Results 4,681-4,700 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I hope that spirit of goodwill will continue throughout the day as we debate Bills. Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke about taking Committee and Remaining Stages of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012 today. We are dedicating as much, if not more, time to Committee and Remaining Stages of the Bill than was the case in the other House, although that is not the barometer I like to use to...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I hope we can do our job in a professional manner. In regard to motion No. 12, I assure Senators that the matter is before the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We can discuss the motion in the first week of the new year. Senator Noone and others spoke correctly about the need to monitor the Personal Insolvency Bill 2012 in order to plug any loopholes that may arise. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I am sorry about that. Senator Paul Coghlan and others raised an issue regarding directors of banks and suggested some of them were surplus to requirements. These points can be made in a future debate on banking. Senator Terry Brennan outlined the position on the announcement made by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, yesterday on cutting the red tape...

Seanad: Report of Committee of Selection: Motion (20 Dec 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I move: "That the Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Standing Order 22 (3): Summoning of Seanad, be adopted and laid before the Houses."

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2012 [Certified Money Bill]: All Stages (20 Dec 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator's point is well made.

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2012: Motion for Earlier Signature (20 Dec 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Appropriation Bill 2012 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Motion for Earlier Signature (20 Dec 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Social Welfare Bill 2012 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (20 Dec 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I agree with the Minister in respect of the fact that we are putting this system in place when property prices are low. The guidance the Revenue Commissioners will provide will be very helpful to people throughout the country. I am of the view that they will provide better advice than that offered by the previous Leader of the House on 10 April 2008. He stated: Now is the right time to...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I also welcome all the Members back for this session. I have the sad duty today of extending a vote of sympathy to our colleague, Senator Deirdre Clune, on the death of her mother, who passed away a few days ago and was buried this morning. She was the wife of the former Minister for Foreign Affairs so I am sure all Members will join with me in extending our sympathies to Senator Clune on...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: That is the Senator's opinion.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Darragh O'Brien and other Senators spoke about consistency in sentencing. I cannot comment on individual cases, despite having strong opinions on the subject, because of the separation of powers but I note there is grave disquiet among the public regarding sentencing and the consistency of sentences over a long period of time. I will try to arrange a debate on that subject with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Hayden and others spoke about the speech given by President Obama. She called on the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to come to the House for a debate on inequality in society and on equality issues. That is another matter we will have to raise with the Minister when we try to get him to come to this House. I would like to advise Senator Mullen that we are awaiting the Government's...

Seanad: Planning and Development Regulations: Referral to Joint Committee (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That the proposal that Seanad Éireann approves the following regulations in draft:Planning and Development (Planning Enforcement) General Policy Directive 2013,copies of which have been laid in draft form, be referred to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht in accordance with Standing Order 70A(3), which, not later than 7 February 2013, shall send a...

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Change is difficult for everybody. People here say that this is not reform. When one introduces radical and comprehensive reform, which is what is being proposed, one is bound to get considerable opposition to it. There is no question about it. If one is reducing 114 local authorities to 31 city and town councils, many people will be hurt as a result of it. As has been mentioned,...

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Could Senator Cullinane listen as I would like to get answers from the Minister as much as him so I would like to have the opportunity to continue?

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister argued that the enhanced metropolitan area will greatly enhance the gateway status of Waterford. We agree to differ on that but the Minister might comment on that at a later stage. Better Local Government was introduced a number of years back by the other side of the House but who did it benefit? We had an extra layer of bureaucracy where hundreds of people in local...

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: There are many each way bets here but, unfortunately, there is no each way out of it.

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I am sure the Minister will respond to the many questions raised, including on separation of powers and enhancing the role of local representatives, who must be strong and know the powers they have. That has not been the case in many situations. If people believe managers are too strong it is up to councillors to flex their muscles and use the powers they have in that regard. My time is up....

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: If I may intervene, I propose an amendment to the Order to Business, namely, that the Minister respond at 5.45 p.m.

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Ar leathuair tar éis a deich maidin amárach.