Results 3,421-3,440 of 3,648 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank all the groups for being here today. The Joint Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has been dealing with what it takes to sustain a viable rural community. We were coming close to the end of putting our programme together but we had not had representatives of the fishing industry before the committee. It is a very important industry. It is important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: As Ms Parke can see, there is a superpower. Somebody has 87% of the market compared with the 13% owned by others. It is obvious that superpowers operate in the sea, and it is unfortunate that we are in that situation. As she heard a witness say, 60 or 70 people are working in towns around Castletownbere, Dingle and other places. Perhaps if we could increase the percentage owned by bodies...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: If he furnishes me with a copy I will read it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: It has been an extremely informative discussion for all of us. In fairness, seeing as there are politicians from each side here, which was clearly recognised, I think we should write to the Minister and give our view. An overwhelming majority was in favour of the Minister giving more serious attention to the serious issue of the 87% to 13% division of the quota. That needs to be addressed...

Topical Issue Debate: Christian Community in the Middle East (13 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: Open Doors, an advocacy group, has been monitoring Christian persecution for over 60 years. It has stated a number of facts in its assessment of global trends in persecution in its world watch list for 2017. Open Doors has noted that 2017 is the fourth year in a row in which the level of overall persecution has risen. North Korea is still the number one offender. Islamic extremism...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Business of Joint Committee (12 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: As we have the required quorum of four members, including one Deputy and one Senator, we will commence the meeting in public session. I advise members to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound system and the broadcasting of the meeting. Apologies have been received from Teachta Peadar Tóibín. I propose that we go into private session to deal with a number...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: We will now consider what it takes to sustain a viable rural community. I welcome the witnesses, Mr. Jerh O’Donoghue, Mr. Michael O’Mahony, Ms Samantha O’Shea and Ms Anne Fitzgerald representing Social Action Group Rathmore. I also welcome Ms Peigí Uí Chéidigh, Ms Máire Denvir and Ms Breda Ní Choisdealbha representing Tearmann Éanna from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank Mr. O'Donoghue very much for his opening statement. I suppose the members of the committee will have questions, but Tearmann Éanna might give its opening statement now too and we will have questions from members afterwards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: Gabhaim buíochas le Tearmann Éanna for the opening statement. I will now take questions from the members. I call Deputy Healy-Rae.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: Deputy Healy-Rae raised a question that could apply to the Rathmore group and the Tearmann Éanna group, which was how we as a State could help. That was Deputy Healy-Rae's question. Am I correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank the Rathmore social action group and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: That concludes our consideration of this topic. I thank the witnesses for assisting us in our deliberations.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (11 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: 117. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of pre-International Protection Bill 2015 asylum seekers still waiting to be processed; the number which have been given papers since the Bill was passed in November 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17649/17]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Regulation (11 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: 796. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review the guidelines in relation to employing persons under the better start access and inclusion model in view of the fact play schools across the country are refusing the funding offered under this programme due to the recruitment criteria (details supplied). [17562/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Development and Co-operation in Border Counties: Discussion (6 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: I was at a meeting.

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: The Taoiseach said the disability convention Bill is on Second Stage. While I am happy to hear that, it has taken ten years to get there. That is a long time for people with disabilities to be waiting. The bottom line is that the Taoiseach says I should contact the Minister of State, but these services should be available to those with disabilities already. The fact is that if one has a...

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: It is said that a society can be judged on the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. Last Thursday, hundreds of people gathered outside the gates of the Houses to protest for the rights of people with disabilities and highlight the tenth anniversary of Ireland's failure to ratify the EU Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Those with disabilities and their...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Projects (4 Apr 2017)

Michael Collins: 340. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the normal qualifying conditions for a Tús scheme can be wavered for persons that has been referred through a drug treatment programme such as is the case with a community employment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16001/17]

National Children's Hospital: Motion [Private Members] (29 Mar 2017)

Michael Collins: I am happy to be in the House to debate this very important issue of the location of the national children's hospital. Let me begin by quoting an e-mail I received this morning: It states:St. James's is wrong for children. St. James's is wrong for families. St. James's is utterly wrong. Since coming into office last year, I have been receiving correspondence from parents, doctors,...

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Mar 2017)

Michael Collins: A beef scandal has broken out in Brazil in recent weeks. I was shocked to discover that after a two-year investigation in Brazil by federal police, several companies are accused of using chemicals and acid to disguise rotten meat. One startling thing to emerge is that the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission only learned of this investigation through the...