Results 1-20 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy. (12 Sep 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I join in the tributes to my former constituency colleague, the late former Senator Michael Queally. He was a kind, decent and honourable gentleman. His interests lay mainly in the agriculture sector, a subject on which he spoke authoritatively inside and outside this House. He was a great lover of Gaelic games and could be seen most Sundays throughout the country, enjoying the sport. Michael...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim. Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (12 Sep 2002)

Maurice Cummins: The founding members of the European Union in the preamble to the Treaty of Rome in 1957 stated they were determined to lay the foundations of an even closer union among the peoples of Europe, pooling their resources to preserve and strengthen peace and liberty. These ideals have stood the test of time. The European Union enlarged to 15 members when Ireland, the United Kingdom and Denmark...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Maurice Cummins: The motion calls for the establishment a sub-committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to make proposals on Seanad reform and we have already heard many laudable suggestions in this debate. Many commentators talk about reforming the Seanad when there is not much other news. It would be presumptuous of me, as a new Senator, to speak at length about reform when I am still trying to...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator should be ashamed.

Seanad: Education Funding: Motion (9 Oct 2002)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator does not need them, she has the facts.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Oct 2002)

Maurice Cummins: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to explain the Government's position on providing radiotherapy facilities in the regions, especially the south east? This issue concerning the Limerick region was raised previously by my colleague, Senator Finucane. The Minister would not meet Waterford City Council for a matter of months to discuss it. It was only when...

Seanad: European Union (Scrutiny) Bill, 2001 changed from European Union Bill, 2001: Second Stage. (16 Oct 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I support this excellent Bill which, as has been said by other Senators, is not before time. We should have had a Bill on the scrutiny of the EU long before now. There is obviously a need for the Commission and the other EU institutions to make their own communication with EU states and the general public in Europe. Much more simple language should be used in many EU communications. I have...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements. (23 Oct 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister's salient remarks. The suspension of the Assembly is most regrettable and there is a danger that the existence of a vacuum could allow paramilitaries and other men of evil to gain the upper hand over democratic politicians. I am glad the all-Ireland bodies are still working and that so many meetings of the bodies have been held since the Agreement was established. That...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion. (23 Oct 2002)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister of State was not in the House when Senator Henry read a letter sent to her from a patient in County Wexford who needs radiotherapy treatment. The woman in question was told that she would have to wait 22 weeks to be seen at St. Luke's Hospital. I am from Waterford, the capital of the south east region which has a population of over 450,000. Seriously ill people in any region...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits: Motion. (6 Nov 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises the fact that relative income poverty has increased by 50% in Ireland over the last six years and that the Minister for Finance has deliberately favoured higher income earners in successive budgets and calls on the Government to discriminate positively in favour of the poor,...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements. (12 Nov 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I will be brief as most of what I wish to say has been covered by the last two speakers in particular. The antics of Ray Burke in receiving corrupt payments for planning and the licence for Century Radio have destroyed trust between politicians and the electorate. When I hear people on doorsteps say we are all the same, it sickens me because we are not. I am not a corrupt politician, I have...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (Resumed). (13 Nov 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, to the House and wish him well in his new portfolio. It is ironic that he has come from a portfolio requiring zero tolerance to one where considerable tolerance will be required. I understand that the Minister was at the World Tourism Conference in London yesterday. It is important that we be represented at conferences such as that, especially as it...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (Resumed). (13 Nov 2002)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Daly would not agree with the Senator.

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister to the House and wish him well in his portfolio. I am from the south east. Members will be aware of the grave disquiet in the region at the proposed closure of the Rosslare to Limerick line. There is also widespread concern about the future of the Rosslare to Dublin line. As has been pointed out repeatedly, given the amount of traffic on our roads, we should move as...

Seanad: Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (21 Nov 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, a friend and colleague from the south east. We have soldiered together for many a year attending to the needs of the south east and I wish him well in his current position. The debate so far has been worthwhile and contributions from speakers have been enlightening. I learned much about the fishing industry from Senator Daly. This Bill is...

Seanad: Book of Estimates, 2003: Statements. (21 Nov 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I am always brief, a Chathaoirligh. I never say in ten words what I can say in two. It amazed me when I heard Senator Norris stating that he advised the Minister for Finance to tear up all his election promises. The Minister obviously listened to Senator Norris because the election manifesto has been torn to shreds and no promises have been honoured. I was also amazed to hear ill-informed...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2002)

Maurice Cummins: Due to the significant increase in the crime figures, I ask the Leader to question the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform about additional resources for the Garda, as 2,000 extra gardaí per year were promised before the general election. There is no provision for the recruitment of extra gardaí in the Estimates. We can all be critical of the Garda, but there was a report...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Dec 2002)

Maurice Cummins: That is debatable.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Dec 2002)

Maurice Cummins: I do not agree with the amendment or Senator Quinn's assertion that local authority members should be excluded. As Senator Daly said, if members of a local authority are interested in this area – many such members are involved in the tourism business – there is no reason they should be excluded. They give a lot of time and effort to serve the local community. Strategic policy committees...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Dec 2002)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator might know more tomorrow.