Results 5,061-5,080 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Business of Seanad (7 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: It is proposed that spokespersons will have eight minutes and all other Senators will have five minutes.

Seanad: EU Scrutiny Work Programme 2013: Motion (7 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I move:That Seanad Éireann adopts the EU Scrutiny Work Programme 2013, Joint Committees' Priorities, which was laid before Seanad Éireann on 2 May 2013 by the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs.I already mentioned part of this programme on the Order of Business. In its annual report on the operation of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002, which was laid before the Houses...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome most sincerely the Commissioner, Ms Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. It is fitting during Europe week that we would have our own Commissioner address the House. Since the 24th Seanad commenced in 2011, I have endeavoured to fulfil the wish of the House for a more formal engagement with European institutions which have such an influence on our politics and the daily lives of all of us....

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is motion 38(10) on the Order Paper, Private Members' business, to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude no later than 6 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Byrne, MacSharry and others spoke on free GP care and the promises that were made. I assure the Members on the other side of the House that they have a flawed line of attack because the Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for primary care, Deputy White, has said there is no change to the plan to deliver GP care in the lifetime of this Government. He...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Government will honour the commitment given. That will disappoint those on that side of the House and throw a spanner into the works of their amendment to the Order of Business, but they are the facts as enunciated by the Minister of State, Deputy White, no later than today.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I am very sorry to disappoint the Senators on that. Senator Bacik asked for a debate on domestic violence and we will have a debate on that issue during Private Members' business in approximately 20 minutes' time. She also raised, along with Senator Noone, the question of ovarian cancer and the need to highlight and raise awareness of this issue. It is a very important issue about which...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Army, as usual, carried out its duties in an exemplary manner in Arbour Hill, for those who were there at the ceremony. After last year's ceremony a review was undertaken by the Department of Defence as to how it could improve the ceremony. We had a ceremony with a guard of honour from the Army going up in Arbour Hill this morning, and it was done in a very dignified manner as we would...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Hayden raised the announcement by the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, about the deposit protection scheme and the issue of the rent supplement and properties not being registered by landlords with the PRTB. Dublin City Council found that 40% of landlords were not registered with the board, and I hope they will be prosecuted and fined. It is against the law to not register,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senators D'Arcy, O'Sullivan and Healy Eames raised the issue of the enslavement of women. Senator D'Arcy mentioned the dreadful situation we witnessed in Cleveland. More than 800 women are enslaved in this State. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking)(Amendment) Bill will come to the House on 23 May. We also debated a Private Members' motion tabled by Senator Zappone on the matter a number...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: That equates to the number of people who lost their jobs in the private sector in the three years prior to us going into government, which is significant. Senator Mullen raised the issue of a register for domestic abuse offenders. That can be raised in the debate on the Private Members' motion later. He also referred to a school in Cootehill. The Government has undertaken a significant...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Noone and Wilson called for legislation to deal with cash for gold outlets. I will ascertain the status of legislation in this regard. Senator Wilson referred to the planning system and the appointment of a planning regulator. Perhaps I can invite the Minister for State at the Department of the Environment to the House to clarify what is happening.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Landy clarified the GP cards issues. Senator Mooney raised the issue of charity shops and the theft of clothes from clothing banks throughout the State. He asked whether we needed to improve legislation. I will take that matter up with the Minister for Justice and Equality to see whether legislation needs to be tightened to prevent this happening. Senator Brennan had a query about...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Motion (8 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Ag leathuair tar éis a decih maidin amárach.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, statements on Ireland's policy for international development, to be taken at 12.15 p.m. and to conclude not...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator MacSharry raised the issue of Bus Éireann which is in a very difficult situation. It has accumulated losses of €27 million in the past five years, a position, the House will agree, which is unsustainable and which places the viability of the company at risk. According to the Labour Court and the trade unions' independent financial assessors, Bus Éireann is in a very...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I cannot accept the amendment on gangland crime. He also mentioned that the motion on maritime spatial planning should not be taken without debate. I cannot agree to that for the reasons I have outlined, but I will try to have a debate on it at a future date. Senator Hayden spoke about the Central Bank and stated that €400 million of household debt has been written down. She rightly...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: He also called for a debate on the economy and as I mentioned the Minister, Deputy Noonan, will be here early in July. Senator Mooney asked for the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, or the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, to intervene in the issue of the lack of support for the Irish music industry by RTE radio stations in particular. Again that matter could be raised on the Adjournment. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I accept the amendment.

Seanad: EU Directives: Motion (9 May 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That Seanad Éireann:(1) notes the agreed Report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine under Standing Order 101 on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management - COM (2013) 133 which was laid before Seanad Éireann on 7 May 2013 in...