Results 2,281-2,300 of 3,757 for speaker:Michael Collins

Back to School, Further and Higher Education and Special Education: Statements (3 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I am sharing time with Deputy O'Donoghue. As colleagues have outlined, pupils and parents are having a nightmare in regard to school transport. I spoke about this issue yesterday at the meeting of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response and I will do so again today. We have seen a lot of improvements carried out in schools throughout west Cork in the past couple of months. A lot of...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I support Deputy Howlin’s amendment. This whole legislation is another attack on the publicans of this country. I have already said in the past week in the public domain that Fine Gael spent four years trying to get rid of the rural pubs, aided and abetted by Fianna Fáil, but now Fianna Fáil is doing its level best to close their doors, and the doors have been slammed shut,...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I support Deputy Howlin’s amendment. The Government plan is to rush new Covid-19 enforcement laws and powers through the Dáil, and it is nothing short of draconian. There are two aims to the Bill: to provide additional enforcement powers to An Garda Síochána to shut down bars and restaurants; and to give gardaí the powers to go into every house in the country....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I am disappointed to hear the Minister say today that there is no clear compensation package being considered by the Government for the businesses and properties that have been destroyed in west Cork. Humanitarian aid through the Red Cross is nowhere near enough. It will not even cover 20% of those people who are affected. Has the Minister any idea of the pressure these people are under?...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: Over the past two weeks, the beautiful constituency of Cork South-West has seen devastation due to severe flooding which has destroyed businesses, private homes and people's property. The people of Rathbarry, Rosscarbery, Connonagh, Leap, Skibbereen, Bandon, Dunmanway and Bantry have experienced flooding beyond belief. Businesses such as the Eldon Hotel in Skibbereen, Wiseman's shop in...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Michael Collins: I have a number of questions but I will read out what I have to say initially and perhaps the Minister might pull out some of the points that need to be clarified. First, I thank her for all the help she and her Department have given my constituency, Cork South-West. She has only been in her ministerial position a short time. I assure her that the funding that has been provided because of...

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that because it is a serious concern for that school and must be for other fee-paying schools as well. These schools are struggling the same as ordinary schools and they need the capitation grant and the minor works grant at this time. It is essential for this school and others. I have been talking to schools in Castletownbere, Kilcrohane, Ballydehob, Belgooly, Baltimore,...

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: The Minister spoke about positive engagement. I thank her for the very positive engagement she has afforded me on behalf of schools in Cork South-West in the short time since she was appointed Minister. She is a credit to the difficult position she holds. I have discussed a good number of issues with her in the past week and tonight I have a different area to travel. My question concerns...

Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I want to speak to the amendment. The Bill is dressed up to appear as if it is only dealing with matters related to Covid-19. However, centuries of legislation will be abolished to appease vulture funds who evict Irish families. Chapter 3 relates to a very important decision in the Court of Appeal recently on the admissibility of hearsay, Promontoria v. Burns. The case took in all of the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: On the same issue, parents of children with disabilities are pleading for some services to reopen. In west Cork, parents were asked to seek out local hubs and many of them have found suitable buildings, including one in my own community in Schull. No matter how they try, however, they cannot get the doors open to take these young children. I have tried to speak to the Minister of State at...

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

Michael Collins: I appreciate that the extra €4.3 million will be of great assistance to schools. I received phone calls as late as yesterday evening and some of our rural schools in west Cork are concerned that the roadmap for reopening seems to be aimed more at city schools rather than rural schools in relation to any of the entitlements. Will the Minister clarify this?

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

Michael Collins: 3. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether expanded classrooms or additional prefabs will be required to be erected to facilitate appropriate distancing of pupils; if there will be initiatives to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio, particularly in circumstances in which it relates to schools with classrooms of over 30 pupils; and the funding her Department will provide...

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%...