Results 2,321-2,340 of 3,757 for speaker:Michael Collins

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: When Covid-19 was first diagnosed internationally, was a risk assessment done by the HSE? Did it identify the at-risk groups, and what steps were taken to safeguard them? On what dates were those actions taken?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Many people feel that if the HSE had been quicker in responding to Covid, fewer people would be affected and more lives would have been saved. The public has been asking whether the HSE was behind the curve on this. Was it?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Apart from EKO in Ennis, County Clare, what other Irish companies have been commissioned to produce PPE as an essential element of protecting our healthcare workers in the ongoing battle against Covid?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Are healthcare staff better prepared to deal with a second wave of Covid? Based on what we have learned from dealing with this virus, how will the second wave be managed differently?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: We are aware that the UK and many EU countries put systems in place for the children of healthcare workers to ensure that these very valuable workers could continue to work. This was largely not the case in Ireland, where no proper childcare facilities were made available to the healthcare workers. Is there a plan in place for children of healthcare workers should we be hit with another wave...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Infection Rate among Healthcare Workers (Resumed) (21 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Is the HSE following the advice of the leader of the Irish Medical Organisation who recommended that the Government stockpile supplies of PPE to protect healthcare workers from the impact of a second wave of Covid-19?

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (16 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I congratulate both Ministers on their appointments. From my involvement in a school board of management I know first-hand of the difficulty schools are experiencing. Their greatest worry is the worry of not knowing. We have had Zoom meetings and round-table meetings during the past few weeks. They do not know if they are going to get an extra cleaning grant to pay for extra hours...

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I respect that but it is important to speak on the amendments and get the feeling. The new Minister needs to understand, and perhaps he does already, the feelings of the people of rural Ireland. It is fine to look at putting in place a carbon tax but it will affect nobody else but the people of rural Ireland in particular because we are totally dependent. I heard somebody say recently,...

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I know that but these points are all alluding to it, with regard to heating and the lack of transport. We need extra investment in Local Link. Rural transport is very important, as is public transport. Look at the private sector, which is providing transport with no subsidies whatsoever. This needs to be looked at. There is also the heating of homes. One criticism I have of the previous...

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: I will indeed. I will leave it at that.

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: First, I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on his new position. This is my first time speaking here before him. I wish him the very best. I spoke here last night in detail about the amendment and the worries I have, coming from a rural constituency. It is my belief that it is tax. It is a climate action fund but my worry is it is a tax on the people of rural Ireland. I...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Jul 2020)

Michael Collins: Yesterday's decision was disastrous for rural pubs. Rural pubs are being thrown into the same phase of reopening as nightclubs. They are totally different types of businesses. The Government has to get a common understanding of a rural pub. It obviously has not had such an understanding up here in recent years. Rural pubs are being thrown in with urban pubs, including Dublin pubs. It is...

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...