Results 2,221-2,240 of 3,645 for speaker:Michael Collins

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Indeed, with three other colleagues - Deputies Michael Healy-Rae, Danny Healy-Rae and Richard O'Donoghue. I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, the very best in his new role. NORA exists in its present form to ensure that Ireland maintains its minimum stockholding requirements for oil and petroleum products. With regard to the proposed amendment of the principal Act, the Minister...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (15 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him the best going forward. The European Council meeting of 17 and 18 July will have to tackle many issues that are of huge concern to the Irish economy. We need clarity on where Irish fishermen stand regarding Brexit and the serious fallout from Irish and European trawlers being asked to vacate British waters, as it looks like will...

Maternity Leave Benefit Extension: Motion [Private Members] (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I support the motion to extend maternity leave and benefit temporarily due to the Covid-19 emergency. The announcement yesterday regarding parents' leave is a step in the right direction, but it is not a solution. It does not solve the crisis that parents face now. It also excludes anybody whose baby was born earlier than last November. These babies still need to be cared for. It is...

Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, on his appointment and I wish him the best. The Rural Independent Group will not be opposing this Bill tonight. There are many issues in respect of SMEs at present. I have spent a lot of time talking to people whose businesses are in serious financial difficulty. The Government is talking about giving low interest rates but providing...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Publicans all over the country are at the end of their tether at the continuing uncertainty as to whether they can reopen next week. Stocks needed to be ordered yesterday if they are to open next Monday. Some publicans took the gamble by ordering but more did not because they do not know where they stand. We seem to have completely forgotten that there are 50,000 jobs on the line. Pub...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: The headline of the Southern Starlast week stated "Our poor broadband will deter re-locators". That is the situation we have experienced in west Cork. I did my best to steer away from the national broadband plan in my initial question as I do not want this to be the rock on which the Taoiseach will perish, like his predecessors. A few short months ago, the former Minister, Deputy Bruton,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I will try to explore with the Taoiseach solutions to the broadband crisis that has existed for years throughout rural Ireland and in particular in my constituency of Cork South-West. High-speed fibre broadband is a dream for everyone in rural Ireland, which has turned into a nightmare. It has turned out to be a shameful legacy of Taoiseach after Taoiseach in this country. The current...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the Chair and our guests for attending today. It is estimated that mental health problems cost the Irish economy more than €8.2 billion a year. During the past four months face-to-face counselling has ceased for the thousands of adults and children who are supported by the mental health services in Ireland. Experts are warning that our social healthcare should be prepared...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Have inspections of mental health facilities continued during Covid-19?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Does Mr. Rogan have an idea how many cases of Covid-19 were detected in mental health facilities?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: During the lockdown period, many parents of adults and young children who suffer from mental health issues found it incredibly difficult to manage their special needs children around the clock with no break or respite. Now that restrictions have been lifted to a large degree, when will respite resume for these vulnerable people?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: With regard to care of the elderly facilities, the HIQA standards recommend that 80% of bedrooms should be single occupancy. Do the same standards apply to mental health facilities across the country?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (Resumed) (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses. The former CEO of Mental Health Reform, Dr. Shari McDaid, has advised successive Ministers of State with responsibility for mental health, senior civil servants and senior HSE executives on solutions to improve the mental health service. She has recommended the organisation of a cross-governmental cross-society task force to develop the country's mental health...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (Resumed) (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Yes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (Resumed) (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank Mr. Ryan. Have site visits and inspections continued during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Non-Covid Healthcare Disruption: Mental Health Services (Resumed) (14 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: How many cases of Covid-19 were detected in mental health facilities?

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I wish the Minister the very best in her role. I commend the work which An Garda Síochána has done in west Cork, from the chief superintendent down to every individual garda, in putting people first. Community policing has been at its best, as it should be. I have argued that gardaí who are appointed to an area should reside in that area in order to build a relationship with...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Humanitarian aid is a must for countries that genuinely need it. Our churches have for decades given generously to countries that struggle, and most of all to children who are suffering beyond belief. I remind everyone of the humanitarian crisis evident in Yemen, a country with 24 million people. Some 80% of the population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance. More than 12 million...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Hotels, cafés, restaurants and pubs are the main contributors to the tourism industry and they are massively struggling. The decision by the previous Government, supported by Fianna Fáil, to increase the VAT rate from 9% to 13.5% was a significant mistake that damaged many businesses in rural Ireland. Several restaurants, pubs and other facilities in west Cork and elsewhere in...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I congratulate the new Ministers who are before us today and wish them luck in their positions. I was across the corridors from the Minister, Deputy Martin, for the past four years and thankfully we had a lot of conversations and I hope we can work together going forward. The Deputy has the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and in my own constituency of Cork South-West the...