Results 1,801-1,820 of 3,648 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry: Discussion (11 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I will try to keep my questions to a minimum, in contrast to the last time. I thank all our guests, including Mr. Murphy, Mr. O'Donoghue, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Byrne and Mr. Ward. The representatives of the SFPA, who were before us previously, have said they are consulting the industry. That is not right, in my mind, because of the weighing crisis we have now. At 4 p.m. on 16 April,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Driver Test (6 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I have spoken to driving instructors in west Cork. They feel they were disowned in this crisis. The responses given by the RSA to instructors were either non-existent or were childish during this pandemic. The RSA takes a fee of €250 per instructor every two years for registration. It never answers regarding what that money is spent on. It is definitely not spent on correspondence...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Driver Test (6 May 2021)

Michael Collins: There are people all over west Cork trying to get theory tests and driving tests. The whole system seems to be blocked up and flawed. One lady told me she had her 12 lessons done but the system would not allow her to register them, which meant she could not book her test. This is mainly about young people's lives. Priority must be given to getting a more efficient system going. We blame...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (6 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I have been asking these questions for the past three weeks and I have not got any answers. The Minister promised me two weeks ago he would furnish me with answers. People over 65 who have a family history of clotting are worried about taking the AstraZeneca vaccine. Some tell me they are so worried they cannot even sleep. They are worried because the Tánaiste said that anyone who...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Is that the plan?

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 May 2021)

Michael Collins: In west Cork they are two years waiting.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I am here today to speak about the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill. I will be very clear with the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, that if the amendments we will table are not accepted - that would work in rural Ireland - I will not support the Bill as it currently stands. It is an attack on the people of rural Ireland and agriculture. I am shocked by...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 May 2021)

Michael Collins: -----and a few nod-and-wink Independents. That is what they are. They will come in here and give out about it, but they will vote for it at the end of the day. There is a need for emergency funding for toilet facilities on beaches in west Cork. Local authorities say they cannot afford to put bins on the side of the street. The country will be covered in litter. There is no money. Where...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan and its Implications for the Agriculture Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 May 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the witnesses for attending. I have a few questions on the climate action Bill but I would like to comment on some of discussion from An Taisce's side. The witnesses said they have engaged in constructive engagement. I have never seen any such constructive engagement during my time as a public representative. I am deeply disturbed about the High Court challenge An Taisce took...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan and its Implications for the Agriculture Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 May 2021)

Michael Collins: The climate action Bill will be highly destructive to every facet of the Irish economy, including the agrifood sector, which alone employs 164,400 people. This Bill aims to cut carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and meet net zero emissions by 2050 but makes no exception for agrifood. Am I correct in saying that? Also, as a result of this, the national cattle herd faces a 51% cut by 2030....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan and its Implications for the Agriculture Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 May 2021)

Michael Collins: Those are all my questions.

National Autism Empowerment Strategy: Motion [Private Members] (29 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: Parents of children with a dual diagnosis of autism and intellectual disabilities do not feel represented by Inclusion Ireland at talks and when strategies are being implemented. They feel under-represented because the parties do not understand or cater for both autism and intellectual disabilities. Instead, each supports one or the other. The challenges faced by those with a dual...

National Marine Planning Framework: Motion (29 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: The Government appears to be pushing this motion through in a rushed matter and is only allocating 45 minutes for debate, five minutes for each group, which is a scandal. I note that no Member from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael is speaking on this today. They have spent the last six months turning their backs on the larger fishermen; now it is the inshore fishermen they are turning their...

European Union Regulation: Motion (29 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: The proposals contained in the motion were published in December 2020. They could vastly increase the powers of the EU policing agency, Europol. They would grant Europol new data processing powers, a role in developing algorithms for the police and a mechanism to facilitate co-operation with non-EU states. The policy states: "In specific cases where Europol considers that a criminal...

Covid-19, Mental Health and Older People: Statements (29 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: I have two and a half minutes to speak and I will use one minute for questions and the Minister of State might use the remaining time to reply, please. I asked the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, this question last week and he promised to come back to me but never did and perhaps the Minister of State may have the answer. If a person is over 60 years of age and is offered the AstraZeneca vaccine...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: 52. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a five-year commitment will be given to businesses in the tourism sector; and if measures such as a 9% rate of VAT, insurance reform, grants and other measures will be introduced to ensure the recovery of the sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular in areas such as west Cork (details supplied). [22306/21]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: Will a five-year commitment be given to businesses in the tourism sector? Are measures such as a 9% rate of VAT, insurance reform, grants and other measures being introduced to ensure the recovery of the sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in areas such as west Cork? I met the Minister some time ago when she was on holidays down in Ballydehob, so she knows the beauty...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: Hotels and tourism businesses flagged that tourism is one of the major employers in rural regions such as west Cork. It has been one of the sectors hardest hit during the pandemic. Many businesses are making decisions about whether they can survive, and if they can, they are cutting back on services and operating hours. We need a commitment for a minimum of five years to make these SMEs,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: After many good years of Fáilte Ireland supporting regionality and seasonality, the winters will now see businesses going back to shutting up shop to preserve money. Hospitality will have nothing to entertain and attract guests off-season and people will be out of work again for the four to five autumn and winter months. Employees in the sector must also be supported and incentivised...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Apr 2021)

Michael Collins: I am glad to get the opportunity to speak on the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021. In a recent case, the Supreme Court found that while the Oireachtas can impose mandatory penalties for offences, it can only do so where those penalties apply to all persons equally. Specifically, the Oireachtas cannot create a mandatory penalty, which only applies to a particular class of persons,...