Results 2,181-2,200 of 3,645 for speaker:Michael Collins

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Funding (30 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: This question was tabled before the roadmap to reopen schools was published during the week. Primary and secondary schools throughout the country will have to employ extra cleaning staff due to the imminent reopening of schools. Will the Minister outline the way this cleaning budget will be allocated to schools, especially primary schools? Is it a separate grant for schools or a raising of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Funding (30 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister very much for that clarity. Like every other Deputy, I have been inundated with calls in recent weeks from schools - in Belgooly, Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Castletownbere, Kilcrohane, Schull and Ballydehob, to name but a few in west Cork - and not just with regard to this issue. In fairness, the Minister has provided clarity with regard to many of those schools,...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I am delighted to get an opportunity today to speak on the stimulus package and the issues that still concern people. In fairness, there is no point in being altogether critical of the package. It contains measures that in time will begin a roadmap for people to try to get back to some normality and employment, which is of huge importance. I want to home in on the expenditure regarding...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: The severe overcrowding in St. Brogan's College has been of great concern to the people of Bandon for quite some time. What will the situation be for children going into secondary school in Bandon in September? Will extra Portakabins be put in place? What is the situation in that regard? Parents were last year advised to send children to Cork rather than to send them to school in Bandon....

Future of School Education: Motion [Private Members] (28 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward this motion. I would like to start by thanking the Minister and her Department for all of their effort and success in helping schools throughout west Cork to receive urgent funding recently. Dreeny National School in Skibbereen needed to carry out emergency works. Scoil Mhuire na nGrást in Belgooly required emergency works in conjunction...

Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I congratulate the Minister on her appointment to a Ministry I have no doubt she will thrive in. I am astonished, however, that the rural affairs brief has got thrown in under the Department of Social Protection. This move seriously demotes rural affairs and was a very poor sign from Fianna Fáil of its intentions for rural Ireland, once again demoting the Ministry for rural affairs. ...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Aviation (28 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses for attending. I endorse my colleagues' comments regarding social welfare inspectors at the airports. Where are the inspectors getting their information? Is it from the airline authorities? Could somebody answer that question for me? I have a number of questions, especially for the DAA about Cork Airport but maybe I will leave them for now. There are serious...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Aviation (resumed) (28 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank our guests for attending. My questions will be directed more towards the representatives from Aer Lingus if they do not mind. Cabin crew at Aer Lingus have been raising serious concerns. Their original fortnightly pay was reduced by 50% on 30 March. As of July, their level of pay has been reduced even though they are working. They were misinformed that the company would pay 30%...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Aviation (resumed) (28 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I apologise but I am running out of time, so I will stop Mr. Doyle there. I asked about people who are working a three-day week instead of a five-day week. Those employees have two days outstanding there and the company is refusing to stamp their forms. Why is Aer Lingus refusing to stamp those forms?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Aviation (resumed) (28 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I would appreciate it if Mr. Doyle did that because the matter is of serious concern to the staff. It has caused a loss of income to the staff who are struggling at this time. It is a common basic right if an employer can only provide work to an employee three days a week. The employer should mark on the forms the days on which the staff member has been employed and the days on which he or...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (24 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I am sharing time with Deputies Mattie McGrath and O'Donoghue. I have a number of questions and, given that time is short, I might ask them all together. I begin with the issue of nursing homes and congregated settings. I note, thankfully, that in west Cork to date, and please God it will remain the case, there has been no Covid-19 case in any of the nursing homes. Nevertheless, there is...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on International Travel (24 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: A the witnesses know, there have been 3.5 million reported cases of Covid-19 infection in the USA, with 77,000 new cases confirmed today. I have been calling for rapid testing at our airports for nearly two months, a call which has gone unheeded by the Government. This can be done, and has been done, in various other countries throughout the world. The mandatory quarantine is not being...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on International Travel (24 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank Mr. Cullen. I have been pushing for same-day rapid testing in our airports and ports for the past two months, to no avail. I have been told that testing is only 70% to 80% proof. That is better than 0% proof. Is there any way for that to happen?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (24 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank our guests. Taxi drivers are suffering. Many taxis operators in the constituency of Cork South-West and throughout the country have been in contact with me prior to this ten-minute packaging and other things that they feel are not steering their way. Taxi drivers are suffering extreme stress and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic as they have seen their incomes wiped out....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: A Dáil vote is taking place in the Convention Centre. We are in here, but we are meant to be voting as representatives of our constituencies in the Dáil. A bad mistake is being made here. In future, we cannot miss our Dáil activities because they are clashing with the activities of the committee. I respect this is a very important committee but we should be allowed to vote.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Maybe we should write to the Business Committee in the future to see that we are not losing our right to vote. We are elected by our constituencies to do that and to be here. I know this is a difficult time but we cannot be in two places at the same time. I thank our guests for being here today. As I said earlier, taxi drivers are suffering extreme stress. Taxi drivers and private bus...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Impact on Public Transport (Resumed) (24 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Ms Hanlon absolutely has. The impact of Covid-19 on the finances of coach tour operators has been disastrous. Such operators traditionally plan their finances on the basis that they need to cover their operating costs throughout the winter period until the tourist season commences the following March. The timing of the outbreak of Covid-19 has meant that many of those operators have no...

Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that. I was in the same position as a previous Deputy. We got our wires crossed.

Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: That people over 70 will have a better chance of getting a medical card is very important but we must also look at other areas where those over 70 are suffering quite a bit. For example, people in west Cork are seeking cataract procedures and we have taken over 50 bus trips to Belfast because our older people are suffering. They cannot get a cataract procedure in Cork or Kerry. Deputy...

Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: This is my first opportunity to wish the Minister and the Minister of State the very best in their new roles. I look forward to working with both of them in this very difficult but important area. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue of amendments that will provide for the expansion of GP care without charge on a phased basis to children of primary school age and...