Results 1,761-1,780 of 3,644 for speaker:Michael Collins

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2021)

Michael Collins: The Minister is well aware that tomorrow, the biggest crisis in the fishing industry will lead to protests throughout the country. It will probably be the biggest fishing industry protest for decades. We have had a disastrous term with regard to fishing and Brexit, in which the Minister and the Government have been caught asleep at the wheel.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Now we have been led into a catch weighing crisis that is out of all proportion, as the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, and the Minister now accept. They knew about it in December and did not acknowledge it to the industry until April. I am asking for a debate on this issue today. It is a serious issue. The fishermen of Ireland will protest tomorrow in massive numbers. This can...

Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill before us today. It has been a long time in the offing. There was a lot of discussion on this issue with the previous Government since I was elected in 2016 but it led to little or nothing. Perhaps there was some work going on behind the scenes but it was certainly not being addressed in the manner in which it should have been, so we...

Water and Wastewater Treatment Services: Motion [Private Members] (19 May 2021)

Michael Collins: First, I thank the Regional Group for tabling this important motion. It states that 35 towns and villages across the State continue to discharge raw sewage into nearby waters, according to a recent EPA report. That figure is far lower than I expected because many towns in my constituency of Cork South-West are suffering that sad fate. Obviously, the politicians on the ground, be they...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (19 May 2021)

Michael Collins: 181. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason licensing targets are consistently being missed by over 50% given all the resources now available to the Forest Service and the Forestry Appeals Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26758/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (19 May 2021)

Michael Collins: 182. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address matters in relation to the purchase of new fishing vessels (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26770/21]

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: We have been talking about housing since I got here in 2016. Unfortunately, we have gone from one housing crisis to another. I know now why there is a crisis in housing. It is because of the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties. They are backed up now by their buddies in the Greens. They are the cause of the problem and the nightmare. Young people in rural Ireland want to build on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: First, I am involved in farming, but it is only the wrap bales I am involved with - the smaller cycle of work. I thank Mr. Fitzgerald for appearing before the committee. It has been three years since concerns of a critical nature that there was going to be a problem down the road were highlighted. There have been a few Ministers in that time, and some of them went as far as saying that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I have one further issue. How can the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, who is the leader of the Green Party, support and protect a company that is in receipt of 100% of the levy while only having to reach a collection target of 70%? The Minister admitted that it did not even reach that target in an email dated 22 September 2020. It should be noted that these targets...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Chair and the Deputy. I welcome the witnesses. I have a number of questions. Who are the beneficial owners of the IFFPG?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: The Irish Farmers' Association, that is okay. How much moneys were received in the form of the levy? I think Mr. Moloney said €3.3 million, but he might correct me if I am wrong. How much did bring centres generate on, say, an annual basis?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Right. Mr. Moloney said the farmyard collections generate €1.6 million, is that right?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: That is okay, I thank Mr. Moloney. How much did sale of product to end recyclers generate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Since the introduction of gate fees, how much do these cost?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Why did IFFPG not operate the tried and tested REPAK model where significant subsidies were passed directly back to the recyclers? If that had happened, the industry would be self-sufficient in terms of recycling.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Earlier, we spoke about 70% of the levy along with the other income sources. When costs increase, so does the levy. Therefore, the annual excess of 30% of the levy should be available in its entirety for each year. If it is not available, where is it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Plastics Recycling: Discussion (18 May 2021)

Michael Collins: It would be a great relief to farmers if that were to happen. Was the 30% used to subsidise cost-cutting in order to try to eliminate independent contractors in the way of fees to KPMG and other companies that are administering the tender applications?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister for being with us today. I have a number of questions for the Minister in relation to the crisis we have right now in fishing, with the weighing situation. Fishermen have contacted me from south-west Cork and from along the coastline, all the way to Donegal. Representatives of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, appeared before the committee on 20 April. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (13 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister, and I respect that, but is he saying he was made aware of this before Christmas? The fishing industry was not made aware this until 4 p.m. on 16 April 2021. Why was there not some work done between Christmas and April, before it was announced and before industry was told of the changes? What happened in those four months? We are in a situation where it was two...