Results 341-360 of 3,337 for speaker:Michael Collins

Food Costs and High Grocery Bills: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (9 May 2023)

Michael Collins: I appreciate the introduction of this motion by Sinn Féin. Fuel and grocery costs are a huge issue for many families. To be quite honest with the Government, it is standing idly by and letting people suffer. There are interest-rate hikes such that people are now unable to pay for their mortgages, putting them in mortgage arrears. This could result in the vulture funds, the...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Michael Collins: We are marking Europe Day. Europe has been generally successful for so many countries. Certainly, Ireland has seen a lot of benefits down through the years by being involved in the European Union. Yet, we have also seen situations, like Deputy McGrath has just mentioned, such as with the fishing industry, where we have been decimated by our involvement in Europe. That should never have...

Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: Construction safety is important and that goes without being noticed. We are putting those in the construction industry, the builders, in a difficult position. They have to comply with Safe Pass. They have to comply with so much it is making it almost impossible for them to get a day's work or a good week's work done. It will put the price of housing up more severely. The construction...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: Dairy farmers are struggling to make ends meet with the price of milk and dairy products starting to reduce while their costs are still increasing. This is a fight they can take on, but the fight they cannot take on at present is the dropping of nitrates from 250 kg per ha to 220 kg per ha. I attended a farm walk in Farnanes where I met a typical Irish farmer who has 71 cows. He is a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: The Tánaiste was talking madly. He cannot listen to two people at once.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: They cannot deal with the nitrates dropping from 250 kg per ha to 220 kg per ha. It will wipe them out.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 May 2023)

Michael Collins: We have to get a further one.

Support for Household Energy Bills: Motion [Private Members] (3 May 2023)

Michael Collins: Last November, the Dáil passed a Rural Independent Group motion clearing the way for cheaper electricity prices. That motion was tabled, debated and passed on 16 November, which is almost six months ago. The motion explicitly instructed the Government to immediately change policy and implement regulations to cap the prices paid to wind farm operators and energy companies and to place a...

Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Report Stage (26 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: I fully support Deputy McNamara's amendment. I wish to talk about a situation in which there are a lot of issues with agriculture and the problems out there. I have just left the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, where we have been discussing the price of fertiliser all evening. It is shocking where farmers found themselves last year, with many of them going bust trying...

Rent Reduction Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: The strongest argument against rent control is that there are better ways to protect vulnerable renters. One such way, supported by research, is for the Government to provide social supports for renters. In other words, households that see their rents go up could be eligible for tax credits or welfare payments such as the housing assistance payment, HAP, or the rental accommodation scheme,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disparity in the Cost of Fertiliser: Discussion (26 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: I welcome the farm organisations before us. We know the massive price differences that exist. We are talking about the difference between the UK and Ireland but there was a pretty big difference within Ireland on the Republic side of it, in respect of the farmers of Cork South-West anyway. They let me know in no uncertain terms they were being asked to pay incredible prices in comparison...

Re-introduction of Mortgage Interest Relief: Motion [Private Members] (25 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: The question today is why any Irish government would oppose the reintroduction of a mortgage interest relief scheme in the middle of such a dire housing crisis. Mortgage interest relief, which offers borrowers tax relief on the interest portion of their mortgage, ended in the Republic in 2020. However, the pressures facing mortgage holders today, in addition to other cost-of-living...

Deployment of Naval Service Vessel to Participate in Operation Irini: Motion (25 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: The Cabinet has now approved the deployment of an Irish naval vessel to the Irini overseas deployment mission. The proposal must be approved by the Dáil, hence the requirement for today's motion. The Government's decision, subject to Dáil approval, is to approve the deployment of a Naval Service vessel to Operation Irini in June and July. Defence Forces management has welcomed...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: The conditions of our fire brigade personnel buildings leave a lot to be desired. Independent community activist, Mags McKenna, in Ballincollig tells me there is no fire brigade service in Ballincollig to cover 28,000 people. In Clonakilty we have a serious crisis in spite of many announcements having been made that there is a new fire station. They tell me it is rat-infested and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (25 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: 594. To ask the Minister for Health if nurses who worked for South Doc during the Covid-19 pandemic will receive the bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19454/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall, west Cork has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks. Cork County Council commissioned a report by engineering consultants, ByrneLooby, and was advised to close part of the pier. This has rightly led to great anger among pier users in Union Hall and its surrounds. The Tánaiste visited the pier in June 2021 and the Minister,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: The council has done that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: It was sent to where the Minister told the council to send it in July 2021. I have it here.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: It has done that and the Minister refused them.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Apr 2023)

Michael Collins: I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, but I want the facts. The facts are-----