Results 3,621-3,640 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The matter can be clarified at the Oireachtas health committee for Senator Crown. Senators Landy and Kelly raised the delays in processing medical cards. I agree with them that most medical cards are not processed within ten and 15 days, as has been claimed. There is also the question of appeals which are then sent to Sligo for processing. I have heard of cases of files not being sent from...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I will speak to the Minister but we do not normally send delegations from the Seanad to meet a Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator MacSharry requested a debate on the review initiated by the Minister for Social Protection on community employment schemes. She will be attending the House over the month on the social welfare Bill so such a debate can be had then. Senator White raised the changes to the delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, programme, an important issue for disadvantaged areas. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Colm Burke raised EU matters, to which I referred earlier. Senator Mulcahy called for a debate on disability services. He sought the circulation of the audit report on such services to Members prior to the debate because it addresses value for money in the provision of services, the quality of services and the pay of chief executive officers in various disability organisations. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Standing Order 62, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; and No. 2, statements on suicide prevention, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 and to conclude no later than 2 p.m., with the contribution of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and of...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: On Senator Darragh O'Brien's question about Revenue and the Government, there was no interference by the Government with Revenue and that is the way it should be.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: That is the way it will continue.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Several Members raised the issue of Ulster Bank. This is a difficult day for staff members and their families and I hope a redundancy deal will be agreed with the bank's staff and the IBOA. Senator Darragh O'Brien claimed the jobs initiatives has failed miserably. Only yesterday a jobs initiative was announced which will involve nine Departments. Jobs cannot be created overnight and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Bacik, White and Jim D'Arcy spoke about DEIS schools. The Minister for Education and Skills has met with school principals, teachers and parents to hear their concerns and clarify the position following the changes announced in the budget. Following this engagement, he has asked his Department to produce a report on DEIS band 1 and 2 schools which currently have posts under older...

Seanad: Report of Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That the report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Standing Order 62: Conduct of Divisions by Electronic Means, dated 11 January 2012, be laid before Seanad Éireann; that the report be published; and that the report is hereby adopted. Question put and agreed to. Standing Orders are amended accordingly.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to adjourn statements on suicide prevention at 2 p.m. and resume the debate next week. I sincerely thank the Minister of State for agreeing to this proposal at short notice.

Seanad: Suicide Prevention: Statements (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: All over the country, men and women and children face the most harrowing reality on a daily basis that a loved one has died by suicide. Somehow they have to find the energy to face this reality every day and to carry on into the future, a future very different from the one they once hoped for. The intensity of their grief is unimaginable. Their loss and the loneliness is often beyond words...

Seanad: Suicide Prevention: Statements (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: We can resume the debate next week.

Seanad: Suicide Prevention: Statements (12 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: At 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 18 January 2012.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re referral of the Teaching Council Act 2001 (Amendment of Nominating Bodies) Order 2012 to the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Patents (Amendment) Bill 2011 - Second Stage, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 and to conclude no later than 1.45...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I join with all the Members who expressed their sympathies to the families of the fishermen lost in the accident off west Cork. The skipper of the vessel was a fellow county man of mine, from the small village of Bunmahon in Waterford. Our hearts go out to all the families. Likewise, we extend our sympathies to the family of Aengus Fanning, editor of the Sunday Independent and a very...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I agree that they should be benchmarked against their EU counterparts. It is not acceptable that these people can live in ivory towers when the Taoiseach is prepared to take a cut and have his salary capped at €200,000. These people, who are well heeled, should take such a cut. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Quinn, for a wide-ranging debate on education. The Minister will be in the...

Seanad: Teaching Council Act 2001 (Amendment of Nominating Bodies) Order 2012: Referral to Joint Committee (18 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Teaching Council Act 2001 (Amendment of Nominating Bodies) Order 2012, copies of which were laid before Seanad Éireann on 9th January, 2012, be referred to the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education, in accordance with Standing Order 70A (3), which, not later than 7th February, 2012, shall...

Seanad: Report of Advisory Group on Small Business: Statements (Resumed) (19 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry, for agreeing to return to the House to resume the debate on this very important report to which many Senators contributed last week. A number of other speakers wish to contribute. Overall, the report provides a very good and detailed analysis of the climate for small businesses and there is more of a focus on domestic companies than those...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, referral of motion re criminal sanctions for insider dealing and market manipulation to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education, to be taken without debate; No. 2, statements on Irish Water and related reforms, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1 and to conclude no later than 1.45 p.m., with the contributions of group...