Results 181-200 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator could abstain.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I am not here to act or speak for any vested interests in the House but to speak in the interests of fair play for any citizen who goes before a State board. I speak as a trade unionist, and in going before many boards, people are represented by their trade unions. Whether we like it or not, many people freeze and are in terror when going before a board of any sort. I am worried about these...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I would like to speak without interruption. I will give my tuppence-ha'penny worth, and others can then speak if they wish.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Nov 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I agree with what Senator Leyden said. He is fully in support of the amendment, which is not an unreasonable one. I hope that support will spread across the floor of the House.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (26 Nov 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I do not doubt his sincerity or commitment in this area.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2003)

Maurice Cummins: The secret is out.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2003)

Maurice Cummins: Financial institutions are sending out letters to entice people to take out loans offered on favourable terms. I am also concerned about the ESB which is sending letters offering loans of up to €3,000—

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Dec 2003)

Maurice Cummins: Its correspondence mentions that there are no forms to fill in and that there are no external credit checks. It is appalling for a semi-State company to send such letters at this time. It is putting vulnerable people at risk by encouraging them to take out loans at Christmas time. People are under enough pressure, especially those in vulnerable areas and sections of society. This matter...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I second the motion. "A lot done, more to do" was the Fianna Fáil Party's slogan prior to the last election. "A little done, much more to do" was CORI's response to the recent budget. Like a colleague from the other House, I suggest everybody feels done at this stage by this Government, especially people on local authority lists, those trying to buy their first house and the increasing...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2003)

Maurice Cummins: The IRFU has presented its plans for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road as a national stadium. Could the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism come to the House as soon as possible to indicate what the Government proposes to do about the development of a stadium? The Government scuppered the FAI's plans for Eircom park, which would be up and running now if it was not for the promise of the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2003)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator is right.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I noted recently that some legal moneylenders are allowed to charge rates of up to 169% APR on small loans. Those loans are aimed at vulnerable sections of the community, many of which have been hit by the 16 social welfare cuts announced before the last budget. This should be investigated as a matter of urgency, either by the Minister for Finance or the Irish Financial Services Regulatory...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister. I welcome this comprehensive Bill dealing with water services. As the Minister stated, it updates quite an amount of legislation dating back even to Victorian times which bears very little relevance to modern times. It is everybody's wish that a high level of professionalism is achieved in the water services sector to ensure that EU drinking water standards are...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: When can the Minister ensure that the full public water supply is of good quality? Ireland's image has been tarnished at home and abroad because of the situation and the buck stops on the Minister's desk.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister has conceded that Ireland is not yet ready to meet the terms of the more stringent EU regulations on drinking water quality and I ask him to state when we will be in a position to comply fully with these regulations.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Group water schemes contribute less than 10% of the country's water supply. Problems have been recorded with the quality of water from some such schemes although I acknowledge that major improvements continue to be made in this regard. It must also be acknowledged that the voluntary group schemes have played a significant role in rural areas and I hope the new licensing system will assist in...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: There are many other water services projects in Waterford requiring immediate attention. The water schemes in Dunmore East, Ardmore, Kilmacthomas, Portlaw, Rathgormack, Ring-Helvick and Ballinacourty and sewage schemes in Bunmahon, Ballyduff, Dunhill and Clashmore, to mention but a few awaiting departmental approval to proceed.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: If there are so many projects awaiting approval in Waterford, I can imagine the numbers outstanding in the rest of the country.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I am aware that the investment required will be immense but the benefits for the country and for future generations will be greater as a result. I ask the House to imagine the money that could be generated by tourism if the country had unpolluted waters, lakes and beaches. Water is a scarce commodity. The recent pattern of development in recent years has placed substantial pressures on water...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jan 2004)

Maurice Cummins: One could not find a better place.