Results 5,561-5,580 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: We had agreed that every contributor would be given five minutes. I propose that I respond to the debate ten minutes before the end of the allotted time.

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: According to the Order of Business, we are supposed to be finishing at this stage, but I have no problem with Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill continuing.

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Yes.

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I do not propose to reply to this debate as I would on the Order of Business by referring to all of the speakers. It has been a very constructive debate and I thank the large number of Members who contributed to it. We will take on board all of the suggestions that were made. A number of Members suggested that we should have a period of reflection. It is important that we have that and...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: -----to do our business, but I do not know whether the Government would agree with that. I will certainly put it forward as a reform which this House would suggest for the other House, since the other House is making a lot of suggestions about this House. However, I do not wish to be facetious and I agree that if we come up with reforms that we wish to implement, we will need the support of...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: -----of that there is no question, human nature being what it is - but we must move on. We have to amend the whole structure and give all people a vote. One of the main arguments made concerned the elitism of the House. People believed they should have had a say in the election of the House and this will have to be rectified in some way with whatever reforms we make to the electoral...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: On that topic, although many young voters did not vote in the referendum, I was surprised by the number of young people who had an interest in the Seanad and cast their vote accordingly. Senator Cullinane mentioned that only 40% voted but there have been lower turnouts in other referendums. The people certainly knew what they were voting for - that is evident when one considers the vote in...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Ag 10.30 a.m. maidin amárach.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 2.30 p.m.; and No. 43, Private Members' business, motion No. 9, to be taken at 5 p.m. and conclude not later than 7 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The acting leader of the Opposition, Senator MacSharry, raised a number of points including the overcharging by the IBRC, which is the subject of a court case in the United States. I presume the Minister for Finance will make a statement on that at the appropriate time. Senator MacSharry also raised the question of the ESRI report, as did other Senators, and the €2.5 billion...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on budget 2014, to be taken at 4.45 p.m. and to conclude not later than 7 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than 6.50 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business seems to have turned into a wish list of what might be announced in the Minister's Budget Statement. We do not have much longer to wait.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I cannot legislate for what newspapers or other media suggest might be in the budget.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I am not in the business of prejudging these matters. All the facts will be disclosed in an hour or so and we will have ample time thereafter to discuss those facts. Two and a quarter hours is more than has been allocated for many years for discussion of the budget proposals. Both the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill and the Finance Bill will come before the House by the middle or end of...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Diarmuid Wilson congratulated Wellman International, which employs approximately 260 people, on providing employment for 40 years. Companies such as Wellman International form the backbone of the economy. Senator Paschal Mooney referred to the 1979 referendum, under which the franchise in Seanad elections was to be extended to all graduates. Senator Averil Power also raised this...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 - Report and Final Stages, amendments from Dáil Éireann, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to conclude not later than 2 p.m.; No. 2, County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013 - Report Stage, to be taken at 3.30 p.m. and to adjourn not later than 4.30 p.m.; and No. 3, Statistics (Heritage Amendment) Bill 2011 - Order for...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Darragh O'Brien, who is the leader of the Opposition, mentioned the social welfare Bill. On my way to the House I had been been informed that the Bill would be debated in the House in mid-November. However, I have now received a note that the Bill will be completed in the other House next week and that we are expected to complete it by the end of October. If that is the situation,...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Clearly the Senators opposite do not want to know about the good measures. They want to dwell on the negative. I do not blame them for so doing given that they have little to say about the budget other than picking out negative elements. I will not continue to outline the good measures contained in the budget.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Ó Murchú referred to this evening's Private Members' business and his Bill on the 1926 census. I cannot at this stage predict the Government's position on the Bill but I am sure we will hear it this evening. I commend the Senator for bringing the Bill before the House. Senator Harte called for a debate on enterprise and employment. I have asked the Minister for Jobs,...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2013)

Maurice Cummins: We will not get into it this morning. Senator Bradford spoke about welfare dependancy and the Social Welfare Bill. I have already indicated when that Bill is likely to come before us. Senator Mullins called for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House. The Minister will come into the House for a debate next Wednesday. The Senator also called for a debate with...