Results 21-40 of 3,628 for speaker:Michael Collins

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Apr 2025)

Michael Collins: This weekend's CSO figures on visitors to this country have cast a serious doubt over our once glorious tourism sector. The figures show a drop of 20% in the number of visitors in January and 30% in February. Visitor spending has dropped 31% in those two months compared to last year and overnight bed bookings are down 33%. This is a concern for cities like Dublin, Galway, Cork, Waterford...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Apr 2025)

Michael Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I agree with the previous speakers, but there are other issues of serious concern too. Today we need time to debate farmers' payments and the delay in same, up to months for some people. A staggering 9,300 farmers are waiting since early 2024 on delayed agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, payments, 2,300 of whom are waiting for their payments since...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (1 Apr 2025)

Michael Collins: 434. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that the Diocese of Cork and Ross is running a pilot programme in State-funded primary schools whereby a US evangelical Catholic organisation (details supplied) is facilitating retreats for children participating in the sacrament of confirmation; who is providing the funding for this organisation; the kind of visas being...

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: I join Deputy O'Flynn in congratulating the Minister on his new role. This is the first chance I have had to do so. I look forward to working with him and knowing his history, it will be easy to work with him. This new law is a response to a Supreme Court decision from 22 January 2024 in the case of John O'Meara and others against the Minister for Social Protection. John O'Meara lost...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: Everyone in the Dáil has someone close to them suffer from cancer at one stage or another. As I stand here, I express my heartfelt thanks to the Irish Cancer Society and to all who work and care for those suffering from cancer. This coming Friday is daffodil day and I hope people come out to support the cancer society in whatever way they can. A cancer diagnosis turns people's...

Triple Lock Mechanism and Irish Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (26 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: What is being proposed by the Government is a direct threat to Ireland's long-standing neutrality. I will not stay silent while it is being chipped away bit by bit. The triple lock mechanism is not some red tape dreamt up in Brussels; it is a safeguard, which means that Irish troops cannot be sent abroad unless three things happen: Government approval, a vote in the Dáil and,...

Triple Lock Mechanism and Irish Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (26 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: A referendum is what is needed so that the people have a say.

Triple Lock Mechanism and Irish Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (26 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: A referendum is the proper place for that. The people of Ireland would send a very clear message to the Government about their feelings on this matter, but it will not allow a referendum on the matter. The Government knows the people do not support this direction, so instead of asking, it is sneaking it through. The Government tells us it is about flexibility and not letting one...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. It looks like, no matter what we say here, the Government is going to railroad these changes through. It is very clear to the good, honest and hard-working people of this country that this is what the Taoiseach was going to do anyway. He has to be straight and honest. What is the deal he has done with Deputy Michael Lowry that has him spellbound? We know the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: We need to know. The taxpayer needs to know. The ordinary man and woman who cannot afford to pay weekly bills need to know here and now. They know it is a sleazy deal that taxpayers must pay heavily for. On top of that, the Taoiseach wants them to ask planted questions in this House to make a mockery of the Irish people in Dáil Éireann. I ask the Taoiseach to come clean on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: Do not let it cost us our democracy also.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: If we go ahead today with Government proposals on giving extra time for Government-backing TDs in Opposition time, it shows how far this Government is capable of going in eroding the democracy of the island of Ireland.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: Our general election took place on 29 November 2024, and for a couple of months a Government had to be put together. On 22 January, the Dáil sat and for the first time was forced to call off Dáil proceedings so an agreement could be made to bring this speaking row to an end. All of this time we the Opposition were united on one front: that Deputy Lowry's group had a right to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: Every effort by the Government since has been to do everything but that. On the morning of 23 January, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste met with us leaders to end this row and let the Dáil get back to the business it had to do - elect the Taoiseach, set up committees - and we all agreed we would work together to create a solution on this hugely important issue for the country. Less...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: -----as they have clearly agreed to support this Government one way or another, which is their own prerogative I may add. The next scheduled meeting of the Dáil reform committee was scheduled for 26 February. At this meeting came the bombshell from the Government Chief Whip, Deputy Mary Butler, that the previous verbal agreement given by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and read out by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: ------and a railroading of democracy was going ahead. When summing up today, the Taoiseach will say we had enough time to try to get an agreement from the Opposition but it would not agree. Since the day he was elected, however, we have only had two meetings of the Dáil reform committee to try to resolve this issue in 28 days. I know because I attended these meetings. Is the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: We have written to the Taoiseach numerous times to try to resolve this issue and to make sure this dark day for democracy would not happen but he has chosen to ignore it. Will the Taoiseach at this late stage, sit down with the Opposition leaders and thrash out an agreement to bring this sorry episode to an end?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (25 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: 818. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the work to date of the National Termination of Pregnancy Service Improvement Group; how many times the group has met since its establishment; full details of membership of the group and their qualifications; the minutes of meetings of the group to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14029/25]

Young Carers: Motion [Private Members] (20 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: Independent Ireland will also be supporting this motion on young carers. I thank the Labour Party for putting forward this very important motion. It is astonishing to think we have 67,000 young carers in this country. We have given them nothing but lip service over recent years, which is an injustice to those young people. Many of them are in the Gallery and were in the audiovisual room...

International Security and International Trade: Statements (20 Mar 2025)

Michael Collins: These statements on international security and international trade provide an important opportunity for TDs to have their say. In recent weeks and months, we have had many people speaking here about our neutrality and participation in what is happening across the world. The Tánaiste only recently stated that as far as he is concerned, we need to spend a lot more money on our defence....