Results 41-60 of 3,894 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Road Safety: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: This is a huge issue in the context of safety on roads. Why is it not under the brief of the Department to ensure that roads are safe? A road cannot be safe if a lorry or bus is forced to drive across the white line because it cannot drive within it. Something is wrong somewhere. I am not being smart or smarmy. I ask the witnesses to sit into the car with me and I will show it to them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Road Safety: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: What about the driving tests? How quickly can they be booked?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Road Safety: Discussion (8 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: I asked about the driving test.

Financial Resolutions 2025 - Budget Statement 2026 (7 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: One of my constituents after seeing the budget today sent me this message: "Work, work, work, and at the end of the year you are back to where you started." After budget 2026 has been unveiled, many working families across the country are asking a simple question: where is the relief for us? Despite rising wages, soaring rents and relentless inflation, the Government has chosen not to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: 394. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if any engagement took place with local representatives, NGOs, schools, healthcare providers, or community groups in relation to the use of facilities (details supplied) prior to the establishment of the Community Engagement Team in 2023; and if he will publish minutes or summaries of the eight stakeholder meetings and seven...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: 395. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if any portion of the associated land at a location (details supplied) is intended for use in developing modular homes or additional accommodation blocks in future; and if consultation has taken place with South Dublin County Council or other planning authorities regarding land-use. [53086/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: 396. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the Comptroller & Auditor General or an independent external auditor has reviewed the value-for-money assessment underpinning the €148m purchase of a facility (details supplied); and to publish the detailed methodology used to support the claim that the purchase price will be recouped within four years.; and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: 397. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if legal advice was sought from the Attorney General in relation to proceeding with the use of facilities (details supplied) without planning permission; and whether any monitoring mechanism has been put in place to ensure that the exempted development provisions of S.I. 605 of 2022 and S.I. 376 of 2023 are properly applied...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: 398. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality given that 134 submissions were received under the 2024 Expression of Interest process for potential international protection accommodation, the reason the purchase of facilities (details supplied) proceeded before assessments of these submissions were completed; and if this indicates that the decision to purchase the...

Community Pharmacy Agreement: Statements (2 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: I welcome the Government's new community pharmacy agreement but, to be very clear, our independent pharmacists and communities have waited far too long for this kind of recognition. This agreement has good intentions but we in the Independent Ireland Party will not stand by and let it become another glossy plan that gathers dust while patients and pharmacists on the ground continue to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: As I said, given our own experience in the Famine, where food was exported while our people starved, does the Tánaiste agree that Ireland carries a special moral duty to stand against the use of hunger as a weapon?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: In my final 20 seconds, I will ask the remainder my questions together and see how I get on. What concrete actions will Ireland as a neutral country take at the UN and in the EU, and bilaterally, to insist on safe passage for humanitarian supplies and to hold to account those responsible for the blockage? Will the Tánaiste assure the House that Ireland as a neutral country will not be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: I have both statements and questions. To start with, I just spoke to Councillor Ger Curley who is an Independent councillor. The worries and concerns of the people of Cobh are for Paddy O'Donovan and the other Irish citizens who have been detained. There are serious concerns in Cobh in regard to Paddy O'Donovan, including among his family. I hope that we convey those concerns to the...

Investment in Sport and Sporting Infrastructure: Statements (1 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: West Cork is home to some of Ireland's most extraordinary sporting talent, from the Olympic gold of Paul and Gary O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy in Skibbereen to the blistering speed of Phil Healy from Ballineen. Our athletes continue to inspire the nation. We have seen Nicola Tuthill from Kilbrittain rise as one of Ireland's brightest stars in the hammer throw, breaking records and...

Abolition of Carer's Allowance Means Test: Motion [Private Members] (1 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: On 21 May this year, Independent Ireland put forward a motion, part of which called for the abolish the means test for carers. The Government said it would not oppose the motion. Budget 2026 is here next week so let us see if the Government puts its money where its mouth is. Family carers save the Irish State over €20 billion every year by providing 19 million hours of unpaid care...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Urban Public and Sustainable Transport: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: I have questions for Bus Éireann, the NTA and Go-Ahead Ireland. I would be here for an hour, if I could. Anyway, I will get started. School transport has descended into chaos. There is no doubt about it. They are delivering on 178,000. Let Bus Éireann not think I am here being negative. Bus Éireann delivers services every day of the week. I want to say its staff are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Urban Public and Sustainable Transport: Discussion (1 Oct 2025)

Michael Collins: My questions are for the NTA but I will make one comment to Mr. Kent. He said the professor has drawn up the report regarding the over-70s. I do not want an answer now as it will eat up all my time. Surely, however, a medically qualified person is who we should look to to get a report from with regard to drivers aged over 70, not a professor, who would not be a medically qualified person....

Insurance Costs: Motion [Private Members] (30 Sep 2025)

Michael Collins: I fully support this motion, which rightly calls out the Government's failure to tackle the rip-off culture that has existed in the insurance industry for many years. I have stood in this Chamber previously to highlight the burden that sky-rocketing insurance premiums place on ordinary people. In November 2023, I asked the Minister for Finance why a constituent's motor insurance had...

Global Sumud Flotilla: Motion (30 Sep 2025)

Michael Collins: Today we are speaking about the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian led humanitarian mission currently en route to Gaza. The flotilla, made up of vessels from over 40 countries, is carrying medical supplies, food and essential aid to a population facing catastrophic conditions. This is not a political statement; this is a humanitarian one. The people involved are doctors, nurses and aid...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2025)

Michael Collins: After 27 years of frustration, Uisce Éireann is finally being held accountable following a case brought by the EPA. The organisation was found guilty on both charges for breaches of its wastewater licence at Shannonvale Park, Clonakilty yesterday and fined €4,000. This is a major step forward. It recognises the environmental damages done to Shannonvale Park and to the River...