Michael Collins

75. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the intensified campaign led by Independent Ireland representatives (details supplied), the reason the Government-aligned MEPs continue to support the Mercosur process at EU level rather than stand with Irish farmers and consumers, and the Irish people who overwhelmingly oppose this agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6853/26]

79. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to address the acknowledged overfishing of mackerel by non-EU coastal States, which has directly contributed to sharp quota reductions for Irish fishers in 2026; and whether he will provide details of Ireland’s engagement with the European Commission and coastal states to safeguard this stock and prevent a repeat of these losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6851/26]

335. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if his Department recognises that members of the Irish Coast Guard, including volunteers in coastal units, may now join a union (details supplied) and seek representation through that union; when this was formally acknowledged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6421/26]

336. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if officials in his Department have engaged, or plan to engage, with a union (details supplied) regarding matters raised by Irish Coast Guard members who have recently joined the union; if so, the timeline for such engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6422/26]

337. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport the way his Department plans to ensure that Irish Coast Guard volunteers who have joined a recognised trade union can avail of independent representation in HR, welfare and disciplinary processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6423/26]

338. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if he acknowledges the long standing HR difficulties reported by volunteers within Irish Coast Guard coastal units; the steps being taken to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6424/26]

339. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if his Department recognises that Irish Coast Guard volunteers are considered workers under health and safety and workplace policy frameworks while on duty, training, or active service; the way in which this status will interact with their access to union representation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6425/26]

340. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if his Department plans to establish a formal framework for engagement with representative bodies and recognised unions representing members of Irish Coast Guard coastal units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6426/26]

341. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has assessed the potential positive impact of union representation on retention, morale, and operational stability within Irish Coast Guard units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6427/26]

342. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport if he has received requests from organisations (details supplied) for meetings regarding the representation of Coast Guard volunteers; if so, the status of these requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6428/26]

737. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the full list of accommodation premises currently in use, or used at any time since 1 January 2022, in County Kildare by the International Protection Accommodation Service and Ukrainian emergency accommodation/temporary protection accommodation; if details will be provided in relation to each premises (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5901/26]

206. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail the EU member states the Government considers to be “like-minded” in opposing the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, as referenced in the Programme for Government; and to outline the basis on which each such state is deemed aligned with Ireland’s position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3779/26]

216. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail any joint letters, non-papers, position papers, or coordinated actions undertaken by Ireland in conjunction with other EU member states opposing the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and to specify the countries involved and dates on which such actions occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3784/26]

217. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department has taken to support the Programme for Government commitment to work with like-minded EU countries to oppose the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; to list any meetings or correspondence with EU counterparts in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3786/26]

218. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline all engagements undertaken by him with other Heads of Government or senior EU officials in relation to opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and to provide the dates, countries involved, and nature of each engagement. [3787/26]

219. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether he considers the Government to have fully complied with the Programme for Government commitment to work with like-minded EU countries to oppose the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if so, to set out the evidence on which this assessment is based. [3788/26]

220. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether the Government will commit to publishing a consolidated account of all Ministerial engagements, meetings, and coordinated actions undertaken with other EU member states in opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if not, the reasons for same. [3789/26]

452. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of jobs the IDA supported in Kilkenny in 2025; how this compares to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3546/26]

503. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will examine a matter regarding school bus operators (details supplied). [3545/26]

797. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list all bilateral and multilateral meetings held since January 2025 with Ministers or senior officials from other EU member states at which the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement was discussed; and to provide the date, location, format, and countries represented at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3780/26]

798. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether minutes, notes, or formal read-outs were prepared for each meeting at which the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement was discussed with other EU member states; and if so, whether these records will be published or otherwise made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3781/26]

799. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if briefing notes, submissions, or speaking points were prepared for Ministers or officials in advance of meetings with EU counterparts concerning opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; the number and dates of such briefings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3782/26]

800. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of occasions on which Ireland formally raised opposition to the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement at meetings of the AGRIFISH Council since January 2025; the steps that were taken at those meetings to build or consolidate opposition among EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3785/26]

4. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on meetings between his Department and disabled persons’ organisations regarding the proposed cost-of-disability payment; to provide a timeline for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3294/26]

439. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Defence the coordinates of the LÉ William Butler Yeats which was reported to have been off the coast of Dublin Bay on 1 December 2025, when President Zelenskyy arrived in Ireland for his first official State visit to Ireland (details supplied). [1251/26]