Results 7,001-7,020 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: -----from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the spring statement. I agree with the Senator it is very important that the benefits that will accrue, as a result of the people making sacrifices in recent years and of Government policy, are debated in this House.I can assure Senators that we will have that debate. In regard to the Senator's reference to Ministers being very cosy with each other, it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: This Government has proven not to be a temporary little arrangement. When Fianna Fáil was in government-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: -----it viewed all of its partnerships as temporary little arrangements.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Fianna Fáil will be waiting a while to find another partner.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Bacik and Darragh O'Brien spoke about the dreadful tragedy in Nepal. Our sympathies go out to everybody in Nepal after the earthquake there. Senator Leyden and others have complimented the Irish aid agencies involved in Nepal. We hope the Irish people who are still missing return home safely to this country. Senator Bacik also mentioned that the spring statement is part of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: On borrowing to pay for benefits, four years ago Ireland found itself in the situation of not being able to borrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: We could not borrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: We could not go to the markets. We had a deficit of €22 billion.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: We are now in a position to borrow for good purposes, and we will do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator O'Brien needs to remember the situation we were in four years ago. We were unable to borrow. Senator Mullins spoke about the prudent management of the economy. It is the key to having greater resources available for additional services. Senator van Turnhout spoke about the policy on alcohol. It certainly will not be dictated by the drinks industry. It is something she has...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: And another-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: And another 300 are in training.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: There is €10 million in extra vehicles and more resources have been provided for the Garda. More are required and there is no question about it. As the economy improves, the resources will become available, and need to become available, for our Garda. I note what Senator Noone mentioned about 600 gardaí being injured in the line of duty last year. I certainly favour greater...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I have no problem with the use of tasers by gardaí. The Government is monitoring the situation and I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to discuss law and order and additional resources for the Garda. Senator Brennan spoke about the positive messages in the tourism sector. We have seen remarkable increases in the first quarter of this year. As he...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on ash dieback disease, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude not later than 2.15 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the contributions from group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be called on to reply ten minutes from the end of the debate; No. 2, Sport...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the home help gratuity payments and the review. I will ask the Minister about it. I have invited the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coffey, to come to the House to discuss the pyrite issue. I hope we can schedule a debate in the coming weeks. Given that we had ample time for people to table...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Although I normally would do so, there seems to be very little appetite for amendments to the Bill and that is why I ordered Committee and Remaining Stages for today. It is the Senator's prerogative to object to the Order of Business and to vote against the section in the Bill he mentioned. Senators Bacik, Walsh and Norris referred to euthanasia and the possibility of having a debate on it...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Government hopes to address this in the coming budgets. People returning from the UK should have no problems regarding social protection and the transfer of benefits. The Department of Social Protection is very helpful to people who wish to return home from the UK and transfer their benefits. There should not be a problem, and if there is, it should be taken up with the Department. ...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The greatest risk to job creation and a brighter future is the risk from political parties, such as Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, which are proposing populist and fanciful economics.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2015)

Maurice Cummins: However, we will address that matter. Senator Bradford mentioned he was not here yesterday but-----