise the company for what it has done for the people. There are many ways this money could be spent. It is a bit like the Bible. We are spreading lots with our clothes. We should look at investment in nursing homes instead of closing them. We should reverse the decision...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Sep 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. He said this should never have happened. This is happening on a weekly basis in Cork county and, from what I hear, it is happening on a weekly basis nationally. The Taoiseach needs to step in immediately. Members of the public in Cork county and city, and nationally, deserve nothing less than a seven-day ambulance service that they can access in no...