Results 2,681-2,700 of 3,646 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Taxis and Rural Transport Programme: Discussion (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I have been very interested in this side of rural transport for quite some time, particularly given the road traffic Bill that came before the Dáil. Deputy Troy said it is very positive that we are now speaking about rural transport. The mistake was that we should have spoken about it before the Bill went before the Dáil so we would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: I thank the National Transport Authority for the presentations to us. The Local Link service is second to none as a daytime service. It is absolutely meticulous, and it is a model that should be looked at in rolling out any future transport service. I am not just talking about west Cork or County Cork, but Local Link throughout the country. The people on the board represent a geographic...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: We need to tease all these aspects out. It is very hard to see a person getting a vehicle for €10,000 and insurance for €6,000, €7,000 or €8,000. We are talking about costs close to €20,000 before the operator turns the key in the ignition. Then he or she will have to roll out the service for €5 per person. In a rural community he or she might do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: The Chairman can call me Collins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: They call it "Ross's Bill"-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: The Chairman may call me that if he wants. I do not mind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: I will refer to the Act that he introduced. I will not use the name. I do not want to be negative. The witnesses have run Local Link and they know it must be rolled out meticulously. Nothing can be taken away from that. The NTA has gone down another route now. I am convinced that Local Link should be very much involved in this. The existing taxi and hackney operators, who are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: I will be very brief because most of my questions have already been raised. Perhaps I was not listening properly. There are 17 Local Link companies. In this new service Ms Graham is talking about, is she saying there will be one or two companies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: One community and one private.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: My point is that two in the whole of Cork county is just a drop in the ocean.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Link and Rural Transport Programme: National Transport Authority (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: It will take two years. Deputy Troy is right that it will be two years before we get that chance again.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: With Brexit approaching, it will no doubt have important consequences for the Irish economy. It is vital that this Government navigates its way through these uncertain waters with its head well screwed on. We are all in the same boat, and it is so important that we work together and listen to the concerns of the people. Brexit poses a number of major challenges for healthcare, especially...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: The prices are dropping.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: Over the past number of weeks, beef farmers have been holding public meetings in west Cork and Kerry, which have been attended by hundreds of people who are trying to see if they can save their livelihoods. Prices for cattle have collapsed and many are working at a loss that they cannot allow to continue. Hundreds of these farmers are angered and frustrated. As they see it, at the very...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: Today I raise an issue that has previously been raised, which shows the importance of the issue, namely, the crisis in Irish agriculture with beef sector farmers and what they have gone through and continue to go through basically to try to provide an income on their family farms. All farming sectors will face major difficulties post Brexit but Brexit has come already to the many beef...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: Approximately 170,000 people are employed directly in the agrifood sector and 250,000 people employed indirectly in the wider rural areas in agrifood production. Does the Tánaiste realise the extent of the crisis these farmers are in? I truly do not think he does. Tonight hundreds of farmers will attend the beef plan meeting in the Westlodge Hotel in Bantry. The Tánaiste may...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: The Government should have had a vision. It had no vision for farmers or the fishing people of this country - the people on the ground will say this - to tackle the crisis we are in head on. Will the Tánaiste please tell me what I can offer the farmers at tonight's meeting? What can I offer as a hope or a solution to the disaster they are dealing with, which is not being able to get a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: Will the Tánaiste come with me to Bantry tonight to see the crisis on the ground?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: I am not.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Michael Collins: No. I am being honest.