Results 3,481-3,500 of 3,759 for speaker:Michael Collins

Waste Disposal: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2017)

Michael Collins: I am very happy to speak on this Bill but I have a number of concerns about it. I am aware that the former Minister, Deputy Kelly, proposed this legislation as one of his last projects in the Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition. Having faced much opposition at the time, this proposal was put on the long finger and was due to be reviewed and a public awareness campaign created around it. Now,...

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. I do not agree with him that there is not a need for a designated Minister for the marine. The potential to this country is huge if we had a Minister for the marine. Until this is addressed, as I said earlier, the fishing industry will remain the poor relation in Irish politics. I also asked the Taoiseach about the unfair mackerel quota system. I do...

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Michael Collins: Fishermen, fisher-women and the fishing industry in general have been the poor relation in Irish politics. The fishing industry has struggled to be recognised as the second most important in the country owing to a lack of vision shown by successive Governments. On Sunday the British who have been sweetening the Irish Government up to now with some nice words about Brexit came out and...

Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jun 2017)

Michael Collins: I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this very important Bill and I commend Deputy Shane Cassells on bringing this forward. As Minister, Phil Hogan introduced the Local Government Reform Act 2014. This Act did not offer any reform to the local government system in Ireland. Instead it abolished 80 town and borough councils, transferring their functions to the city and county...

Appointment to the Judiciary Nomination Procedure: Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Michael Collins: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this very controversial issue. I do not question the ability of the former Attorney General, Máire Whelan, to fulfil her new position in any way, and I am sure the majority of people will agree with me on that. However, the process of the appointment of Máire Whelan to the Court of Appeal, the second highest court in this land, was...

Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2017)

Michael Collins: I am sorry my name was not on the list. I was down in west Cork for most of the day with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Finian McGrath, opening a CoAction building. My colleagues and I in the Rural Independent Group have called on the Government to implement an immediate reform of how the fair deal scheme is applied to farming families and the self-employed across...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (24 May 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses for their attendance. They have given us an insight into the planning process. Having been a councillor in south-west Cork prior to being elected to the Dáil, as well as being a community activist, has given me experience in dealing with planning issues. Many young people in the scenic areas of west Cork were unable to get planning permission for a house on their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (24 May 2017)

Michael Collins: -----of a skyscraper of a building out in the middle of nowhere. It is by the Black Horse bar. It seems to be an incredible planning decision. I certainly would not like to live there. We need to look at derelict sites in rural communities. There is a need for a rule to deal with them because many wealthy people have derelict sites that they are sitting on. Nothing is happening with...

Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Michael Collins: Tillage farmers along the south-west coast suffered huge grain crop losses last harvest due to shockingly bad weather It was the third year in a row that they experienced such losses. In mid-January, the Dáil voted to direct the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a rescue package for grain farmers but, as yet, these hard-pressed farmers have not received any...

Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Michael Collins: Supporting tillage farmers is not a matter for promised legislation.

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. He referred to the huge cost increase this would represent, but that is to fail to take into account the value of the women who stayed at home during those years. I urge him to address this anomaly immediately. In 1970 and before, women chose to remain at home to raise children or care for elderly parents. We know the contribution they made to the...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2017)

Michael Collins: Articles 41.2.1° and 41.2.2° of the Constitution state, "In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved" and "The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home."...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (16 May 2017)

Michael Collins: 141. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 2 May 2017, if the Revenue Commissioners publish figures for uncollected income tax each year; if so, the location where this information can be found; if it is subject to audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22778/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Fluoridation (16 May 2017)

Michael Collins: 362. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the practice of water fluoridation should be discontinued in view of the cost and the fact that his Department has on many occasions put off medical treatment and services for sick persons and downgraded hospitals due to a lack of funds and resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22776/17]

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Revised) (11 May 2017)

Michael Collins: As we have the required quorum of three Deputies, we will commence the meeting. We are in public session. I wish to advise members to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound system and will interfere with the broadcasting of the meeting. Apologies have been received from Deputy Peadar Tóibín. This meeting has been convened for the purpose of the...

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Revised) (11 May 2017)

Michael Collins: Would the Minister like the Ministers of State to speak first?

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Revised) (11 May 2017)

Michael Collins: Yes, please.

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Revised) (11 May 2017)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister and the Ministers of State. We will now take questions.

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Revised) (11 May 2017)

Michael Collins: I will take the opportunity to ask the Minister and Ministers of State a few questions. I am conscious of the time. People want to get out on the road, so we will try to be out of here as quickly as possible. I will touch on the Leader programme and funding for various projects, which is a major issue for rural Ireland, as the witnesses would expect. This was raised in the Dáil...

Select Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Revised) (11 May 2017)

Michael Collins: Very briefly.