Results 6,781-6,800 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: A total of 250,000 jobs were lost in the private sector in the three years.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I know Senator MacSharry does not like to hear the facts, but it is the case that 250,000 jobs were lost in the past three years of the Government of which Fianna Fáil was a part. I suggest there was a very big disconnect between the Government and the people, and the people showed that that was the case.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator MacSharry has a neck to talk about a disconnect.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Bacik and Norris welcomed the Thirty-Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill. As Senator Norris indicated, the Government approved the wording yesterday. That wording runs to the effect that "Marriage may be contracted in accordance with law by two persons without distinction as to their sex". The referendum is about equality, extending the equal right to marry to all couples...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: -----others commented on poverty and on the report published yesterday. The best way to tackle poverty is to get people back to work.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: A comprehensive debate on this matter took place at yesterday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. I am informed that no Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin representatives were present at that meeting.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator is calling for a debate in this House-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Fianna Fáil cannot have it every way.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator is not going to raise a point of order.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: If the Senator were a Deputy he would know a lot about it.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Mullins and Comiskey referred to farm advisory service planners and the difficulty which has arisen regarding Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT, and qualification requirements. I was delighted to hear from Senator Comiskey that a meeting took place with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine earlier today and that the latter is going to try to resolve this issue....

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I assure the Senator will hear my views when any such debate takes place here. Senator Keane requested a further debate on child care. The House engaged in a very good debate on that early years education yesterday. I note the points she made to the effect that inspections should be co-ordinated and synchronised. I will try to get the Minister for Education and Skills to come before the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator also mentioned the interest on the State's debt, which is significant. Some €7.5 billion in interest was repaid on our debt in the past year. The Government is placing emphasis on the need for balanced budgets in order that we might achieve a surplus and thereby increase our level of investment in child care and many other worthy areas. Senators Brennan and Heffernan...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: As the Senator indicated, those people have no respect for either law and order or the lives of others. It is of paramount importance that people should stand up to intimidation that is obviously occurring in the part of the country to which Senators Brennan and Heffernan refer and throughout the Border counties in general. As a mark of respect to Garda Adrian Donohoe and Paul Quinn, it...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: He is also seeking the provision of a bypass at Ennistymon.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: It is clear the Senator is doing his work because he referred to three or four bypasses in the area in which he lives that are currently under construction.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I am sure consideration will be given to the possibility of a bypass for Ennistymon. This matter can also be addressed by the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Mullen referred to procurement anomalies in the west-north west hospitals group. The Minister for Health suggested that an investigation into this matter was under way. I am not sure whether that investigation has been completed. However, I will ask the Minister when it will be brought to a conclusion, whether any findings will be published and what action will be taken.

Seanad: Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014: Order for Second Stage (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (22 Jan 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is a technical but very important Bill allowing the Central Bank to disclose confidential information to the committee. As the Minister said, the joint committee put the relevant proposal to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for its consideration. I can assure the Minister that our Committee on Procedure and Privileges scrutinised that...