Results 721-740 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, before section 3, to insert the following new section: "3.—(1) This Act shall, subject to subsection (2), expire as and from the 31st day of December 2010, unless a resolution has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas resolving that the Act should continue in operation. (2) A section referred to in subsection (1) may be continued in operation from...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I agree that we should meet our international obligations. As I said on Second Stage, the Minister has the full support of this side of the House for the main thrust of the Bill. We need to combat terrorism at every possible opportunity. This is a significant Bill. In it, we are complying with EU regulations and our UN obligations. We should provide for a review of the legislation, however....

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I appreciate Senator Tuffy's intention but I must accept the Minister's point. If we include the word "democratic" in the Bill, we must define what it means, which would take us into a minefield. I accept the Minister's position.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: Is it appropriate to make such a major change on Report Stage? Should such an amendment be made to this legislation at this point?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister was speaking about introducing an amendment on Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: Yes.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: How long have those regulations been in place?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: They should have been there much longer.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister has explained the point very well. I can see now why he would have no problem in clarifying matters for any jury. The whole area of telecommunications and retention of data is very important where crime is concerned and to which the Minister referred. In my view if the Garda Commissioner is of the opinion that it is necessary to retain data such as that relating to terrorist...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: This is a very important area which the Minister has outlined.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (3 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: Is this intended to overcome the main problem?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister mentioned his intention to table a number of Report Stage amendments. When will these amendments be circulated? It is essential that we get an opportunity to view these amendments as early as possible to allow us to deliberate on them. There is no point in coming in on Thursday if we have not had an opportunity to examine the amendments in detail. The Minister referred to some...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I hope that while the Minister refers to tomorrow afternoon, the House will have the amendments early in the afternoon so we will have an opportunity to examine them and carry out some research.

Seanad: Overseas Development Aid: Motion. (9 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: They know the commitment the Taoiseach gave.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I join my colleagues in complimenting the Garda on its work in preventing and combatting crime in west Dublin. It affirms that spin and promises are no substitute for extra resources. I hope they will now be extended to other cities and towns. Recently, the Stewart report on telephone usage highlighted the dangers to children of using mobile telephones. An Irish doctors' group has also...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (10 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I am completely dissatisfied with the way in which the Minister of State has brought the amendment to the House. He expressed his intention to establish a second Special Criminal Court some time ago. Why are we seeing the amendment only now, on Report Stage in the Seanad? That is treating this House with contempt, something we have seen several times. It is unacceptable that last minute...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (10 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: Had these amendments been introduced on Committee Stage we would have had an opportunity to tease out this argument but on Report Stage I am prevented from doing that. That is the point I am making. It is grossly unfair to table them on Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (10 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: In refuting criticisms of the Bill and fending off Opposition amendments, a Minister or Minister of State might often indicate that something does not come within the bounds of a framework decision, that it was not agreed, that their hands are tied or whatever. Was the proposed new section 72 agreed as part of the framework decision? Was a provision of this kind envisaged? It seems that this...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (10 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the legislation which will help us honour our commitments to the EU and the UN. This is an important Bill and my party fully supports it. However, I must refer again to the practice of introducing important amendments on Report Stage. It was clearly evident during the debate that I was unable to discuss matters I wished to tease out. Not allowing Members to tease out amendments such...

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I broadly welcome the report, which offers us the opportunity to discuss higher education. The report provides a framework for ongoing development and outlines parameters for legislative provision. It also suggests constructive pathways forward in terms of governance, the size of governing bodies, the need for greater flexibility in salary structures and so forth. However, the report does not...