Results 3,101-3,120 of 3,646 for speaker:Michael Collins

Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (2 May 2018)

Michael Collins: I appreciate the opportunity to speak to the amendment regarding local authorities and the issue which led to the amendment. I am happy to have another opportunity to speak to the Bill. I spoke on it in November of last year. It is very important and addresses a variety of anti-corruption measures on national and international levels. The legislation is necessary to aid in the elimination...

Mental Health Parity Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 May 2018)

Michael Collins: I am happy to speak on this Bill and I thank Deputy Browne for bring it forward, as I believe mental health is an area in Ireland that has been neglected. According to the Healthy Ireland survey 2015, 10% of the Irish population over the age of 15 have a probable mental health problem at any one time. Everyone has somebody in his or her life who has an issue with mental health, whether it...

Questions on Promised Legislation (2 May 2018)

Michael Collins: On page 113 of the programme for Government under the agriculture and the marine heading, the Government promises to work with the banking sector to make banking affordable for farmers. Banks, such as AIB and Permanent TSB, are announcing the potential sale of loans to vulture funds. That could potentially result in householders, farmers and business people losing their property. As the...

National Cervical Screening Programme: Statements (1 May 2018)

Michael Collins: It saddens me to be here tonight talking on this issue but it is vital we learn from the mistakes that have been made. Last week we saw a brave woman, Vicky Phelan, who has been diagnosed as being terminally ill with cervical cancer being dragged through the courts to fight for her right to get the truth. Vicky Phelan had a smear test in 2011 that showed no abnormalities. While a later...

Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Michael Collins: Pages 50 and 51 of the programme for Government state that: "We will establish a working group to identify the potential for local post offices to act as 'hubs' to facilitate other services such as health and transport, and a one-stop-shop for all Government services." Even community banking and handling car tax were proposed as a major step to save our post offices. More than two years...

Order of Business (1 May 2018)

Michael Collins: Yes, indeed. I called to Bridie yesterday evening. The passion she showed in wanting to keep her door open to the community is astounding to say the least. Over recent days, I have heard crocodile tears coming from Government Deputies going to these postmasters and postmistresses when these same Deputies have failed to implement the programme for Government. Will the Taoiseach stand idly...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: In 2007, a ban on inshore fishermen using salmon drift nets was put in place. It was meant to be reviewed after seven years. This has led to inshore fishermen not being able to fish for salmon and is leading to huge losses for local rural communities. It has now been proven that inshore fishermen were not to blame for the loss of salmon stocks as stocks are still dropping. This is due in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: I asked about the review which was to take place after seven years.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: Inshore fishermen have been hit hard in the past 11 years since the salmon drift net ban and that has led to huge job losses in the industry. Inshore fishermen have had one of the longest and worst winters in living memory. I have spoken to quite a few fishermen in west Cork and that is the feedback I have got. They are facing substantial losses as the lobster and crab season is very slow...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that the Minister is developing a scheme, which is very much needed at this time. I spoke to one fisherman who is trying to take out a personal loan of €10,000 to do up his punt and to replace the pots he has lost. The loan puts himself and his family under incredible pressure. I would appreciate if the Minister would speed up the development of the scheme to which he...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: 4. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a scheme similar to a loan scheme (details supplied) will be put in place for fishermen. [18462/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: Credit unions across Munster have, as they always do, come to the rescue, which I greatly welcome, for farmers by providing unsecured loans of up to €50,000. Can a similar low-rate loans - unsecured loans - be offered to inshore fishermen who lost much of their fishing gear during Storm Ophelia?

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: 160. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a meal subsidy will be put in place for farmers to offset the meal bills which they have incurred during the fodder crisis; and if a crisis payment based on stock numbers to help farmers deal with the fallout of the fodder crisis will also be put in place. [18463/18]

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: I have spoken at great length on this Bill on more than one occasion and am glad to have the opportunity to speak on it again, although more amendments have been made. Further difficulties will be inflicted on the people who live in rural Ireland if the Bill is passed in its current form. When I entered the discussions on the programme for Government - and I stayed quite a long time,...

Select Committee on Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: The questions Deputy Ó Cuív asked are the questions I would ask about Leader. Communities are desperate for the funding. It is not happening. We have mentioned that here in the past two years. Every Deputy I know has mentioned it. The Minister and his predecessor seem to be telling us there is loads of money available. Why is the money not getting out to the people and the...

Nurses' and Midwives' Pay and Recruitment: Motion [Private Members] (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: I am grateful to Sinn Féin for the opportunity to speak on this motion. Like many of our public sector staff, nurses and healthcare professionals have been badly hit in recent years. It is no surprise that many of our nurses are leaving Ireland to seek work abroad or are changing their career paths, given the working conditions and pay scales they experience. Despite the so-called...

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Business of Select Committee (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: I remind members, officials and those in the Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the sound system and the broadcasting of the meeting. In accordance with standard procedures on paperless committees agreed by the Committee on Procedure, all documentation for the meeting has been circulated to members on the document...

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: The principal purpose of the Bill is to amend the Heritage Act 1995 on foot of the report of the critical review of the Heritage Council, to make provision for the regulation of cutting or burning of vegetation and to provide for clarification of the powers of authorised officers under the Wildlife Acts. The Bill also proposes to amend the Canals Act 1986 to provide enabling provisions in...

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: I refer members to the list of grouped amendments for the purpose of the debate. We will now proceed to consideration of the Bill.

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2018)

Michael Collins: Amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together.