Results 21-40 of 3,349 for speaker:Michael Collins

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: A number of issues have been raised. I referred to the post offices and, in fairness, the Minister clarified it quite well. I have a worry, however. The Minister spoke about bringing in communities to run post offices. That would be a serious move. Running shops is one thing, but running post offices would be quite a serious move. The judging of the funding of post offices is on their...

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: The rural social scheme.

Select Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (5 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: delete this

Private Members' Business - Broadband Service Provision: Motion [Private Members] (6 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: I am delighted to address the issue of broadband here today. The importance of the digital economy cannot be underestimated. Broadband is a huge resource for businesses and there are significant growth opportunities for businesses that trade online. It opens up a global market for rural tourism and for small artisan producers. It is also a huge resource for schools, private homes and...

Regulation of Charities: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: The enactment of Part 4 of the Charities Act 2009, which gives the Charities Regulatory Authority statutory powers of investigation with respect to charitable organisations, is long overdue. It is a shame that the recent revelations regarding the charity Console and other instances of poor governance in the sector, including in the case of Rehab and the Central Remedial Clinic, had to be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (12 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: 513. To ask the Minister for Health if those receiving a pension from the United Kingdom and living here will still be entitled to a non-means tested medical card despite the United Kingdom no longer being part of the European Union, as in the case of a person (details supplied). [20750/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (14 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: 4. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to take action with regard to mobile telephone operators (details supplied). [21837/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (14 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: I acknowledge the work of the Minister of State on broadband since taking office. Another issue I wish to discuss is the lack of mobile telephone coverage. There are very serious issues, in particular, in rural Ireland where mobile telephone coverage has reduced considerably in recent months instead of progressing. Masts have been taken down in several parts of west Cork, leaving areas...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (14 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: I welcome the news of the establishment of this task force but a recent merger of two major mobile phone companies in this country will result in a loss of 880 masts. That is a serious loss, especially in rural communities. I ask that the Minister urge ComReg to step in to stop the taking down of those masts. One company had 1,880 and the other had 1,300, totalling more than 3,100. Now...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (14 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister for his response. I look forward to working with the task force or in any other way to help improve mobile phone and broadband coverage. I am strongly of the view that those issues, broadband and mobile phone coverage, should be discussed at the same time as there can be solutions around both areas. I look forward to that happening in the coming months.

Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: Last week, there was an announcement of funding for roads. Again, the N71, which is the main west Cork road, and the R586 were excluded from any funding going forward. I ask the Taoiseach to intervene in this issue. It is not a case that it is not happening on a yearly basis or we are not getting funding. It is now a case of not getting funding from decade to decade on the main routes...

Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: It is about strategic infrastructure. I would appreciate the Taoiseach's views on the matter.

Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Collins: National roads.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Weight of Schoolbags (16 Sep 2016)

Michael Collins: 390. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding school bags. [24524/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (16 Sep 2016)

Michael Collins: 472. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to replace retiring technical officers in the National University of Ireland, Galway (details supplied). [25863/16]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Funding (16 Sep 2016)

Michael Collins: 984. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will confirm the public funds originally allocated to each local action group, LAG, for the Leader 2007-2013 programme; the subsequent revisions to these amounts for each LAG in the period; the specific reasons for any such adjustments; the final spend achieved by each LAG, net of disallowances, penalties or ineligible...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development and Infrastructure: Belturbet, Connemara and Kells Municipal Districts (20 Sep 2016)

Michael Collins: I want to welcome the councillors from Cavan, Connemara and Meath. Unfortunately, it was too far for the councillors from the west Cork municipal district to make it here. I listened to Councillor Mannion speaking about roads, hospitals and schools. Her comments replicate the concerns of the west Cork municipal district. We have a serious situation with the N71, one of the main routes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Irish Film Board: Chairperson Designate (28 Sep 2016)

Michael Collins: I thank Dr. Doona, Ms McGrath and Ms Heaney for their presentation. I come a rural community on the Mizen peninsula. I have seen the benefits of the Irish Film Board through the filming of "The Runway" and, most recently, "Star Wars" on Brow Head in Crookhaven, which provided an economic boost to a rural community. I urge that that continue because when "Star Wars" or "The Runway" comes...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Collins: Farmers are going through one of the most difficult periods experienced on family farms in many decades. Farm families are at an all-time low. Grain farmers throughout the country have lost their crops and many face ruination this year. The year 2016 is the fourth year in a row that many grain farmers are trading at a loss. I welcome the announcement of the round table meeting of tillage...

Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2016)

Michael Collins: I thank the Tánaiste for her response. I would appreciate her bringing to the direct attention of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, my proposals on a tax exemption or a spread of payments for taxes to give the farmers an opportunity to survive this year. The Tánaiste knows as well as I that when farmers are affected the whole community is affected. We face many serious...