Results 201-220 of 2,180 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill: Discussion (11 May 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome Councillors Sheahan, Hoade, Fennelly, Anglim and Colgan to the meeting. I have been listening to their contributions intently over the past hour or so. The key words in this are partnership and collaboration. They will certainly receive that from this committee. We are more than happy to engage. Several pieces of legislation have been referenced, including the electoral reform...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill: Discussion (11 May 2021)

John Cummins: The point that was made about section 75 and local authorities being best placed and having the granular details of the housing needs and plans for a given area is a very valid one and we will take that up with the Minister. I thank the Association of Irish Local Government and its members. We all look forward to all of the matters raised, including pay and non-pay elements, being addressed.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 May 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister and thank him for initiating in this House what is some of the most important legislation that will be debated during this Twenty-sixth Seanad. Despite what some would have us believe, the Government takes the housing crisis extraordinarily seriously. Rather than talk about grand plans, ideology and misplaced analysis that the State should be the only player in the...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 May 2021)

John Cummins: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for his presentation. The general scheme is very exciting. I went to college in Limerick for four years and had a great four years of education down there. As Deputy McAuliffe stated, I am conscious that, with the exception of Deputies Mitchell and O'Donoghue, none of us is from Limerick. I compliment everybody who has been involved in this process to date...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

John Cummins: Is will one point above the point on the scale that applies to the current chief executive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

John Cummins: That is fine. Not to labour the point in terms of a deputy, I appreciate what the Minister of State said regarding the title of deputy mayor. I do not suggest using that title but perhaps there could be a formalised procedure within the council so that matters would not just be dealt with on an ad hocbasis. If the speaker or príomh comhairleoir was unavailable, perhaps there could be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

John Cummins: I will bow to the knowledge of the people of Limerick.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2021)

John Cummins: At the start of December last year, I raised the plight of the performing arts sector, including dance schools, stage schools and music educators, on the Order of Business. I engaged, as many in this House did, with people outside the gates of Leinster House. Last week, along with my Fine Gael colleagues, we had a meeting with the Performing Arts Educators of Ireland, Comhaltas and the...

Seanad: Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

John Cummins: I very much appreciate what Senator Higgins is trying to achieve with her amendment but this is about putting in place an appropriate scheme to access finance for SMEs. I want to flag an issue that I have encountered. I will not name it, but I refer to a business involved in the hospitality sector across several counties which has made applications through similar schemes, namely, the...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

John Cummins: I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister of State to the House and echo their comments on the hard work and dedication he has applied to the role since taking office last year. I too believe he is a very good fit for the role and heritage is a very good fit for him within the Department. We are trying to ensure that we have all the technicalities in place to allow him to exercise his...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

John Cummins: Now.

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

John Cummins: I wish to comment on this from the outside and as someone who sits on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and his colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, have been working hand in glove with one another and working closely. I have no doubt that when it comes to...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 May 2021)

John Cummins: Next Friday.

Seanad: Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

John Cummins: I thank my colleague for sharing time. I am delighted to get the opportunity to speak on what is a very important topic. In doing so, it is important to pause and reflect on the significant advances that have been implemented in recent years to support families that have been fortunate enough to have children. On top of the 26 weeks paid maternity leave, we now have two weeks paid...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: I will.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: I object in the strongest terms possible to the presence of Deputy Ó Broin as the Sinn Féin representative. These matters were issued to the general secretaries of the parties and no option was given to the general secretary of Fine Gael to send an alternative person. It is an affront to this committee, to be perfectly frank. I would question what Sinn Féin has to hide now...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: We are tight on time. It is a simple yes-no answer to that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: When and during what period?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: No. That is fine. Who is the general secretary of Sinn Féin?