Results 81-100 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Feb 2003)

Maurice Cummins: It is a very serious subject. Gamblers Anonymous and everybody who deals with gambling see this as a major problem. I hope the Minister will treat this seriously and introduce some legislation to deal with it. I ask the Leader to find out whether there is any legislation pending. Reading this morning's newspaper, I saw that the number of patients on trolleys in hospitals was increasing again...

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (27 Feb 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister and thank him and previous speakers for their sincere contributions on this sad and difficult subject. Facing the reality of suicide is enormously difficult and stressful for families, communities and society. Suicide, which is almost always committed by a person with a family and friends who care, evokes not only the normal emotions associated with bereavement, but...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I support my colleague, Senator Brian Hayes, in relation to the Freedom of Information Act. As has been stated, we got the amending Bill only yesterday. It is disgraceful that the Government is trying to ram it through tonight. Irrespective of what is being said on the other side of the House, the Government is trying to ram it through. On another issue, I ask the Leader to invite the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: That is the way to sock it to him.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: The Leader could have fooled me.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: Not any more.

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: The Normans transformed Ireland and Ireland's interests.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: Watch this space.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: We introduced it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator should keep reading the script. He is now barking up the wrong tree.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I note that the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, is back for a second shift. I do not suppose the Minister for Finance will be back as he left so quickly after giving his speech this afternoon. When the Freedom of Information Act was passed in 1998, it strengthened citizens' rights and won this country great respect abroad. From a check of Dáil records, I note that at that time Fianna Fáil...

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: It might be classified as a dual mandate.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister and wish him well in his work on Northern Ireland, in particular. I am glad our good wishes were conveyed to him. In the House last week, members of the Minister's party expressed concern and demanded better management systems and more financial accountability in the health service. I presume the same applies to the area of justice, particularly as the Minister for...

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: It was very evident this evening. For the first time in eight months, the Minister has come before the House and stated that he will not continue with the system whereby party hacks were appointed to visiting committees and—

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: —people from Cahirciveen were appointed to the Castlerea visiting committee. I was delighted to hear the Minister state that, since his appointment, those appointed have come from counties adjacent to where prisons are situated. That is refreshing and it is completely different to what Senator Jim Walsh suggested, namely, that it is a numbers game and they will do whatever they want.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: We have had enough of that type of politics. I am glad there is a Minister who, much to the disgust of some on the opposite side of the House, is prepared to move away from that situation. It will not be a numbers game anymore. I listened with incredulity to Senator Minihan who asked why we could not wait for the report on reform before we tabled motions of this nature. Only yesterday we...

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: The numbers game is coming up again.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: Will the Minister take on board Senator Henry's suggestion to appoint ex-prisoners who have done well since their release? I am glad we are discussing this motion which has obviously challenged the consciousness of the Progressive Democrats who have responded in a manner which its supporters would like to see them do more often in Government.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: We will be pressing this motion, the tone of which the Minister said he could not accept.

Seanad: Prison Visiting Committees: Motion. (5 Mar 2003)

Maurice Cummins: Yes.