Results 6,701-6,720 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: We can talk. We have tabled a discussion of the Finance Bill. The 3 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. slot is free and I have asked the Minister to attend. He is willing to come in to explain the matter. Does the Senator want to amend the Order of Business or not?

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I amend the Order of Business to indicate that we will have the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport here at 3 o'clock. Senator Bacik, and indeed all Senators, have made very good contributions and outlined their personal, family and other circumstances in regard to the programme on Áras Attracta. The contributions were very touching. We will try to arrange a debate on the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I will confine my remarks to the universal social charge or USC, the issue addressed in the section, and speak on income tax when we discuss the relevant section. I welcome the provisions on the universal social charge. The Bill removes liability for the USC from 80,000 people, bringing to more than 400,000 the number of people who have been removed from this liability since the Government...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Like all the people of Waterford, I received a flimsy leaflet through my letter box from Sinn Féin about income tax. It was the usual populist poppycock. It referred to taxing the wealthy and said Fine Gael and the Labour Party were giving tax relief to the wealthy. It comes back to the reply of the Minister of State. People on the higher end of the lower income tax bracket, at...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: This section refers to the Living City initiative which I raised on Second Stage. Has there been any further indication as to when we can expect the initiative to become a reality? It has been promised for a number of years. I realise there were problems and some of it had to be cleared with Europe. What is the current position and when is it likely to be in place?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Section 54 provides for the amendment of section 21 of the Betting Act 1931 on the hours of business of registered premises. I have concerns about the proposal. It was Christmas Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday with Easter Sunday having been taken out. I agree with that. However, section 54 provides that these shops can be open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. on any other day. Bookies' shops...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: To comment again, there is a big difference between beef and lamb and society. What we are talking about here is society. It is ludicrous to have bookmakers' shops open until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. on a Sunday. They are open every day of the week and although I realise they must compete with online gambling operators, some people are in them morning, noon and night. If they have the money,...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: They do not apply on a Sunday.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: But not on a Sunday.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I have amended the Order of Business to give a restructured timing. I propose that statements on the restructuring of the Aer Lingus pensions be taken at 3 p.m. and conclude no later than 3.30 p.m, with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed four minutes, each other speaker not to exceed four minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply no later than 3.25 p.m....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (11 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (11 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: At 2.30 p.m. on Monday.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 12.15 p.m. and to be adjourned no later than 3.45 p.m., if not previously adjourned; No. 2 Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013 - Report Stage, (amendments from Dáil Éireann) to be taken at 4 p.m.; and No. 3, Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014 - All Stages, to...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Coghlan will hear him now. Senator MacSharry called for a debate on the health service and he proposed an amendment to the Order of Business. He spoke about the statement made on Beaumont Hospital on 8 September. We had a very comprehensive general debate on health with the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, on 4 November in which 15 Members took part. I am sure all the points Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: On sitting times, we will sit as long as the House decides, when it goes through its Committee Stage and Report Stage. If we are not finished Committee Stage, we will continue it on Monday and then finish Report Stage on Tuesday. Let us wait and see until we get the legislation. There is no point in jumping fences before we reach them. Let us wait and see what happens. Senator Norris...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: We will try to hold a debate. Senator Norris also mentioned it last week. Senator Bacik sought a debate on rendition and those areas as well. I am trying to organise a debate on that.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Colm Burke told us the health service is not in chaos, that certain issues remain to be solved but much progress has been made in that area. Senator Barrett raised the issue of mortgages and the Central Bank and called for a debate with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. We will try to arrange that early in the new year. Senator Kelly raised the issue of the delays in funding...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I cannot let Senator O'Brien away with a comment that this Government did nothing for Waterford Crystal workers. Yes, there was a European Court judgment, but the Government entered negotiations with the unions and the workers, rather than having that go to court and making a decision on it at that point. Some €178 million was provided by the Government for the pensions of Waterford...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: -----so it is inaccurate to say that this Government has not done anything. It has acted in concert with the workers and the union and Mr. Mulvey must be complimented for his work in reaching an agreement between the Government and the workers.