Results 6,021-6,040 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Obviously, the Cathaoirleach got chocolates that many of us did not get.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I assume there will be an Easter egg for everyone in the audience. Senators Darragh O’Brien and David Cullinane called for a debate on the health service plan. I will try to get the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to attend the House to discuss that matter. The number of people with access to free medical care is the highest in the history of the State. Up to 43% of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: If the Senator allows me to finish, I will give him the information.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator tends not to let other Members to finish their points. Up to 43% of the population, 1,988,321, had access to free GP care at the end of 2013. Up to 1,863,984 people had full medical cards, while a further 124,337 had GP visit cards. In 2013 the Health Service Executive awarded an extra 100,000 medical cards, of which over 23,000 were on a discretionary basis. Put that in your...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Of course, smoking is not allowed in the House. I have no intention on commenting on the spats between the two Deputies in Carlow and Kilkenny. The Taoiseach has stated Mr. Frank Flannery should give evidence before the Committee of Public Accounts, with which I agree. Senator Susan O’Keeffe raised the matter of inter-country adoptions. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Michael Mullins raised the issue of the €68 million allocation for new social housing announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan. This is to be welcomed, in addition to the €15 million allocated for the refurbishment of local authority houses that are boarded up. Senators Michael Comiskey and Denis O’Donovan raised the issue of a Dutch super...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I addressed that yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I queried why the previous Government did not put that in the public domain for people to examine.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I will share the Minister for Finance's concerns with the Senators-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Could Senator Leyden let me respond? He got a very good innings. He was dancing there for a long time, so could he let someone else respond?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Some 70% of appeals for invalidity and disability payments have been overturned. I agree that is far too great a number and it should be examined.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I will ask the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, to come into the House. Senators Wilson and Ó Domhnaill mentioned local development companies. I have the utmost confidence that local authorities will provide the best possible service for the people. A one-stop shop is required in every local authority. If the local authorities get the opportunity, they will do an...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I cannot understand that type of thing at all.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Conway raised the €19 million initial response to the recent flooding, and the €8.7 million which was allocated to County Clare. County Clare was very badly hit and it is right that such an amount of money be allocated in addition to the €17 million from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I note his point on the undocumented...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I am sure Lir will have a very successful Easter.

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: At 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 26 March.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (26 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: With regard to our former colleague, the late Deputy Nicky McFadden, the Dáil is adjourning early tomorrow. I propose that this House not sit tomorrow as a tribute to the late Deputy Nicky McFadden, who was such a kind, loving and understanding person. She was friendly with everybody and was loved by all sides of the House. She was an excellent representative for her constituency and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 45, motion No. 9, Private Members' business, to be taken at 12.30 p.m. and to conclude no later than 2.30 p.m. Tributes to the former Senator, Jimmy Mulroy, will be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I thank Members for their kind words regarding the late Deputy and our former colleague in this House, Nicky McFadden. We will have an opportunity at a later stage to pay tribute to her. It was remiss of me not to express our sympathy also on the death of former Senator Edward Haughey. Again, we will have an opportunity to pay tribute to his family. Senator Marc MacSharry rightly raised...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I expect him to continue to be a reforming Minister for the remainder of the Government's term.