Results 1,121-1,140 of 3,645 for speaker:Michael Collins

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security: Statements (12 May 2022)

Michael Collins: We are delighted to have this debate. Deputy Mattie McGrath has been fighting for the holding of such a debate in the Business Committee for ten weeks. It has taken ten weeks for us to have a debate on fishing. That says it all. The debate has been scheduled for a Thursday evening, when most rural Deputies have to get back to their constituencies. Anyhow, we will take what we can get,...

National Maternity Hospital: Statements (12 May 2022)

Michael Collins: I am speaking on behalf of Deputy Mattie McGrath, who sends his apologies. He cannot be here today because he is having a surgical procedure carried out. The plan to move the National Maternity Hospital from Holles Street in central Dublin to the St. Vincent's campus has been in train since 2013, but the project has been mired in controversy for many years. The Religious Sisters of...

Living Wage Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (11 May 2022)

Michael Collins: I am glad to get a chance to speak on the Living Wage Bill. I am delighted to see the Labour Party worry so much about workers, the same party that hurt so many workers and women's pensions while in government. The Irish economy is at risk of being dragged into a "wage-price spiral" if workers begin demanding higher wages to match the current cost-of-living increases, according to a new...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: If we do, it will be disconnecting Ireland the Government has done instead of connecting Ireland.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, made an announcement some time back that he would be applying a cut in public transport fares for our youth by 20% and then announced a few weeks later that there will be a 50% cut in fares for students and young people travelling on public transport. This should be welcomed but, as it has gone ahead now, it will have a disastrous effect in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister of State for the reply but she cannot talk about Covid-19 supports because, in fairness to these operators, most of them had to take eight or ten passengers, so they were in an absolutely dire situation at that time. Supports are good at any time. I respect that but it cannot be seen as those supports carrying operators over for the remainder of their lives. The bottom...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: 75. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that are being taken to ensure first-time passports are issued within a reasonable timeframe (details supplied). [23343/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: We have a very serious situation in this country in regard to accessing passport services. I want to put forward a number of solutions and I hope the Minister will work with us to try to achieve them. The first must involve addressing the issue of staffing. I note that he said earlier that more staff have been taken on. In addition, passport offices must be fully reopened to the public....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: We need more foot flow into post offices.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister for his reply. I do not want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, as they say, and I must compliment his Department. The staff have been very helpful to me in dealing with very difficult times for families in the past number of years. What is being done to ensure first-time passports are issued within a reasonable timeframe? There are families who are given an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that. As I said, it is very difficult to spend 45 minutes on the telephone. I would not like to be the member of staff doing it and pulling the hair out of his or her head. There is also an issue in that Members are only allowed five queries per day. That is a difficulty because we might have ten queries on a given day and we must pick which five to raise. There could be ten...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: However, we cannot go there and pick up passports for people, as we did before to help them out. We were able to keep the whole thing flowing freely. I know people who have not had a holiday for two years. There is a huge influx of people looking for passports. I do not want to be overly critical because I know a large volume of work is going on, but there surely must be a way to make it...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: I am back again this week, repeating the same thing over and over here in the Dáil. Last week, I spoke about a family in Clonakilty whose rent had gone up 25%, as did their neighbours’. I spoke about the man who was sleeping in his car in west Cork. I spoke about the number of constituents who are constantly calling into my clinics, trying to find houses and trying to make a...

Europe Day: Statements (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: A new chapter of recovery and prosperity was expected after Covid in Europe. The inflationary pressure caused by the European Central Bank’s money-printing over the past two years, the policy move towards eliminating fossil fuels without first having alternatives in place and Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine have put paid to that. Spain recently approved an emergency...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: It will give our country energy security and create a significant number of jobs in rural areas in west Cork. It is indeed time to exit this fool's paradise.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: The Taoiseach did not answer my question.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply but, in fairness, the Barryroe field has massive potential. I do not think he has researched it properly. Is he aware that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has refused point blank to meet with those from the Corrib and Barryroe fields? Does the Taoiseach agree with that? If the Minister will not meet with the industry because of his own beliefs, will the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: In early 2021, I raised with the Tánaiste the effect of the proposed ban on the granting of new exploration licences and how it would leave us not only without any energy independence but also undermine investment in all existing exploration licences off the Irish coast, in particular the south-west coast of Ireland and Cork. Sadly, despite a new awareness in the system that we will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: 389. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the passport offices in Cork and Dublin will be fully opened up to address the backlog of passports that require processing (details supplied). [23344/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (10 May 2022)

Michael Collins: 815. To ask the Minister for Health the name of the civic society groups and non-Governmental organisations his Department consulted with as part of the recent review of the Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23320/22]