Results 10,961-10,980 of 11,785 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Banks Restructuring: Banks Restructuring (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with the Irish Bank Officials Association regarding the ongoing job losses in the banking sector arising from the restructuring process and if he has given consideration to a specific employment action plan for employees in the sector who lose their jobs. [18567/11]

Written Answers — Debt Crises: Debt Crises (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the impact on Ireland of the ongoing debt crisis in Greece and if he will provide details of any specific assurances he has received from our European partners that any contagion impact will not affect Ireland. [18568/11]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: Question 260: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a request from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18654/11]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: Question 600: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [18685/11]

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: I wish to share time with Deputy John Browne.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate. It is a disappointing Bill. I agree with one of the concluding remarks made by the Minister, namely, that a piecemeal approach to electoral reform is not generally the most productive approach. He is acknowledging that it is a bad piece of work and I commend him for saying that. I have to make a number of political points.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: Fine Gael promised to cut the number of Deputies by 20, which was a populist and high profile approach before the election. It also promised to abolish the Seanad, a question which remains unanswered. It sought to reduce the number of Ministers of State and has not done so. It promised there would be no more bank recapitalisation, that it would burn the bondholders, that there would be no...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: That remains to be seen. Do not worry. The Minister is very interested in what we are doing. Which candidate is Fine Gael going to run?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: Which candidate is the Minister backing?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: On radio last Saturday, the Minister was very cocky. He said Fine Gael had become very good and professional at winning elections. He was taking it as a foregone conclusion.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: I did not interrupt the Minister. Am I in possession, Sir?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: I thank the Acting Chairman. The Minister voted down our Bill on personal and corporate donations, but will he bring in his own Bill in advance of the Presidential election?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: The Minister is fund-raising to beat the band. I read somewhere that the Minister's party leader was over in Cricklewood in London hosting a fund-raiser there recently.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: He is fund-raising to beat the band. I am curious because he has produced legislation to limit fund-raising, yet at the same time he is merrily fund-raising on his way in advance of the Presidential election.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: We would like to see a level playing pitch. Our local authority members throughout the country have been mandated, where they feel they can, to offer a Presidential nomination to people who request it. I think that is right. I do not think that local authority members should block anyone from participating in the democratic process. The boundary commission will be established on similar...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: This issue has arisen in Leitrim and in my constituency. What was west Limerick is now part of Limerick, while another part went into north Kerry. The same applies to south Offaly, east Carlow and west Waterford which went in with Tipperary. County boundaries have not been recognised in parts of the country and therefore it is a highly contentious matter. We should tighten up the terms of...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: The Government was not thinking about the Constitution when it proposed a reduction to 152 Members.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: The list is endless.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: Cricklewood.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Niall Collins: Was the Minister at Cricklewood?