Results 3,201-3,220 of 3,648 for speaker:Michael Collins

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Motion (7 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I welcome that the Government is this evening commencing the process of ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Ireland is the last state in the EU to do so, despite having signed the framework document in 2007. My Independent colleagues and I will support the Government in ratifying this convention but I would like to know how people with...

Sustainable Seaweed Harvesting: Motion [Private Members] (7 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I shared time with another Member yesterday and I should get additional time today. The project was initiated by the county council to address the challenge of successful coastal zone management around the bay. The stakeholders' charter is based on the understanding that the regulatory agencies need to work in partnership with the local community in the successful management and...

Sustainable Seaweed Harvesting: Motion [Private Members] (7 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: We have asked the Minister of State to stand by the people.

Sustainable Seaweed Harvesting: Motion [Private Members] (7 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: The Minister of State can revoke the licence at no cost to the State and I ask him to do that for the people of Bantry.

Sustainable Seaweed Harvesting: Motion [Private Members] (7 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: I acknowledge the Independents4Change grouping for bringing this motion forward. I also commend the good people of Bantry Bay who are in the Gallery. They travelled up today and had a peaceful demonstration outside the Dáil to show the Government just how opposed they are to the mechanical harvesting of kelp in their local, beautiful bay. This is certainly not the first time, and...

Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2018)

Michael Collins: We are rural independents.

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: The programme for Government stated that the Government will drive down the cost of providing new treatment drugs either through national or European initiatives. One of these treatments is Respreeza. It is a therapy which has been proved to slow down the progression of genetic emphysema in patients with severe Alpha-1. Two of the 21 people taking part in a clinical trial of Respreeza died...

Motor Insurance: Motion [Private Members] (27 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: I am happy to bring forward this motion along with my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group. I wish to reiterate all the points they have been raised. I am greatly frustrated that nobody is listening - the Minister of State is not here now either. Since I was elected to Dáil Éireann, the issue of insurance has been brought up repeatedly, but absolutely nothing has been...

Motor Insurance: Motion [Private Members] (27 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: I am fighting for the older people among us.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: In the programme for Government it states on page 82 that the new Government will fund the expansion of youth services and support early school leavers to find employment. In a recent reply to a parliamentary question the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, said there are 1,400 youth workers in Ireland. However, there are only five youth workers in Cork South-West - in...

Project Ireland 2040: Statements (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: It does not look like it. This promise was made to the people of rural Ireland after the Government was hammered in the election. It said it would rural-proof policies going forward. This plan has not been rural-proofed. If it has been, the Government would need to reduce of the pay of the person who did so because he did not carry out his duty.

Project Ireland 2040: Statements (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: The exit of the UK for Europe is a huge worry for the people of rural Ireland and the plan has not taken that into account. The CAP budget will be cut, most likely by millions of euro, which will be another attack on rural Ireland. That budget funds much of the progress in rural Ireland. The Leader programme collapsed while the Government sat idly by. That money was for rural development...

Project Ireland 2040: Statements (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: I am happy to speak on this report. There has been lots of hype about the Project Ireland 2040 plan in the media since its launch last Friday. Perhaps we should refer to its incredible launch last Friday. Who paid for that? We will not go there. I am not as enthusiastic about the report however. In fact, I could even say that, to me, the most relevant piece of the 170-page document is a...

Project Ireland 2040: Statements (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: At the outset, the report speaks inspiringly about the Government's vision for Ireland in 2040. From there on however, the chapters I have been able to read are pretty disappointing. I note that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney, has highlighted the benefits, or so-called benefits, that the plan has for Cork. These are only relevant to Cork city. Consider...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: During discussions on the formation of a Government two years ago and on the programme for Government, many promises were made in the area of education, one being equal pay for teachers, which we have yet to see delivered but this is not the subject I will speak on today. On page 92, the programme for Government states "We are committed to delivering a school capital investment programme for...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister. That is very positive news because this issue has been going on for quite some time. I am always a bit reluctant to raise local issues at Leader's Questions but I have been aware of this imminent crisis in Bandon for many months and held back on going public in the hope that we could resolve it behind the scenes. On 7 March last I first raised this in the Dáil...

Supporting the Suckling Sector: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: I am happy to speak on the motion and I want to commend the Deputies in Fianna Fáil for bringing it forward. I have to admit I have a conflict of interest as I am a suckler cow farmer. Going back many years, when I took over the running of the farm, a wise neighbour told me, "Remember one thing, Collins, farming is from the shoulders up, and not down." My God, was that man ever so...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: On page 42 of the programme for Government, under jobs and rural development, it was agreed that the Government would increase the numbers on the rural social scheme, which was set up to assist low income farmers and fishermen. The Government delivered 500 places in 2016, which has to be commended. On the downside, the biggest area, west Cork, was allocated only 11 of those places. An...

Dublin Traffic: Motion [Private Members] (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: She holidays in west Cork.

Dublin Traffic: Motion [Private Members] (20 Feb 2018)

Michael Collins: I am happy to have the opportunity to speak on this motion tonight. Last week I spoke on transport and road networks throughout the country and highlighted the investment inequality in transport between the greater Dublin area and rural Ireland, making particular reference to the N71 in my constituency of Cork South-West, the unfinished Bandon bypass, congestion in Innishannon on the main...