Results 1,981-2,000 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: That would not happen in a banana republic. Something will have to be done. There will have to be some inquiry to find out what went wrong with those pension funds and how it can be rectified. Anybody working and paying into a pension fund for so long is entitled to some pension. That should not be tolerated. The national pension fund is being raided to bail out the banks and we cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: The Health Service Executive is rolling out its service plans throughout the country at present. This is really Hanly by the back door. That is what they are introducing.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: In a city the size of Waterford, we only have 72 long-stay beds for the elderly. This covers south Kilkenny and part of south Tipperary. There is a proposal, as has been stated, to take 19 beds and close St. Brigid's ward in St. Patrick's Hospital, which is ludicrous. There are proposals for a 50-bed unit to be built on the site. This has been a priority for the past ten years, and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: We are not prepared to accept lectures on responsibility at this time. What is being shown on the other side is far from responsibility. Even yesterday the Taoiseach refused to brief the leader of the Opposition on what was going on. That side is now looking for co-operation. It is an absolute disgrace. People should know the Government is doing things its own way, as it has done for the...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (4 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: I commend the motion so ably and passionately proposed by Senator Norris, as it is necessary. I also commend him on using a Private Members' motion to raise concerns about human rights and the decimation of a number of agencies that deal with them and equality. In December 1948, the United Nations adopted one of the most profound documents in the history of humanity, namely, the Universal...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: I recall a former Fianna Fáil Taoiseach stating that any Government that presided at a time when 200,000 people were unemployed should be removed from office.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Yesterday 326,000 people queued for unemployment benefit. In the past 18 months under this Government the unemployment rate and our national debt have doubled. It is necessary to focus again on the real economy, on jobs and enterprise survival. There are many things that can be done to generate employment. We need to accelerate the schools building programme, reverse the hike in value...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Previous information stated it was not even requested.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of information, the last time we had a situation like this in the House, I checked with the Opposition Whip in the other House, and there was no request for a pair. I wish to clarify that. The situation may have changed in the meantime but I speak of past experience.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: He is the real Pope.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: In recent months, a number of Catholic members of the PSNI living in the Republic have received death threats from so-called dissident republicans. The individuals in question have been forced, for their own protection, to uproot their families and move from their homes overnight. I ask that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform come to the House to outline the steps being taken...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Yes.

Seanad: Education Matters: Statements (10 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: I wish to share time with Senator Doherty. I welcome the Minister of State. When Waterford Regional Technical College was upgraded to an institute of technology, the current Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, was one of the greatest critics and begrudgers and adopted a strictly parochial attitude. Things have moved on significantly over the years. The south-east...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: When is the scheme to be introduced?

Seanad: Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator has been given a lot of latitude on the section.

Seanad: Care of the Elderly (11 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: I wish to share time with Senator John Paul Phelan.

Seanad: Care of the Elderly (11 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State. St. Patrick's geriatric hospital is much loved by the people of Waterford. The standard of care and attention given to its patients is second to none. The Friends of St. Patrick's, a group of voluntary workers, has raised funds over the years to provide additional comforts to the patients and to fund structural and other works which should have been...

Seanad: Care of the Elderly (11 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: With respect to the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, he is only delivering the speech on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harney. Much of the speech is typical HSE gobbledegook. The health representatives are even contradicting themselves. Pat Healy is saying one thing while Professor Drumm or the Minister is saying another. It is no wonder that the health system is as it is when two or...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: We want justice.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Nobody raised the projects in question on the Order of Business.