Results 4,901-4,920 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: He has done a lot already.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Leyden, the acting leader of the Opposition this afternoon, raised a number of parochial items relating to Roscommon. I remind him that, as he well knows, the hours of opening of the Garda headquarters is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. He also inquired about the agricultural offices in Roscommon. I will inquire of the Minister but if the Senator put that down as an...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Later in 2010, Fianna Fáil, in its negotiations with the IMF, which it did not tell anyone about, agreed to the introduction of a property tax before the end of 2011 and to increase it by 2012. Now, however, the party claims it is not the time to introduce a property tax. The Senator's party would have introduced it in 2010 or 2011.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator's comments are hypocritical but that is nothing new-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: -----to Fianna Fáil, as we all know. Thankfully, the electorate also knew about Fianna Fáil's hypocrisy at the previous election. As regards Sinn Féin's position on the property tax, as I noted last week, Sinn Féin is opposing the introduction of a fair and progressive property tax.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: It does not seem to have any problem with a property tax in Northern Ireland where the average household pays £1,000 in domestic rates.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: How do people pay their rates? Do they have a means of avoiding paying £1,000?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: On that issue and the issue raised by Senators Mullen and Ó Murchú, Sinn Féin has one policy in Northern Ireland and another policy down here.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Harte referred to Student Universal Support Ireland. A number of mistakes have been made in this regard and I hope they will be rectified before next year. Senator MacSharry raised the issue of mortgage arrears. As I outlined, the Government has taken a number of steps on this issue, including the enactment of the Personal Insolvency Act. The Senator referred to trust in the banks....

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: That is correct and I note the points made by both Senators in that regard. Senator Hayden called for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, to come before the House for a debate on mortgage arrears and debt. The Minister has debated the issue with us previously and I am sure he will discuss it with us again, especially with regard to buy-to-let mortgages. The Minister of State...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Water Services Bill 2013 - Report Stage (amendments from Dáil Éireann), to be taken at 1 p.m and No.2, Private Member's Business, Employment Equality (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2013, to be taken at 5.30 p.m. and to conclude no later than 7.30 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Mind your own business, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: In response to Senator MacSharry on mortgaged arrears, I can assure him that the Government is taking a hard line with the banks to ensure that the question of mortgage arrears is dealt with as soon as possible and without any further delay. The Government has set targets with the banks to which they must adhere and the Government will ensure that they adhere to those targets. Senator Bacik...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, ráitis maidir leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and all other Senators not to exceed six minutes and the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The majority of Senators welcomed the election of our new Pope, Pope Francis. We all wish him well. He certainly has a very onerous task. As the saying goes, Rome was not built in a day, and we should not expect things to change overnight. He will have a very difficult job in making changes and I believe the cardinals in their wisdom decided they wanted a change of government within the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I believe they wanted a change in the way the curia works. That is one of the reasons we have Pope Francis.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Am I going to be interrupted even when speaking about the Pope on his election? It will be a new beginning and new hope for all of us. There are many lapsed Catholics who are looking for a reason to return to their faith, and this might be the catalyst those people need. We all welcome the election of Pope Francis. There is a great deal in a name, and that has been enunciated by many of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Bacik referred to the Equal Status (Amendment) Bill, which had a very informed debate yesterday evening. She also called for a debate on the economic, social and cultural aspects of the Constitution, which I understand will be dealt with by the Constitutional Convention. Senator Bacik wished the Taoiseach well in his deliberations and meetings with President Obama. The European...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senators O'Sullivan and Bradford spoke about the Irish horse racing industry and I will try to arrange to have the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine before the Seanad to discuss the matter. Senator O'Sullivan and others also mentioned St. Patrick's Day and wished Ministers well, outlining the importance of them visiting abroad and particularly Asia and other areas. This year...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation No. 1346/2000 on insolvency proceedings, to be referred to the committee, without debate, at the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, motion regarding Teagasc pig research, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3,...