Results 2,821-2,840 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: It is 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. so there will be 13 hours.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: It is ample time for people to cast their votes. Senators Bacik, Conway, Norris and others spoke about the bailout situation in Cyprus. Last June European leaders agreed to break the vicious circle between banking and sovereign debts. With this aim in mind we also agreed that the European Stability Mechanism could be used to recapitalise banks directly. This remains the stated policy and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I ask the Senator to let me continue. The error was compounded when the continuation of this policy became, in effect, a condition of the 2010 bailout programme required by Brussels and Frankfurt. If the Senator had waited and listened he would have got the response. It was feared that allowing a bank in Ireland to default on its debts would unleash panic in the financial markets across...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: ----- and has established an expert group to examine the situation. When that expert group reports I am sure we can have a debate on it in this House. Senators O'Donnell, Hayden, Wilson and others raised the proposed sale of the national lottery. The proceeds from that sale will go to funding the new national children's hospital. With regard to approaches by the Camelot group, I have not...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Education and Training Boards Bill 2012 - Committee Stage, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business.

Seanad: Mobility Allowance: Statements (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.

Seanad: Mobility Allowance: Statements (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: It is unfair of Senators to say that it is regrettable that the Minister and officials are not present for this debate, as they were not invited. We facilitated a request made on the Order of Business for a debate without a Minister's presence.

Seanad: Mobility Allowance: Statements (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: At a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, outlined the dilemma facing the Department of Health with regard to these schemes. The Ombudsman found that neither scheme was compliant with the Equal Status Acts, but an extension of either scheme as recommended by her would...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome this section, which contains the living city initiative. It is a good initiative. It is fairly restrictive and relates to Georgian houses only. In Waterford the vast majority of the Georgian houses are in a fairly good state of repair. Is there any intention to extend the scheme to pre-1900 houses? There is a significant stock of these buildings in my city and they could...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I agree with Senator Hayden. Many people in small businesses are trying to access whatever funding they can get their hands on. Some are in defined benefit contribution schemes and defined contribution schemes, which are different. It is very difficult for them to access that money from defined contribution schemes. They have to put the money into a defined benefit scheme rather than...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I accept that the appeals system is independent. However, such systems must address the problems which exist. Those who need this payment should be in a position to obtain it. There is no question about that. Senator Moloney also requested that we engage in a debate on the mobility allowance - without a Minister being present - and that the House make a submission to the relevant working...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business that between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. the House will deal with the matter to which Senator Moloney, namely, the mobility allowance, and that anyone who wishes to contribute to the debate and assist in the preparation of a submission to be given to the working group may do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Perhaps we will amend the amendment and state that the debate will commence when our deliberations on the Finance Bill have been completed.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Anyone who wishes to contribute to the debate and to the framing of a submission is more than welcome to do so. There will not be a Minister present.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: There will be five minutes per Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: I am glad to hear there is none. We do not know whether it comes from one side or the other.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Quinn and others spoke about free travel and the fact that 1.1 million people avail of the free travel scheme. Everybody would agree that we should identify abuses in the system. Obviously, there are abuses in the system. That is necessary to protect the people who need it and qualify for it. Proper identity cards would certainly help in that regard. Senator Hayden and others...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Senator MacSharry raised the question of the civil action in regard to the Omagh bombing. I am sure it is the wish of everybody in the House that the perpetrators of this dreadful act would be brought to justice. I am sure the matter will be discussed at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I outlined the situation concerning the salary of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Finance Bill 2013 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 6 p.m.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2013 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (20 Mar 2013)

Maurice Cummins: Tomorrow.