Results 1,941-1,960 of 3,645 for speaker:Michael Collins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister and his officials for being here. I have been raising Brexit issues, including fishing, all along. Obviously, I have been talking to the west Cork Irish Farmers Association chairman, Mr. Donal O'Donovan, and to Mr. Dermot Kelleher of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association. I met representatives of Individual Farmers of Ireland last night and they are seeking a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Department of Agriculture and the Marine (29 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: My thanks to the members and the witnesses. Unfortunately, the pace of licensing and decisions from the forestry appeals committee is nowhere near where it needs to be. This is the key to addressing the short-term supply issue that continues to decimate the industry, especially sawmills such as Grainger sawmills in west Cork, which employs up to 500 people. Some 2,700 licences were issued...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Department of Agriculture and the Marine (29 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: On the backlog of files in the Department that are going nowhere, there seems to be no plan for getting through these. Will the Department write to each applicant in relation to these files giving them a clear statement as to where the file is, what will happen to it and when?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Challenges for the Forestry Sector: Department of Agriculture and the Marine (29 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: With regard to forest roads, almost 120 km of new roads were licensed in 2020, but the requirement is 300 road licences every year. In addition, the backlog is approximately 300 at present. We are told by Coillte that this is the biggest issue it is facing to liberate timber that will have licences in 2021. Since putting additional resources in place, the FAC has held 61 hearings and 42...

Response of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to Covid-19: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: The latest figures from the Department show that 10,440 men, women and children were homeless in November, up 5% on the year before. More than a decade after Ireland experienced Europe's biggest property crash, the housing and property market remains in difficulty. The Central Bank of Ireland estimates that the State will need 34,000 new homes a year over the next decade to keep up with...

Covid-19 (Social Protection): Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: I have a lot of questions on the topic but I have broken them down into two for the Minister. With regard to CE participants, many organisations desperately need such people for Meals on Wheels and other projects. Please God as we move out of this Covid pandemic we will need them further because the projects will not have the funds to take on staff. People who are aged between 55 and 60...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: The roll-out of the provision of medicinal cannabis to people such as Vera Twomey, for use by her daughter, Ava, and so many other people for whom she fought, has seen some positive developments lately. Some outstanding issues remain, however. As it stands, we see that future patients will have costs covered for their medicine under the cannabis access programme, which is great. Existing...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: It is mainly questions I have. I would like a bit more time but I do not have latitude for statements. I asked the Minister last week about the urgent need to offer the vaccine to home helps in west Cork and throughout the country. In his answer, he promised to furnish me with more details as to when this may be offered but as of yet I have had no information. Could he give us any update?...

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: Yes.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (28 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister. I would greatly appreciate that being furnished to us and getting some timeline. I have also had numerous queries from, as he mentioned, carers, pharmacists and part-time fire brigade personnel, who have a huge issue because they are attending home fires and accidents on roadsides and have not been offered the same as the elderly and undertakers. I suppose there is a...

Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (27 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: The directive and the Bill are aimed at stamping out crimes against the EU budget and specifically mention fraud that affects the financial interests of the Union. To be clear, this includes the misappropriation of funds that might be obtained under the EU budget but also fraud or wrongdoing concerning money from national budgets that could contribute to EU resources. In 2016, the EU's...

An Bille um an Seachtú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cearta Geilleagracha, Comhdhaonnacha agus Cultúir), 2018: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this topic. I would like to thank Deputy Pringle and his colleagues for bringing it forward. Many people's human rights and culture are being violated. Sometimes our own culture is being violated in this State and needs looking at. One thing that is for certain is that we must look not the issue of citizenship in respect of those who have come...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (27 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: 375. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of an application for citizenship by a person (details supplied); if the application will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3885/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Medicinal Products (27 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: 778. To ask the Minister for Health when the Zolgensma gene therapy will be approved for reimbursement for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4023/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Brexit on Fisheries Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: I thank the Chair for accommodating this meeting. It is of huge importance and I will get straight into what I need to say. As far as I am concerned, after listening to fishermen, their unions and leaders, we are facing a massive crisis in fishing. I am in a rural constituency, surrounded by water and fishing, that has seen cuts for the last number of years and neglect by successive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Brexit on Fisheries Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: The Minister is obviously going back out to Europe to see whether he can renegotiate the quotas but in some of the replies to the questions that have been asked he said that in his opinion no country will be offering any of its quota. Those countries have a deal with which some of them are happy enough. They have a far better deal than what we got. In my view, it should be shared equally...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Brexit on Fisheries Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: I welcome our guests from the fishing organisations in various parts of the country. No one knows more than they do the catastrophic crisis the industry faces. The issue greatly affects my constituency, so I welcome their contributions to the meeting. The Minister stated when the deal was done that it was a fair one. I was astonished when I heard that. He stated that there would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Brexit on Fisheries Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: As far as I know, and I stand to be corrected, the four organisations have met since this bad deal was signed up to. They met with the Taoiseach and the Minister. Did the Taoiseach give them any indication as to his view on how the unfortunate situation with which they are faced can be turned around? Are there any ready-made jobs in rural communities that are guaranteed to lose the jobs?...

Covid-19 (Special Educational Needs Provision): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: With regard to special needs, it is a very difficult time for everybody and I respect that and I am not going to add to that difficulty. On the question of going back to school, up to now it has kind of been the cart before the horse, or that is what people have been saying - announce the openings first and then have discussions afterwards. Doing it this way is causing a lot of false hope...

Brexit (Fishing Industry): Statements (21 Jan 2021)

Michael Collins: I do not have much time for the questions and maybe the Minister can reply to me after the debate. I spoke about fisheries yesterday and I will repeat some of what I said in case the Minister did not get a chance to hear it. I have consistently called on the Government, especially the Minister, to be straight with the fisheries sector and the public about why the Government effectively sold...