Results 3,881-3,900 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator can take it that the time will be 7 p.m. because the Bills Office informed my office that that would be the time.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Finance Bill brings into effect many of the items announced on budget day. By reducing the deficit to 8.6% of GDP and introducing adjustment measures totalling €3.8 billion in the budget, the Government is acutely aware it will have an impact on the living standards of people. I am particularly happy, as mentioned by other speakers, that the Finance Bill met the commitment in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: St. Patrick's weekend obviously did a great deal for people. They seem to be very exercised on the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: In regard to Senator O'Brien's point, what happened last week about Private Members' business was regrettable but I am sure we will have a healthy debate tonight on the same subject. I have not yet done so but I will find out for the Senator about the committee report on pyrites, when it will be available and how often the committee has met. A number of speakers raised the household charge....

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: It is an absolute disgrace that legislators in this House, having gone through the legislative system, go out into the streets and advocate what amounts to anarchy by asking people not to pay the charges. Speakers have asked also about services within local authorities. The Minister spelled this out perfectly well. If the money is not paid, services will suffer in local authorities. There...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: -----like Senator Cullinane and others on the topic of local services are the ones who will say we should have more services.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: If the money does not come in, we cannot provide the services. That is the simple fact of the matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Bacik mentioned the non-governmental organisation alliance report on racism and racial discrimination. We can arrange a debate on that and on the merger between the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission, which has been mentioned in the House by Senator Zappone on several occasions. Senator van Turnhout referred to the UN universal periodic review report and asked that...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: All Members agree to extending our sympathies to everybody involved. Senators Noone and Bradford referred to the need for people to know where their taxes are spent. We have an ideal opportunity to do so this afternoon and tomorrow. The Finance Bill deals with tax and expenditure. I agree that if the Revenue Commissioners can outline where moneys are spent in various categories when giving...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I will ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to come to the Chamber to discuss Moore Street and national monuments. Senator Comiskey welcomed the protection of 250 jobs in MBNA in Carrick-on-Shannon. We all welcome that. The Finance Bill is the correct vehicle, if Members will pardon the pun, to raise the price of diesel. Senator Leyden and others referred to destroying a...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Moloney raised the issue of radon testing, a matter we can raise with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I understand there is a small cost to radon testing in houses and it is recommended. Senator Colm Burke referred to the fact that €13.4 billion was paid last year, the same amount taken in in income tax. That highlights the difficulties for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: We will have the Minister for Education and Skills in the Chamber in early course and hopefully he will address these matters. Senator Sheahan raised the case of unions opposed to the household charge. Unions can decide to do what they wish but it is up to their members to decide whether they will break the law. Any unions advocating breaking the law are not acting in good faith.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Finance Bill 2012 - Second Stage, to be taken at 2 p.m. and to conclude no later than 5 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and the Minister to be called on to reply no later than 4.45 p.m.; No. 2, Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012 -...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, opt-in motions under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 8, Veterinary Practice...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: We are on the Government side.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Leader of the Opposition, Senator O'Brien, raised the question of Priory Hall. I am aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, met some of the residents of Priory Hall. The matter is before the courts and that is the reason the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, have not met the residents. It is a dreadful...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Self-regulation has not worked. We have seen it in many areas and it does not work. It would be akin, as a character in Waterford would say, to going to court with the devil and the jury from hell. That is how he described self-regulation. The question of an internal inquiry vis-À-vis a public inquiry will get much more ventilation on the airwaves and in the House in the weeks to come.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Moloney commended Ms Lorraine Mulvey's courage in going public on her abuse and called for a debate on child sexual abuse and domestic violence. I will try to arrange for such a debate with the relevant Minister. Senator Norris referred to a television programme called "Tallafornia". I am not familiar with the programme and, therefore, cannot comment on it, but I will take his word...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Ó Domhnaill addressed the question of schools. When talking about the politicisation of schools, I read in one of today's newspapers that a former Fianna Fáil Deputy in a Cork constituency said that the people in a particular town had not voted for him and they should vote for him if they want their school put on the list. I hope we will move away from that type of situation.

Seanad: Justice Programme: Motion (13 Mar 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed...