Results 441-460 of 3,639 for speaker:Michael Collins

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: During last week's flying visit to Ireland, the EU environmental Commissioner ruled out any movement on nitrates reduction in this country. This was astonishing given that in my constituency, the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil came to west Cork to meet farmers who had ticked all the boxes environmentally, thereby leaving them with hope of some movement. These farmers and others...

Capital Supply Service and Purpose Report Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: First, I thank Deputy Shanahan and the Regional Independent Group for championing this Bill, which aims to enhance transparency in capital spending. The Bill requires all Ministers to submit detailed annual reports and capital allocations covering projects exceeding €500,000 from four years prior. This timeframe avoids interference with procurement and commercial agreements. What...

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (28 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: Almost every week here in the Dáil, a question over our neutrality is raised. It seems the Irish Government, including both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, are eating away at our neutrality, for whatever reason, I do not know. Our Defence Forces have been under-resourced for decades, leaving this country wide open to attack if we in any way play around with our neutrality, which has...

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: My thoughts and prayers, like others, are with all who were hurt last Thursday. There has been many commentaries as to who carried out the scandalous carry-on last Thursday night. Some Labour Party TDs, who dream that they know it all, have been inciting all sorts of people inside here in the Dáil. This surely needs controlling and will be dealt with by us. Everyone knows, however,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools of Music (28 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a series of data (details supplied) will be provided in relation to the Cork ETB School of Music, showing the situation before and after Covid lockdowns in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52528/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (28 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 643. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated number of relevant healthcare premises as defined in the Safe Access Zones Bill 2023 which will be designated as safe access zones upon the enactment of the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52472/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (28 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 644. To ask the Minister for Health the total expenditure spent on the legislative review process of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the amount spent on contracts, research expenses, reimbursements and all other possible categories from 2021 to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52475/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (28 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 645. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of contracts for the provision of termination of pregnancy services issued in each of the years from 2019 to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52476/23]

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (23 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I will try anyway. I will start by wishing the Minister the very best on the birth of her grandchild. What a joyous occasion it must be for her. It is a bit unfortunate that she is here with us today but we will try and speed this up. I offer great congratulations to the Minister and her family. It is a beautiful thing to hear a child crying inside here, as we did a moment ago. It is a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: The lowering of the nitrates derogation from 250 kg N/ha to 220 kg N/ha will have devastating consequences for clean Irish agriculture. Farmers throughout the country have spent tens of thousands to bring their farms up to environmental standards, with very few of them now falling behind. Despite the huffing and puffing, it looks like the Government has thrown in the towel on fighting to...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy Report: Statements (22 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I was delighted to hear, a little while ago, that nine-year-old Emily Hand is now on a list of hostages to be released. Please God, that is followed through for her family and the people who have been extremely stressed about her well-being. Let us not forget that if we had expelled ambassadors and gone ahead with the drama that Members were calling for in the Dáil last week, this...

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I and my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group condemn all war and violence. We also condemn the killing of innocent people in this war but we do so by condemning both sides and not turning a blind eye to what happened on 7 October, when women were raped by Hamas terrorists, others were killed and children were killed. Over 200 hostages were taken into Gaza by Hamas and up to 1,200...

Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 (Bill 54 of 2023): Report and Final Stages (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I do not support this Bill and I will not be supporting it going forward. The right to protest and the freedom to exercise one's religion are pillars of a democratic society. By eroding these rights through restrictive measures, we risk sliding down a slippery slope towards an authoritarian regime that is far stronger than what I would ever have expected. I believe in the basic right of...

Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 (Bill 54 of 2023): Report and Final Stages (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: They have no respect for anyone, by the look of it. I believe in peaceful protest but there have been statements made in this Chamber to say that women should never be blocked going for any medical care. Of course they should not be blocked, regardless of what medical care is, but I cannot understand what the problem is with the right to peacefully protest within a certain slight area away...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: In recent weeks, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, published advice it gave to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in October 2022 that delaying road projects in Mullingar, Cork, Leixlip, Cahir and Limerick would lead to 77 deaths and 381 serious injuries but he ignored that advice. This ignored report did not even look at our minor roads which are starved of funding. One municipal...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: As the Taoiseach knows, I have warned for years about the potential for an energy crisis and our exposure to elevated prices. Sadly, what I had warned about has come to pass. The current energy crisis has disrupted our economy and driven inflation on a massive scale. It poses real risks to our economy as, like it or not, we are dependent on oil and gas for the functioning of our economy....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has confirmed that the new facility, which is likely to cost hundreds of millions of euros to build, will be funded by a new levy on consumer gas bills. The Green Party loves taxing the Irish people. It seems to have a fierce habit of that. I presume the Taoiseach will not agree with that. There are already taxes on fuel, as...

Escalation of Violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I fully support the calls for a ceasefire, expressing our deep concern over civilian casualties. The recent focus on Gaza's hospitals is atrocious and must stop. Unfortunately, these hospitals are reported to be a potential Hamas headquarters, which raises serious concerns about civilian safety. In fact, Hamas was reported last week to have used communication channels to warn civilians not...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: I am delighted to get the opportunity to speak about this Bill. I think I was the only politician from County Cork, if not Munster, who made an open submission to the Electoral Commission. To be honest, I feel it was ignored, much to the detriment of many the areas in west Cork that have been put into north Cork. The last census proved that the population of west Cork has grown. If I had...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (14 Nov 2023)

Michael Collins: 102. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) receives a date for their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49515/23]