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

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 18: In page 15, subsection (1), line 12, to delete "as volunteer" and substitute "to divisional panels of reserve". This amendment refers to the issue of a volunteer force. I oppose this section because elsewhere this system has been tried and has failed. The PSNI is disbanding its reserve at present.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Such people need to be qualified and experienced gardaí, not, as the Minister described them, yellow pack gardaí, which is the last thing we need. I do not think we could be in favour of the model proposed by the Minister.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: To be more accurate, the Minister mentioned the term "yellow pack gardaí". My party is not in favour of a reserve model as proposed by the Minister. People with Garda powers must be properly trained and must have the appropriate experience. It cannot be a half-way house, as the Minister proposes. He should focus his efforts on his recruitment drive of which he has spoken on many occasions....

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: My point relates to the nature of the prescribed training.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister has still not delivered.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The reservists will not be the same as other members of the Garda Síochána.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The system has stood the test of time.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: That is the point. We are giving them the same powers.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I accept the Minister's bona fides. In theory it may sound like a good idea, but it is not fully thought out. It would not operate as outlined in section 14. The divisional panels of reservists which we propose are worth taking on board. I could not support section 14 as it is constituted. The Minister has said the representative associations are also opposed to the measure. I am opposed to...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: We have already indicated that we are opposed to this section.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 22: In page 15, line 31, after "sincerely" to insert ", promise and". The amendment seeks to make a small change in the declaration to make it more consistent with the wording of other declarations of this kind such as the judge's declaration in Article 34 of the Constitution.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I disagree. The prohibition on Garda membership of political parties has worked well. While gardaí have their own political persuasions, membership of political parties is a different ball game. I concur with the Minister's proposal in the legislation.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Or attend a Minister's meeting?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I have a son who is intent on joining the Garda after doing his leaving certificate next year but only last week he warned me not to include him on the membership list of Fine Gael because he will be applying to join the Garda. He is ahead of the posse in that regard.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 27: In page 16, subsection (2), line 28, to delete "not" and substitute "may be". Section 1 of the Garda Síochána Act 1924 allowed representative associations to associate with other bodies. Why is the Minister reversing that position?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: On the question of representative associations not being allowed to associate with other bodies, it could be construed that they could not associate with other policing bodies such as EuroCOP and so on. What is the Minister's position on that? I would not think that is what he had in mind but it could be construed that they would not be allowed associate with members of police forces in other...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister might change his mind.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I have not done so yet in this Seanad.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: We spoke previously about the need for gardaí, particularly young gardaí, to live in council estates and disadvantaged areas because this helps the policing of the area. The Minister has said that people with families live wherever they choose and we do not suggest it should be otherwise. However, there should be co-operation with local authorities to make houses available for young gardaí...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I did not suggest cash. I was talking about rent.