Results 3,181-3,200 of 3,648 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Rural Transport Policy: National Transport Authority (28 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I will keep it strictly to a few minutes. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. I have a few issues to raise and I will start with Local Link Cork because time is of the essence. I am involved in Local Link Cork and I have seen the incredible delivery it has given to the people throughout west Cork. In fairness, the NTA deserves praise for giving sufficient funding to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Rural Transport Policy: National Transport Authority (28 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: Give me a minute and a half and I will finish.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Rural Transport Policy: National Transport Authority (28 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: Give me as minute and a half and I will finish on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Rural Transport Policy: National Transport Authority (28 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: The cost of bus and rail tickets is a serious issue, for many young people in particular. I would appreciate the NTA looking into this because in rural Ireland young people totally depend on a bus service, particularly with car insurance being so expensive. It is nearly an impossibility for people to get on the road. They are totally dependent on bus and rail. Recently, I raised in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Rural Transport Policy: National Transport Authority (28 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: It has been good to have the NTA here today but we need more time, in fairness.

Services for People with Disabilities: Motion [Private Members] (27 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I am happy to have the opportunity to speak on this important motion. I commend Sinn Féin on bringing it forward. This is an issue which I am passionate about. I continuously support local disability support groups in my constituency, Cork South-West, and I am a former voluntary board member of CoAction West Cork. I am glad that the Minister of State is supporting the motion, but I...

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. He mentioned numbers dropping, but they are dropping because people are going to Belfast as quickly as they can for operations that should be carried out locally. He also referred to cataract operations. Those should be taking place in Bantry, Mallow and elsewhere in west Cork. They are 20 minute procedures. The Government has failed in its duty...

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: This is not made up. This is the reality on the ground for our elderly, who feel let down by the State.

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I concur with previous speakers in commending the emergency services for tackling the fire in Ballymun which, thankfully, did not lead to a loss of life. I will speak about elder care or, I should say, the complete lack of it throughout the country, including the constituency I represent, Cork South-West. The elderly built this country. Now, when they need help from the State, they have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: 230. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to reintroduce the farmers retirement scheme. [13395/18]

Business Insurance: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on the motion. I have raised the issue of insurance many times in this Chamber. Small and medium local businesses and community and voluntary groups in my constituency of Cork South-West are crippled by constantly increasing insurance premiums, whether for property, vehicle or public liability insurance. Small business owners, self-employed...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: On page 47 of the programme for Government, under tourism policy, one of the Government's goals is to increase revenue from overseas visitors to €5 billion by 2025. Last week, I welcomed that the Taoiseach and other Ministers were selling Ireland all over the world to the best of their ability. Two of our greatest sports heroes, Gary and Paul O'Donovan, from the world class...

An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: It has been said by several figures on the pro-abortion side that we need abortion in Ireland due to the number of women travelling to other jurisdictions for abortions. As I have already stated, Ireland’s abortion rates are much lower than Britain’s. It is true that much more needs to be done to help the women who return home after going through an abortion. It has been...

An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: Ninety-nine years ago Dáil Éireann met for the first time in the Mansion House, a building only a few minutes' walk from here. The First Dáil set out a series of principles to show the people what an Irish republic would look like free from Great Britain, principles that were put in place to ensure the republic would provide and care for its people. The eighth amendment is...

Strategic Communications Unit: Motion [Private Members] (20 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I am happy to speak to the motion which I will support. From the day the so-called strategic communications unit was announced, I have called for its abolition. The sheer arrogance of the Government to treat itself to a €5 million strategic communications unit on budget day last October was appalling. The same budget failed to make any real change in dealing with the ongoing housing...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: On page 82 of the programme for Government, "Working to Make Our Older Years Better Years", the Government promised to keep our older people active and independent in the community. This Saturday and the following Saturday, being St. Patrick's Day, both Deputy Danny Healy-Rae and I have organised two buses to Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast for people to have cataract operations...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I am not. I am just asking the Tánaiste to spare a thought.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes (8 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: 511. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the basis for changing the eligibility criteria for the ECCE programme, in particular the reduction of age eligibility from three years to two years and eight months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11119/18]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Data (8 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: 512. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of youth workers funded in south-west County Cork; the way in which this number compares proportionally with the number of youth workers employed throughout the rest of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11121/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Grant Applications (8 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: 644. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a homeowners income is taken into consideration when a person applies for a grant under the housing grant scheme if the home owner is not living in the same household; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11120/18]