Results 1,581-1,600 of 3,644 for speaker:Michael Collins

Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I suppose the reason many of the Deputies are missing is because the debate is about fishing. It is the fishermen of Ireland who will be affected by the decisions the Government is going to make today. I heard what Deputy Leddin had to say and I am disappointed that he does not fully realise the suffering fishermen are experiencing. Stocks are falling throughout the world because we are...

Residential Tenancies (Tenants' Rights) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: This Bill supports tenants and I give a cautious welcome to that because many tenants are in difficult circumstances. I notice this from week to week in my office when people come in who have been evicted from their homes and have very little recourse. If this Bill helps in some way, I will support it but we must also have respect with regard to landlords. I do not mean those who have 50...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (20 per cent Provision of Social and Affordable Housing) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (21 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I will be supporting this Bill and I welcome it today. We have been in this House speaking about social housing, council housing and whatever else we used to call it since I was elected to the Dáil in 2016 and before that, to the council in 2014. To be honest, nothing has progressed but it has got worse and worse. An unmerciful influx of people have been coming into my office every...

Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment published the general scheme of what has become the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill on 4 December 2018. This measure was proposed by the Government in November 2017, as part of a series of measures intended to address white collar crime. The principle measure to be addressed in the Bill is the establishment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Peat Shortages on the Horticultural Industry: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (21 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: Some of the questions I am asking have already been asked. Deputy Leddin said this is not a matter of the green agenda, but it is certainly an extraordinary situation we find ourselves in with regard to both forestry and peat and the Green Party is at the helm. We see the disaster that is unfolding. Some Minister somewhere along the line is unable to resolve this unfolding disaster for...

Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: The Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021 was published on 29 July and comprises 58 sections. The purpose of the Bill is to implement EU Council Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to judgments in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation of liberty for the purpose of...

Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: The Bill seeks to provide the legislative framework for a new streamlined development consent process for activities in the maritime area, including offshore renewable energy. The Bill also provides for the establishment of a new agency, the maritime area regulatory authority, to undertake certain consenting and enforcement functions in the new regime. Types of projects or activities that...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: We have had a series of health crises in west Cork. During the summer, Bantry General Hospital closed for 16 days with no admissions. We also had a crisis in regard to ambulance services, where an ambulance is no longer in west Cork any night when four ambulances are meant to be. There is a new crisis at the doorstep of the people of west Cork. For the past two weeks, the people of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (16 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: 67. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) regarding road infrastructure in west Cork. [44395/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (16 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: Will the Minister tell me the date work will commence on the Innishannon bypass? Will he also give the start date for the long-awaited completion of the Bandon southern bypass and start dates for the full northern relief road in Bandon and the Bantry bypass? Will he also tell us whether there are any plans to insert passing bays on the N71 from Ballydehob to Bandon or the R586 from Bantry...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (16 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: The Minister is talking about eight to 13 years. That is a hell of a long time. This has been going on much longer than that for the people of Bandon who require the southern bypass to be completed and the northern bypass to be started. It the same with the Innishannon bypass, as I said. This is appalling. I hear nothing I can go back to the people of west Cork with and say that these...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (16 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: The Minister is talking about €4 million for improvements but that is for pothole repairs. That is what he is saying. Those are the facts. I would like him to visit the roads of west Cork. He perhaps knows west Cork better than most Ministers. I can show him some of the roads that are in appalling condition. I took the former Minister, Shane Ross, down there. I should have taken...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (16 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: 168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address the lack of driving test capacity particularly for young persons (details supplied). [44396/21]

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: No one here can take the moral high ground in Irish politics, including me. In my time in the Dáil I have fought against Minister after Minister for fairness in politics, which is greatly lacking. Ministers are so often involved in nod-and-wink style politics and looking after their own back yard and not the country, like they should. I have always supported the Minister, Deputy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Action Programme: Discussion (14 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I will be brief because we are at the end of the allotted time and many questions have already been raised that have been answered. I welcome our guests here today. There are a few Deputies who have been looking at the attack on Irish agriculture over the past number of years. The dairy sector is now under pressure with the nitrates review going on. My worry is that this may lead to a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I welcome the officials back. Much of what I am asking has probably been asked already but it is a cry from the public out there. The public are very angry and frustrated and we as public representatives are equally angry and frustrated. I have a company in west County Cork, GP Wood, that employs many hundreds of people and is severely struggling. It is a very serious situation. On...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: I have another question. Mr. Gleeson recently said his Department licensing section was giving permission for 2,839 ha. What does he think the realistic figure is going to be? It is not going to reach 8,000 ha. What will the figure be by the end of this year?

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Renewable Energy Generation (9 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: 319. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if information will be provided on his Department's review of the siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes and on the review of exemptions for educational and community buildings as part of the current development of interim planning regulations; if further information will be provided on the stated need...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Sep 2021)

Michael Collins: 974. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Covid-19 funding for enhanced infection controls and staffing has been withdrawn from private nursing homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41475/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Aug 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister of State and her officials for coming before the committee today to discuss a real crisis in the forestry sector. My serious worry is for the 400 to 500 jobs in west Cork that are on the line. Many of these people are worried about losing their jobs. We find ourselves in the astonishing situation where we are looking to bring in timber from another country. I have a...