Results 6,641-6,660 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I will be very brief because I know the Minister has other engagements. The success of our tourism product was not by accident but because of Government policy. Consciously deciding to have a 9% VAT rate and eliminating the travel tax were policy decisions made by Government that have yielded tremendous success over recent years, and long may it continue. Senator Conway mentioned the Wild...

Seanad: Participation in Sport: Motion (26 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State who is always welcome. He is not here often enough. We will have to have him here more often to speak on sports subjects, in particular. Like music, sport transcends all barriers and is a unifying force. I compliment the Minister of State on the restoration of sports grants. I know the work that went into this decision and that the Minister of State had to...

Seanad: Participation in Sport: Motion (26 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Of course, we are going to hear about Dundalk and County Louth, but we will all be wearing our own colours. Katie Taylor has been mentioned. She is probably one of the best sports people ever to come out of the country. I heard Michael Carruth speak on radio recently about the facilities for boxers. He mentioned, as did Senator Paschal Mooney, that prior to the games in South Korea, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on flooding, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 1.15 p.m., with the contributions of all Senators not to exceed six minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than 1.10 p.m.; and No. 2, statements on foreign affairs - an update on developments in the Middle East and Ukraine, to be taken...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: It is regrettable that Senator Mark Daly questioned the suitability of the Garda Commissioner. It is reprehensible on a morning where she has only just been appointed. I am sorry again that Senator Daly has nothing positive to say about the housing strategy and nothing positive to say about the health service plan which has not even been announced yet. There is no positivity on that side...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I support the all-party motion on Cumann na mBan. I have no problem with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I am being positive again.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Bacik and many other Members referred to the housing strategy which was announced yesterday. I note the points made by many speakers on the matter. I assure Senator Bradford that the housing strategy is one for ordinary people and certainly not for developers and the construction industry. It is a roadmap to accommodate by 2020 all 90,000 households on the waiting lists with homes...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: We will have a very flowing debate on the Water Services Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Some will sink and others will swim as a result. Senator Mullins welcomed, as do I, the good news that 80,000 more people are at work. People have been calling for a debate on jobs and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, will be with us next week to discuss the Action Plan for Jobs. Senator Mullins and Craughwell referred to guidance teachers and...

Seanad: Situation in Middle East and Ukraine: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Ar 2.30 p.m. Dé Máirt seo chugainn.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re Estimate provision for the horse and greyhound racing fund allocation for 2015, back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on Government geoscience initiatives from industry support to education, to be taken at 3.45 p.m., with the contribution from group spokespersons not to exceed...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I join the expressions of sympathy to the family of John Corrie. The vast majority of Members of the House have spoken about the issue of homelessness. Like all Members I am very concerned over the recent rise in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin city. Any loss of life on our streets is a tragedy. We all agree that a recovering economy needs to translate into better living...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Paul Coghlan referred to the restoration of the cross at Carrauntoohil and complimented Beaufort Community Council on its work in this regard. Senator O'Sullivan referred to the withdrawal of security services for the banks, recounted details of recent raids in Ratoath and Raheny and requested that this matter be revisited. I will certainly bring it to the attention of the Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I have no intention of getting involved in that type of discussion. A debate on homelessness will take place tomorrow. I realise it is very difficult for Members opposite to accept the facts.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Shouting and roaring will get Senator MacSharry nowhere with me.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Heffernan, in his comments, brought a human dimension to the issue of homelessness. I am sure he will make a useful contribution to the debate tomorrow. Senator Wilson made the very valid point that some people who are homeless will not accept shelter. I note, too, the comments made by Senator Crown on this issue. I do not propose to accept the amendments to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2014: Motion (2 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I move: "That Seanad Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2014, a copy of which Order in draft was laid before Seanad Éireann on 14th November 2014."

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to conclude no later than 1.15 p.m., with contributions from all Senators not to exceed six minutes each and the Minister to be called on to reply no later than 1.10 p.m.; No. 2, motions re Standing Orders 82B and 82C concerning the attendance by committee members of meetings of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senators O'Brien, Barrett, Craughwell and Burke spoke about the ambulance services and the HIQA report. We can certainly try to have a debate in this House on this issue. There was a very comprehensive debate on this subject in the joint Oireachtas committee yesterday and we do not want duplication, to have it going on both in the committee and the House. However, the Minister for Health,...