Results 3,961-3,980 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: As I pointed out previously, the jobs initiative yielded 6,500 jobs in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: It has been successful, therefore. I am merely responding to the matters raised by the Leader of the Opposition. Several Senators spoke about the pathways to work programme. I hope to arrange for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to address the House on the matter in early course. The pathways to work programme involves a regular and ongoing engagement with unemployed...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: We have had interference-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator MacSharry may be grandstanding on the issue. I am more interested in when we can start this hospital.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: On the question of nods and winks between An Bord Pleanála and political parties-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: ----- that may have gone on in the past.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: It was what the Senator said.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: That would be a change.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: It would be a change for me to be able to speak without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The announcement has only been made today and I am sure the Minister will come to the House in order to get an explanation as to how we can proceed with the construction of a national children's hospital at the earliest possible opportunity.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I believe everybody in the House wants us to expedite the construction of the national children's hospital which is the commitment of the Government. I hope we will be in a position to proceed with that at the earliest possible opportunity. Obviously it is a major setback to have An Bord Pleanála make its decision on the grounds it made it. However, we need an opportunity to consider that...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2011 [Dáil] - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude no later than 1.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 2, Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Standing Order 18: Prayer at Commencement of Sitting, to be taken immediately...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: It is independent.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I wish to advise the House that we will have to amend the Order of Business later today. I understand the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, will have to go to the Dáil to deal with a matter raised under Topical Issues during the time we have allocated for the debate on media standards. I am advising the House that we will have to break for a short period in the middle of the debate in question.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I have acceded to the request that was made for No. 1 not to be taken without debate. Therefore, I am proposing that we postpone our decision on the motion until after we debate it tomorrow.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely, that the House would suspend at 3.38 p.m. and resume at 4 p.m. This is to allow the Minister deal with business in the other House.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien, raised three items, DEIS schools, hospital waiting times and the sale of State assets. He called the announcement on DEIS schools a U-turn. I would say it was the Minister responding to a review he commissioned, -----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: -----dealing with the concerns teachers, parents and others expressed on DEIS schools. It was a good day's work. While it did not satisfy everybody, a number of people have been satisfied as a result of the decision the Minister took following the review. Senators Darragh O'Brien, Moran, Crown and others raised the issue of waiting times in children's hospitals. Obviously, it shows the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: It is equally. Small schools receive more favourable capitation grants and other grant payments due to the practice of minimum payments. For example, schools receive a minimum capitation payment based on a 60 pupil enrolment. This means a school with ten, 20 or 30 pupils receives the same capitation payment as a school with 60 pupils and this arrangement remains in place.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I hope the Senator will withdraw his comment because he is misleading the House given what has been said about capitation grants being less favourable to rural schools. It is not on. It is an untruth which people have mentioned in the House and they should not mislead the House just as they try to mislead the public on many issues.