Results 1,221-1,240 of 1,321 for speaker:Áine Collins

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Sep 2012)

Áine Collins: I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on her handling of this very sensitive issue. It has been recognised for years that a constitutional amendment was required to guarantee that children's interests are foremost when the State is dealing with their rights. I take this opportunity to thank Deputy Barry Cowen for his contribution. It is heartening to see a Government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Beverage Exports: Discussion with Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (25 Sep 2012)

Áine Collins: I thank the gentlemen for attending. Has any research been done on how the problem of high alcohol consumption among our youth can be dealt with from the perspective of the drinks industry? A huge change has occurred in the past 15 years in that young people now drink at home or drink high volumes of spirits before they go out, as opposed to going out and enjoying a few beers as was the...

National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Sep 2012)

Áine Collins: I welcome the Bill, the purpose of which is to protect children and vulnerable adults. Vetting of people who work with children or vulnerable adults must be mandatory; not only do we need to ensure that protection is provided to both children and vulnerable adults but we also need to protect the staff and volunteers working in the area. We have all been shocked and dismayed at the various...

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jul 2012)

Áine Collins: I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on this Bill. As the Taoiseach has said, the Bill will not solve the mortgage crisis overnight. However it will bring a change in the relationship between customers and banks, which should give the customer more bargaining power. The period for bankruptcy is being cut from 12 years to three years, something which is long overdue. This will...

Written Answers — Fuel Prices: Fuel Prices (5 Jul 2012)

Áine Collins: Question 45: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department will provide some relief on the cost of fuel for commercial use to combat the fuel laundering that is prevalent throughout the country. [32108/12]

Written Answers — Fuel Prices: Fuel Prices (5 Jul 2012)

Áine Collins: Question 47: To ask the Minister for Finance the impact the current cost of fuel is having on the road haulage industry. [32107/12]

Criminal Justice (Search Warrants) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Jul 2012)

Áine Collins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this Bill. This is legislation that to an extent restores the right of gardaí above the rank of superintendent to issue permission for a search warrant in serious and urgent circumstances. The Bill is necessary as a result of a court decision that certain ways of issuing search warrants were in part unconstitutional. They did not...

Haulage Industry (3 Jul 2012)

Áine Collins: Is the Minister aware of the issue of the essential user rebate of which other countries such as Belgium, France and Luxembourg avail and the effect it has on Irish hauliers? We have many hauliers filling their fuel tanks abroad, which means a loss of revenue to the State. What are the Minister's views on this rebate and would he support the reintroduction of such an initiative here?

Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jun 2012)

Áine Collins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The Bill is another step by the Government to put in place initiatives to sustain small and struggling businesses so they can survive and return to growth. It will also encourage people to set up much needed new businesses. The Minister for Finance and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation have continued to identify the lack of...

Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2012)

Áine Collins: I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The Bill introduces a change to the criminal justice legislation to make it an offence to withhold information in respect of sexual offences. Every Member of the House and of society now insists that everything possible that can be done to protect children must be done. This Bill is just one small step in advancing that process....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jun 2012)

Áine Collins: Question 250: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding grant applications in respect of schools (details supplied) in County Cork. [29567/12]

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (6 Jun 2012)

Áine Collins: Question 139: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when partial redundancy will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [26216/12]

Written Answers — Community Employment Schemes: Community Employment Schemes (6 Jun 2012)

Áine Collins: Question 432: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if persons who are on a Tús scheme for 12 months will then have to become unemployed for 12 months before they qualify for a community employment scheme. [27421/12]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2012)

Áine Collins: Question 189: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is no longer eligible for suckler welfare scheme. [25750/12]

Written Answers — Visa Waiver Scheme: Visa Waiver Scheme (9 May 2012)

Áine Collins: Question 32: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the Department of Justice and Equality's extension and continuation of the visa waiver scheme, the value of this to the tourism industry here; the way the tourist agencies intend to take advantage of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22787/12]

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 May 2012)

Áine Collins: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill, which essentially tackles two main areas in Irish political life. First, it introduces greater transparency in the relationship between politics and money. Second, it introduces a greater degree of equality among those who decide to become involved in politics as a career. There have been many examples of too close a relationship between...

Protection of Employees (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 May 2012)

Áine Collins: The issue of redundancy is, by its nature, very sensitive as an individual is losing his or her job. When redundancies are announced, its effects on the individual are life changing. This can result in many knock-on effects such as inability to pay a mortgage, insufficient funds for educating children and a total change in lifestyle, not to mention the psychological effects. Redundancies...

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2012)

Áine Collins: I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to contribute on this Bill. Although Deputy Dooley has raised an important issue for discussion, I will not support the Bill. We are all aware of the high cost of fuel. The sharp rise in recent years has mainly been due to external factors, such as political tensions in the Middle East and north Africa. The rise in fuel costs affects many...

Private Members' Business. Motorist Emergency Relief Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2012)

Áine Collins: I ask Deputy Dooley at least to do me the courtesy of listening when I reply to his Bill, if he would not mind. We estimate that at least 14% of all diesel is laundered, presenting a significant problem for the industry. The working group is examining a range of solutions in this regard. In particular, we are discussing a pre-identified fuel card for end users of green diesel. This is the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (19 Apr 2012)

Áine Collins: Question 114: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding an application for child benefit (details supplied).. [19570/12]