Results 1,341-1,360 of 3,754 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticultural Peat Supply and Willow Scheme: Bord na Móna (23 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: We have been talking for quite a while about three aspects of this matter: the environmental impact of transporting peat from the Balkans to Ireland, for example in the context of the lost quality of nursery stock product; the impact on Irish horticulture jobs; and the impact on Irish horticulture businesses. Is there any data on those areas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticultural Peat Supply and Willow Scheme: Bord na Móna (23 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: Okay. I will read that later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticultural Peat Supply and Willow Scheme: Bord na Móna (23 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: Okay. What is the status of getting Irish peat to Irish growers to allow the realistic transition to non-peat crop growing?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: 5. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider the criteria for the fuel allowance and allow some latitude in the application criteria for the allowance whereby, for example, persons who apply for the jobseeker’s or supplementary welfare allowance should not have to wait for 12 months to be accepted for fuel allowance; if persons who are on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: I would like to ask the Minister if she will reconsider the criteria for the fuel allowance and allow some latitude in the application criteria for the allowance whereby, for example, persons who apply for the jobseeker’s or supplementary welfare allowance should not have to wait for 12 months to be accepted for fuel allowance; if persons who are on illness benefit will be included;...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister. She said that the fuel allowance is paid to many pensioners. I know from my clinics - as I am sure does the Minister and every other Deputy present - that there are many pensioners to whom it is not paid because they are €1 or €2 above the eligibility criteria. That is unfair. In one case, a lady in west Cork who has cancer and is in receipt of illness...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Eligibility (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: Everybody should welcome the increase in the threshold. I welcome it. It should be remembered that last week the cost of a bag of coal increased to €7. Most people can no longer afford it. The same applies in respect of home heating oil. We have a crisis in this country regarding the price of fuel. People are turning to the fuel allowance as the only option of being able to heat...

Rising Energy Costs: Motion [Private Members] (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: My colleagues in the Rural Independent Group and I have been very vocal on the cost of energy and the sky-rocketing costs of fuel for farmers, parents, hauliers and employers. In fact, it affects every person in this country. I again call for the abolition of carbon tax and I ask Sinn Féin whether it will now join with the Rural Independent Group in calling for the abolition of this...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: We are facing an unprecedented crisis thanks to the green agenda, which has ordinary households, farmers and the fishing sector lying almost in ruins. Europe is telling Ireland to act but we are asleep at the wheel. Our Government must eliminate the carbon tax and cut all energy taxes immediately. Tinkering around the edges, which we have been doing, will not help our people. As early...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: 125. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a product (details supplied) is not being funded under the scheme for the insulation of houses; if so, the reason the product is not being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14029/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: 569. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will reconsider the time period for which the fuel allowance is granted; and if the allowance will be extended by a minimum of one month given the ongoing fuel crisis in Ireland. [15080/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: 739. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a visa in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14030/22]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: Approval was granted for the proposed building of a new fire station for Clonakilty town, which was announced by the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in 2020. This fire station was supposed to coincide with the building of Kanturk and Macroom fire stations, which are at this stage nearly finished. The town of Clonakilty had to wait for years for approval of this fire station. It serves...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (10 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: I have never seen such anger as is among the general public in our country at this time. The simple truth that families, businesses and ordinary people are telling me is that this Government is grinding the country to a halt and we must get it out. The Rural Independent Group raised the crisis with the cost of fuel in the Dáil well before the Ukrainian war and with a broad smile on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (10 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister for his reply but it alarms me on so many fronts. His Department is anti-rural as it refuses to give this 20% to rural bus operators to pass on to their customers. I also have worries on other fronts. In addition to the plight of our fishermen and farmers and the state of our health sector, I have consistently raised the issue of the security of our national energy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (10 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: I am not talking to the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, but to the Minister. I am well able to talk to him and I do not need any lecture from the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (10 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: I am talking to the Minister.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (10 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: Talk through the Chair.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (10 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: I can make my point without any interference from the Deputy. I did not interfere with her.

Financial Resolution: Excise (9 Mar 2022)

Michael Collins: I have never felt so ashamed for the public as when I heard today about this announcement of a paltry decrease of just 15 cent and 20 cent for fuel, something that was swallowed up overnight in most of the filling stations, and just 2 cent for tractor diesel. My telephone is blocked with voice messages and text messages from men and women who cannot take any more. To take many over the...