Results 2,241-2,260 of 3,645 for speaker:Michael Collins

Rent and Mortgage Arrears: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the Labour Party for tabling this motion. People in mortgage distress are in great fear of losing their homes. Many are genuine people who have done all they can to come to some arrangement with their banks but to no avail. Efforts to throw these people out of their homes must stop. The previous Government stood idly by. Will this Minister do the same? The laws must change....

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I wish the Minister the very best in his new role. Affordable housing is every family's dream but, sadly, it is not the reality for many families. Over the past four years, I have seen a large amount of lip service but no delivery on the ground. Housing and planning in this country is a total mess. It goes against families, building and local communities; it is basically anti-everything...

Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: No.

Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I am sharing time with Deputy Mattie McGrath. I will allow the Tánaiste a few minutes. He might be able to respond to some of the questions I ask. Businesses are in serious trouble all over west Cork and the rest of Ireland. Representatives of SMEs, to whom I speak every day, ask the same question, that is, how they are going to survive. The Tánaiste is not a miracle man with...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I am happy to have a chance to speak about these Revised Estimates for public services. I take the opportunity to urge that a closer scrutiny be made of how moneys are spent in various Departments to ensure they are not wasted, as we have seen happen with projects such as the children's hospital. That is one of many instances where massive amounts of money have been paid out. A total of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Page 61 of the programme for Government states that access to high-quality broadband across Ireland is essential to the development of all parts of our country. The Taoiseach may have seen national television and newspaper reports in recent weeks that Gaggan, west of Bandon, has little or no broadband. Areas in Kinsale, Bandon and Clonakilty all the way back to the three peninsulas in west...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: 428. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a matter (details supplied) will be examined for subjects studied outside school will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14173/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: 429. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a budget is in place for cleaning and PPE; if not, if it will be put in place for schools returning in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14174/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: 430. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if emergency works grant applications by schools (details supplied) will be expedited to ensure the safe reopening of the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14175/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Overall Fiscal and Monetary Position (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank our guests. Many younger people in this country are struggling. I refer, in particular, to couples who had deposits down on their first homes but, because they are on the temporary wage scheme, are being told their mortgage applications will have to be reapplied for. These are people who have worked through the pandemic. Their employers received help from the Government but,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Overall Fiscal and Monetary Position (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Many businesses, especially restaurants, cafés, hotels, pubs and taxis, all over the country are in ruin through no fault of their own. They did what was asked of them by the Government. They closed their doors to protect us. Now they are left with a bleak summer period. While we are all being told to holiday in Ireland to try to make up for the lack of tourists, this will in no way...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Overall Fiscal and Monetary Position (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Some people were in trouble with mortgages before the pandemic. Is there any understanding being put in place in banks to help these people, who may have just been getting back on their feet but who, because of Covid-19 have now fallen behind again? I refer to people who have applied for the moratorium. I am being told that it is not a case of pausing their payments but more of a...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I have a number of questions and I would appreciate it if the witnesses could take them down because one question might fit into another in a response. I have been talking to school principals, parents associations and boards of management. As I am on a board of management, I know that boards are finding it difficult to get answers to many of the questions that are being asked. The...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the Chairman and witnesses. Tourism is one of the largest indigenous employers in Ireland and has been one of the worst hit in this pandemic. While I congratulate Deputy Catherine Martin on her appointment to this Ministry, it was a glaring mistake by this Fianna Fáil-led Government that it did not take the advice from me and my Independent colleagues to appoint a stand-alone...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Can bed and breakfast accommodation operators be sued if somebody contracts Covid-19 when staying at their premises? Once a guest leaves bed and breakfast accommodation, when can the room be reopened for a new guest?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank our guests for attending. I wish Deputy Foley the very best in her new role as Minister for Education and Skills and I pay tribute to the former Minister, Deputy McHugh, who was very fair when in his position. I am involved with the board of management at a school in Schull in west Cork. I can see at first hand the problems that schools will have with the return of students,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I fully realise the delegates' bodies are not the funding bodies as such and that the funding body is the Department. One of the first questions I asked was whether there are any indications from the Department on whether schools will be getting a bigger budget for cleaning and personal protective equipment. Surely there is some indication. If the delegates are lobbying, they are surely...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: What is coming back from the Department to the delegates on transport? Is there any talk about the seating plans? Will children have to wear masks? Is there any plan in place overall? Has anything been figured out yet? Will extra school buses have to be provided? What is the indication from the Department?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that. In the constituency I represent, 90% go to school in motorised vehicles. In some cases, the children have to travel many miles.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Absolutely. A lady down in Innishannon wrote that book. Emergency works funding has been denied to schools. Many could be closed if they do not get the money to address their urgent issues. They are being refused. Has the money dried up? Have the delegates been lobbying in this regard? Is there any indication from the Department?