Results 2,361-2,380 of 3,645 for speaker:Michael Collins

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Direct Provision Centres (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: People in direct provision centres in this country have been treated appallingly. This is something I have said before, and I say it again today. Our Government has failed these people, and the people of the communities in which people in direct provision live. As I said a few months ago, this is a box-ticking exercise by the Government. It was trying to show Europe and the world how it...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Direct Provision Centres (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Why was there no testing strategy? Will there be a testing strategy put in place going forward?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Congregated Settings: Direct Provision Centres (26 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I asked the same question today of the witness from Nursing Homes Ireland. I asked if there was testing in place when patients were moved from a nursing home or hospital to another nursing home. I am not singling out any sector. It is important when people are moving from one care provision facility to another, regardless of what it is, that Covid testing would be done. With the...

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Will the Deputy answer my question about the wood pigeon derogation?

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I have a number of questions on which I would appreciate a response from the Minister. Arts and culture are the cornerstone of our society. Creativity is vital to our health and wellbeing. Culture and creativity are helping people through this crisis. People are looking to the arts for inspiration and consolation. Expectations of financial commitment will need to be revised across all...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Healthcare workers have been heroes since the outbreak of the coronavirus throughout the country. During recent weeks, essential front-line healthcare workers from various parts of my constituency and beyond have contacted me to express their concerns about the fact they have no time to do homework with their children. They are worried that come September, when schools reopen, their...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I asked about representation of the VFI.

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: The Ireland of today has totally changed, a change that will take us years to recover from. The small-time business will struggle to survive this crisis, which is far greater than anything we have ever faced before. People from business after business are contacting me daily, I assume they are contacting other Deputies too. They tell me they cannot see how they are going to survive, never...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I am totally disappointed that the Minister has not accepted what happened in Castletownbere. The fact was that a Spanish-registered vessel left Spain when people on board had the coronavirus, and then it stopped in Castletownbere. I have never said they cannot come into Castletownbere or any other port in Ireland; I asked what measures we have in place to protect the people of...

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: What are they?

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Were people made aware that crew on the boat that berthed in Castletownbere had the coronavirus even when it left Spain? Was the harbourmaster made aware of this? Can the Minister answer that?

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: That is not an answer to the question I asked. Was the harbourmaster made aware of the situation?

Outbreaks of Covid-19 in Meat Processing Plants: Statements (21 May 2020)

Michael Collins: The coronavirus has raised many questions. I fully respect it is impossible for the Minister or anyone else to have all of the answers. Every effort has to be made to keep the food chain open, especially when farmers are going through such a serious financial crisis. I thank each and every meat plant worker for keeping the meat chain open by working through this crisis. On 19 March, I...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank both gentlemen for being here before us today. It is important for questions that the public has and for which we need to have answers. On testing, many samples have been sent to Germany at a massive cost. I understand a new plane was required to fly them in and out of the country. I have spoken to labs here about testing that could have been done in Ireland. Animal Health...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by Department of Health Officials (19 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I appreciate the answers. Another question I have is on the many home helps who got personal protective equipment, PPE, very late in the day. It was a serious worry to them.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by HSE Officials (19 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank the officials for appearing before us. I will concentrate briefly on congregated settings. Community hospitals were meant to be brought up to a standard, as some were, of having up to 80% single-bed occupancy. At some stage, the HSE believed this target could not be delivered. It was a HIQA standard and the 80% figure was later reduced. Unfortunately, as I have seen in west...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by ICTU, HSA and CIF Representatives on the Reopening of the Construction Industry (19 May 2020)

Michael Collins: Many developments have closed down. I respect that some of my questions cannot be asked today but perhaps Mr. Parlon will furnish me with the details later. The final stages of many of these developments such as council houses in west Cork, Dunmanway, Bandon and Rosscarbery all had to be pulled due to Covid-19. These developments were very urgently required social houses for people in...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (7 May 2020)

Michael Collins: The Taoiseach stated last week that we had lessons to learn from Covid-19 regarding the safety of older people in nursing homes. He said we need to look at the policy of helping older people to live at home for longer. However, last year, the only new home help hours given were recycled hours which became available when a person died. No new home help hours were provided. This resulted in...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Michael Collins: The hardest hit sectors, with Brexit looming, will be the fishing and agriculture industries. With the huge impact Brexit will have on agriculture, Ireland needs to oppose the South American Mercosur trade deal. It will have to come off the table completely. Will our Government oppose the Mercosur trade deal? When Brexit negotiations end, will Irish fishing trawlers have to move away from...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Michael Collins: I will make a statement and ask questions all at once, if that is okay.