Results 3,521-3,540 of 3,648 for speaker:Michael Collins

Flood Prevention Measures: Motion [Private Members] (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: I start by commending Fianna Fáil on bringing this Private Members' motion forward. I have seen first hand time time and again the trauma caused to businesses and families by flooding. In 2015, there were unprecedented amounts of flooding, with more than 30 towns and villages experiencing major flooding. More than 540 homes and more than 600 businesses around the country were flooded....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (13 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: 367. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans with regard to the unwinding of FEMPI; and if he will provide a timeframe by which this legislation will no longer be in existence. [39396/16]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: I thank each of the witnesses for the presentations this morning. I come from a rural peninsula, Cork south west, with one of the highest populations of elderly coupled with County Donegal. The vast peninsula stretches to Mizen Head. We tend to think of elderly as people from age 66 onwards, but there is a large number in the 55 to 66 age bracket, who are falling between two stools and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: The purpose of this session is to discuss with representatives of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, ASTI, the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, and the National Parents Council Primary how we can sustain viable rural communities. From the ASTI I welcome Mr. Kieran Christie, general secretary, Mr. Ed Byrne, president, and Ms Moira Leydon, assistant secretary general....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: I thank Ms Leydon for her opening statement. I now call the Irish National Teachers' Organisation to address the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: I would like to say a few words as well. I am on the board of management of a rural school so I know at first hand the issues that have put us under serious pressure over the past few years. A few other schools on the rural peninsula where I live are under severe pressure. The problem is numbers. I thank each of the witnesses for their presence, their presentations and the work they have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: Will Ms Leydon comment on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: Does Ms Lynch wish to comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: Finally, I invite Mr. Christie to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: Mr. Byrne should be brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: I thank Mr. Byrne for being so brief. That concludes our consideration of this topic and I thank the witnesses for assisting us today. They are now excused. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: I welcome Deputy Ó Cuív's Bill which will ensure all islanders will be allowed to vote on the same day as the rest of the country. I am very pleased to see there is a political interest in island communities and the issues that matter to their residents. The islands are very important to the country in terms of their beauty, tourism, culture, arts, heritage and natural resources....

Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: 37. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason mobile phone coverage throughout west Cork has deteriorated in the past 12 months (details supplied); the reason this was allowed to happen; and the way in which phone companies can provide a service at this level in view of perceived evidence throughout the country of a collapse in service. [38864/16]

Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: Why has mobile phone coverage throughout west Cork and elsewhere in the country regressed in the past 12 months? Prior to the merger of the mobile service providers O2 and Three, figures show that they had a total of 3,180 masts. However, once the merger is fully complete by 2019 there will be a total of 2,300 masts, which implies a loss of 880. Mobile phone coverage, in west Cork in...

Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: Mention was made of getting involved in discussions with the companies, but we have been trying to do this in recent months since the issue arose. Coverage was poor to start with, but it has got worse. The company does not seem to realise this. Every excuse is given to customers and elected representatives and we cannot seem to resolve the issue. In my area of west Cork, along the N71 and...

Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: Were politicians involved in the task force? It is important that they be involved. We had a meeting with the mobile phone companies perhaps six weeks ago in the AV room and I had never seen such anger – right across the country, not just west Cork- at any meeting I had attended since I was elected to Dáil Éireann. Politicians are getting it in the neck because the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Effect of Bad Weather on Grain Harvest: Irish Farmers Association (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: I appreciate the quick response from the Chairman and the committee to my written request to invite grain farmers before the committee together with the IFA. I thank the IFA representatives for their presentation. I have visited many farms in west Cork that are in serious difficulty since September. I raised on many occasions in the Dáil through Leaders' Questions and parliamentary...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inland Fisheries Stocks (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: 392. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the damage to vulnerable stocks in inshore waters by the practice of pair trawling; his plans to ban the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38311/16]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: 393. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason horse breeders and other stakeholders were not made aware of a statutory instrument (details supplied) which came into being on 17 February 2015, until March 2016; and if the passports of horses that were registered within that period were excluded from the food chain. [38312/16]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Collins: 394. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the report carried out by a person (details supplied) proves that it is safe for horses to enter the food chain, providing the 28-day blood test prior to slaughter has been carried out with positive results; and if this blood test is adequate in this regard. [38313/16]