Results 5,941-5,960 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I presume that quite a number of amendments will be tabled on Report Stage, which we will probably deal with next week. I am afraid I cannot provide any help on the matter of the appointment of the US ambassador to Ireland because it is a matter for the President of the US, and I cannot speak for him.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Maybe. Senators Ó Clochartaigh and Ó Murchú raised the issue of the straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge. The Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, will come to the House for seachtain na Gaeilge, as I announced last week.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Burke raised the issues of home care packages, nursing home beds and the need for long-term planning. He called for a debate with the Minister for Health on this matter. Senator Quinn spoke about the proposed statutory code of conduct in the retail trade, which was discussed at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I agree with Senator on the need for...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: -----when she was not here, and the Minister came to the House on 22 January-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: -----to discuss a number of queries. There is also a dedicated Oireachtas e-mail address where Members can have these queries answered. That is more than sufficient, and the queries of Senator Healy Eames in that regard can be answered in that forum. In that context, Members can gain a great deal from Adjournment motions, as Senator Byrne mentioned, but there have been cases where Members...

Seanad: Small Claims and Payments Procedure: Motion (11 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Health Identifiers Bill 2013 – Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.30 p.m. and conclude not later than 1.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 2, statements on recent flooding, to be taken at 2 p.m. and conclude not later than 4 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: It will be the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator is correct.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: We will certainly invite the Minister for Justice and Equality here to discuss the local property tax, funds from which will go to local authorities from next year. That is the case.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Perhaps the Senator will allow me to reply. I will do the best I can.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: It will happen after the election.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: It will happen from next year and 80% will go to local authorities. My information is that only one piece of new Government legislation has been presented since the beginning of this year. We do not have an explanation other than the fact that there is a high volume of Bills that are going through the drafting process in the Office of the Attorney General. I will have a meeting with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: With regard to the question on water charges, I understand that the report will be with Government by April and that the public will have a very good idea, before the local elections, as regards what the levy of charges will be.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: That is not going down the same line as Fianna Fáil would do as it would bury the matter until after the elections. I can assure the Senator that people will have a good idea before the local elections.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Fianna Fáil needs every opportunity that it can get to gain extra seats.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Bacik mentioned GSOC. A debate on the matter took place in the other House yesterday. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission informed the Minister that after an investigation it concluded that no definitive evidence of unauthorised technical or electrical surveillance of its offices was found and that its databases have not been compromised. That is what the commission...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I also note the Senator's points on banks. I do not think banks want anybody going into their offices now and instead want everybody to use the Internet but that is not what many people want. Many people want to speak to a person.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: People want to do their banking as they normally did, in a civilised manner.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2014)

Maurice Cummins: That seems to be out the door where quite a number of banks are concerned. Finally, I note the points made by Senator Noone on smoking in cars. The matter was addressed yesterday and I agreed that Report Stage of the Bill would be taken next week.