Results 221-240 of 3,635 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I think the witness said earlier that the EPA is the regulator for Uisce Éireann. Is that correct? Yes. What happens if Uisce Éireann breaks the law?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that. I attended a meeting last Thursday night in Shannonvale in Clonakilty. There is a sewage system there that has been leaking for 27 years. A public play park has been closed off and children have not been able to use it for the past 20 years. It could be Irish Water, it could be Uisce Éireann - it could be anyone. It is seeping down into the Argideen river, into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I will check that out. The EPA is well aware of this case because it was brought up the last day. People can see, as I have seen myself, that areas have been cordoned off for 27 years and nothing has happened.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: Nobody wants to come back to me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank Ms Gurrie for her answer but my point is that as soon as there is an infringement, farmers are notified that they must correct it or be fined, and they will most likely be fined anyhow, whether it is corrected or not. It looks as if there is one law for one and another law for the other. How can it be that a plant leaks to the point of closing off a play park, flowing into a river...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: There is a big imbalance there. When it comes to the agriculture sector, everything must be put right and it should be right. When it comes to Uisce Éireann or the council, which was in charge of this for many years, however, there seems to be some leniency and movement and it can drag on for 20 years.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: It is hugely important. It affects thousands of people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: If it came to a farmer, he would not be given 26 or 27 years to clean up his mess. I would not expect him to either.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: Is the report referring to Shannonvale public to see what communications the EPA has made with Uisce Éireann to make improvements? Are they part of these 70 areas for improvement that have been recommended? Will the witnesses communicate this back to me?

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: The EPA does not care. Nobody cares. It is all brushed under the carpet: say nothing, just block off the play area, nobody runs around there and no children are allowed to because there is sewage all over the ground. It is going into the aquifer. No one is accountable. The senior Minister comes down and then goes back up to Dublin. He will not sit down with Irish Water - or Uisce...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Second Stage (9 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: Student accommodation is a difficult situation for people in my constituency in Cork who are trying to go to college, or people anywhere. Many people come to my office to see if we can source accommodation for them. It is desperate after spending so many years going through college that they cannot find accommodation. Some people are couch surfing and sleeping in cars. It is a terrible...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: The reimbursement for cataract surgery under the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme has been drastically reduced. The original figure of €1,950 has been mercilessly slashed to a mere €863. This is not just an abuse of power; it is a blatant disregard for our elderly citizens who depend on these funds for essential cataract surgery. The Government's decision is...

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: Deputy Naughten should have some respect.

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: Does Deputy Naughten have any respect for anyone?

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: Deputy Naughten can come down to west Cork to see people go blind waiting five years for an operation. He should be ashamed of himself.

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I respect the fact the Minister of State inherited the fair deal scheme, but it can cause great difficulties within families. I respect that she is trying to make changes to it and I am not here to over-criticise. I have watched people go into beautiful community hospitals. We have many stunning community hospitals and nursing homes in my constituency. People have told me that it is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. He says we may have different data and that is maybe something we can engage on. I look forward to engaging with him on this issue. However, he should remember one thing. The course deadline for applicants is September. A decision seems to have been made between March and June by the ETB, with little or no consultation with the people on the ground....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: The horticulture industry was worth an estimated €566 million in 2023. The industry covers a broad and diverse range, including mushrooms, potatoes, field crops, protected fruit and vegetables, outdoor soft and top fruit, hardy nursery stock, protected crops, Christmas trees, cut foliage, outdoor flowers, bulbs and turf grass. However, Ireland imports approximately 85% of our fruit...

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (3 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: In recent years, there has been a big rise in the number of abuse cases against women and children in Ireland. This shows that we urgently need to make big changes in the criminal justice system to deal with this problem. People have been upset by some recent decisions about punishments for people found guilty of violence against women and other violent crimes. The Natasha O'Brien case...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: It is a significant undertaking to complete the leaving certificate examination and achieve the requisite points for one's desired third level course. That is before we consider the financial burden associated with pursuing higher education. Securing affordable accommodation presents an entirely different set of challenges. This issue, which we witness escalating annually across the...