Results 2,421-2,440 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I support this reasonable amendment. To follow from Senator Ormonde's comments, we have proposed a period of 12 months but if the Minister wants to come back on Report Stage with a nine-month period instead, we will go along with it. Three months is not sufficient for people to comply with all the new legislation which will be put before them and for the local authorities to implement the...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister claims not be using a heavy hand in this legislation but he is not prepared to accept the wishes on both sides of the House that there be a greater lead-in time. If that is not being heavy handed, I do not know what is. The Minister is going against the wishes of the vast majority in this House. He talks about consultation. There were many aspects in the report that was...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Maurice Cummins: No, it is not agreed to.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Maurice Cummins: No, it has not been agreed to.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Maurice Cummins: It is the Minister's Bill.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Maurice Cummins: Members did not say that.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I refer to section 13(9), in which a bitch is defined as being "a bitch of more than 4 months old that is capable of being used for breeding purposes". Who in their right mind would have bitches breeding after four months? Who is advising the Minister in this regard? I do not wish to be emotive and I do not believe I was emotive earlier. I certainly am not a headline grabber in this...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: He will not allow us to debate the matter.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister. I have been asking for a debate on crime, law and order and justice matters for the last 12 months but we still have not managed to hold one. The Leader suggested I raise the matters during a debate on a Bill but that would be an abuse of the privileges of the House. Therefore, I do not intend to do what the Leader suggested. I will confine my remarks to the Bill.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I will do what I always have done in that regard. Like other Members, I wonder what was the reason for the delay with this legislation which should have been introduced in 2007 or 2008 at the latest. Why was there such a delay in producing the Bill? As has been said, it consolidates our money laundering legislation in a single statute. That was needed and I welcome it. Like Senator...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of order, has the House decided to change the time for Private Members' business from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.? It was always held at 5 p.m. but for the past two weeks has been held at 5.30 p.m.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister has been let down, by his officials others, on the Bill which has not been properly cross-referenced with the 1958 Act. As Senator Coffey said, the 1958 Act clearly states the controlling authority in the breeding of greyhounds is the Irish Coursing Club. The Minister has said the greyhound industry should be subject to checks, while Senator Coffey has clearly stated what is...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I realise that. I am responding to the Minister's comments, as I am obliged to do. He did not confine his remarks to the charge.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: A former Member of the House, Déirdre de Búrca, has said that, even with the proposed charges and licensing regime, local authorities will still have a shortfall of €1.6 million. These charges will have an effect on local authorities and, in turn, taxpayers. I agree with what the Minister is trying to do. As I mentioned, when I raised the issue of puppy farms in the House six years...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: This represents the duplication of charges as well as of regulations. We are talking about putting an extra charge on the greyhound industry when there already is a regime under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 which deals with the obligations of the greyhound industry to animal welfare. This Bill suggests the bodies involved, the Irish Greyhound Board and the Irish Coursing Club, are not...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: On the same point, I am astonished at the reply of the Minister. The Minister has called into question the animal welfare bona fides of the Irish greyhound industry. The Minister's reply will further undermine the capability of the Irish greyhound industry, which provides massive employment the length and breadth of the country. The reply of the Minister has brought into question the...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister is barking up the wrong tree.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: We will table an amendment.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Mar 2010)

Maurice Cummins: The greyhound industry has always been regulated by the Department of Agriculture and when one reads this Bill one knows the reason for that. The lack of knowledge of the greyhound industry that is highlighted by what has been included in this Bill is disgraceful. From much of what is contained in this Bill there appears to be no knowledge of greyhounds. The limit of six litters is...