Results 3,461-3,480 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Life-Limiting Health Conditions in Children: Motion (26 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Ar 10.30 maidin amárach.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (26 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the debate conclude no later than 4.40 p.m. to allow the Minister to complete his response to the Second Stage debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: A number of Members have raised specific items on the Order of Business. Adjournment motions would be the more appropriate means of dealing with such specific matters, as there is little I can do about them. It would be a better way for Members to get answers about specific problems that they quite correctly raise. Senator Darragh O'Brien has asked about the vacancy in Temple Street...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Okay. On the household charge and the withholding of funding to local authorities, my understanding is that a number of local authorities have received moneys already in the context of money that had been withheld because the percentage had not been reached. I do not think there is a specific percentage. However, I understand that Waterford County Council and others have received a large...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: -----and I do not propose to accept the proposed amendment to the Order of Business. Senators Bacik, Barrett, Cullinane and others sought a debate on education. The Minister for Education and Skills will be in the House on either 16 or 23 October, but the date has not been finalised. The Minister has to confirm one of the dates for me. Senator van Turnhout and other Members referred to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: We probably will not require a Minister to be present to listen to the debate. We can have a constructive debate among ourselves on the document. I have only read part of it yet. Senator Keane referred to Commissioner Reding and the issue of gender imbalance in the board rooms of large companies in the EU. As she said, the Government has taken steps with regard to the participation of...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008 - Second Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 1.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed six minutes and the Minister to be called to reply to the debate not later than 1.35 p.m.; No. 2,...

Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Maidin amárach ar 10.30.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I do not propose to accept either of the proposed amendments to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Syrian Conflict: Statements (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Maidin amárach ar 10.30.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister of State will be in the House on 17 October. The Senator will have ample opportunity to make the points he raised about the sponsorship of events. Senator Kelly called for a debate on property tax. I will endeavour to have a debate on the matter. It is a budgetary matter and no Minister can be expected to divulge what will happen in the budget. I find it a little rich for...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Fianna Fáil signed up to it well in advance of the last election.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Government has again to clean up the mess Fianna Fáil made. Senator Hayden raised the issue of homelessness and the fact that 64 people were living on the streets. We all agree that is 64 too many. Like Senator Moran, she asked for the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy O'Sullivan, to come to the House to discuss the matter....

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I am not aware which Minister is coming in, but I assure the Senator there will be a Minister in the House to deal with that important legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Crown asked about waiting list times for those awaiting specialist treatment. We will have a Minister in the House tomorrow to discuss the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill and those matters can be raised with whichever Minister is present. Senator Crown will back me when I say there are many consultants who schedule appointments for patients, be they public or private, of...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the increases in the variable mortgage rate by Bank of Ireland and ICS Building Society. It is a matter of concern. However, as pointed out by the Senator, Bank of Ireland is a majority private-owned bank and must be run on a commercial basis; the State owns 15%. The Government has targeted assistance measures at protecting the homes of those who are facing...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on homophobic bullying, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 5.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed six minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than 5.35 p.m.; and No. 2, statements on the...

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Blow up the interconnector.

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to facilitate this discussion. It never ceases to amaze me when, after repeated requests on the Order of Business for a Minister to come to the House to debate a particular issue, the Chamber is not filled to capacity. Today is no different, with only two Members in the Chamber for the beginning of the Minister of State's speech and some...

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming our guests to the House. It is important that this expertise at local government level is harnessed into the future. I was interested to learn from Senator Mark Daly that the Fianna Fáil Party is engaged in formulating a policy on water and water charges. Despite being in government for 14 years, it seems his party is only now devising policy in...