Results 1,941-1,960 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: We have witnessed substantial increases in unemployment in recent months. Last month alone, 18,000 people lost their jobs. It now appears we are facing the prospect of approximately 300,000 people unemployed by the end of the year. People who find themselves unemployed have to wait eight to ten weeks for unemployment benefit. In many instances those people have worked all their lives and...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: As a teller, under Standing Order 61 I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (9 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister to the House. As someone who was made redundant ten years ago after working for the same company for more than 20 years, I am probably the only Senator who signed on for unemployment benefit. I received a statutory redundancy payment of approximately £6,000, a princely sum at the time. It is not a pleasant position in which to be, as one wonders where and whether...

Seanad: Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The report of the Oireachtas Joint Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union is to be welcomed as it comes at two critical junctures for the European Union. First, it occurs as all 27 member states decide on the Lisbon treaty, a document that is intended to update and reform the workings of the Union and bring Europe closer to its...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator is missing his breakfast.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Admissibility of Evidence) Bill 2008: Second Stage (10 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I second the Second Reading of the Bill. I pay tribute to my party colleague, Senator Regan, who drafted the Bill. It is in the best traditions of this House that Members submit Private Members' Bills. This Bill is timely and relevant. Senator Regan introduced the Bill to end the practice of criminals avoiding convictions due to a technicality arising from outdated rules of evidence. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I thought the Leader was speaking of Senator Buttimer.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Leader has drawn another Cork man on him.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State's decision in respect of local authority members. He did not go as far as I suggested on Committee Stage, namely, that it should be specifically stated that a local authority member should be included on the board. However, I welcome the fact that local authority members will not be excluded from the board. I am concerned with regard to the composition of the...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator has not been present for any of the debate on this Bill.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: It will not be easy for the Minister of State to reply to them.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008: Second Stage (17 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I want to speak about a subject that is close to my heart and something about which I spoke in this House on a number of occasions. I am referring to rail transport, especially freight services to our ports. I worked in Waterford Port for many years and on any weekend, ten or 12 trains would come in, while two or three trains per day were coming into the port every day during the week. For...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Government has not been doing so for the past 11 years.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Where is the so-called plan?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: It was just statements.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of order, the Leader should refer to the Order of Business and not side-track the issue by making confrontational comments to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Absolutely.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: He is inviting us to comment.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator's party did a bad job.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of order, I wish to give the Leader an opportunity to correct the record of the House. He said we had an opportunity to discuss the economy on 6 December. To the best of my knowledge, 6 December was a Saturday. I was not here on that day.