Results 3,981-4,000 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Keane commented on independent advisers to Government. Independent advice is of paramount importance and I am sure the matter raised by the Senator along with Senator Norris will be raised in future. We will certainly bring the matter to the relevant Ministers. The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, will be in the House in early course and I am sure the Senator will have an opportunity to...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Conway commented on the privatisation of Eircom which was a botched job. Senators Moloney and Kelly raised the issue of medical cards. I fully agree that a major problem remains in delays with medical cards. The fact that information is not being matched with files is something which occurs on a regular basis. I am unsure how it is occurring but the system is not working as it...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I am not sure whether the last Taoiseach was ever in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I think the previous Taoiseach was in the House once.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: If I am afforded the opportunity to reply, I will. I have invited the Taoiseach to the House and he has indicated that he will, at the earliest opportunity, come to the House. I am sure he will be treated with the utmost respect in the House when he comes here.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Standing Order 18: Prayer at Commencement of Sitting, to be taken without debate; No. 2, Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011 [Dáil] - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1 and to conclude no later than 2 p.m. The reason so little time is being...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (21 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely, that we suspend Committee Stage and resume it and commence Remaining Stages next week.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (21 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: In regard to the call by the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Darragh O'Brien, for a debate on the fiscal compact, I have no problem in extending the time allocated to Members. We can give them all the time they want to express their opinions. On the question of mortgage arrears, obviously many people are experiencing difficulties in this regard. Senator Bacik has indicated that the heads...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: He may well have but the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, was the person Senator Ó Clochartaigh sought. Senator Mooney raised the issue of visas for Chinese visitors so that when they come they can visit Northern Ireland as well. This matter should be discussed and I understand it is a matter for discussion between the Minister for Justice and Equality and his counterparts in the United Kingdom....

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011 - Second Stage, 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 eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 5.35...

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (Resumed) (16 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I move that the sitting suspend until 2 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the EU fiscal compact treaty (resumed), to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 12.25 p.m., if not previously concluded - this is to allow the Minister of State, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, to reply to the many questions posed during the debate; and No. 2, Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 -...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: Senator O'Brien asked about an amendment to financial services legislation to name financial institutions and I will consult the Minister for Finance about that. He proposed the use of the warmer homes scheme as a job creation mechanism and said he would raise that matter with the Minister when he takes the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 in the House. I support what the Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The fines Bill will be introduced and mechanisms will be provided under it but I am not aware of what they are at the present time. Senator Sheahan sought more information about how payment of the household charge can be made. A site is available on the Internet and if one goes into any local authority office, the forms are available. Cheques can be sent to the address on the form that must...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The matter raised by Senator Keane regarding a north Kildare school could be the subject of an excellent Adjournment debate and she could obtain the information she requires from the Minister for Education and Skills. Senator Crown raised the issue of donations by big business to political parties. Major restrictions in this regard are provided for in the Bill that was before the House...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The money is well spent at this stage. Senator Paul Coghlan referred to the incoming Papal Nuncio. I am sure we all welcome Archbishop Brown, who will present his credentials to the President later. Senator Colm Burke referred to the link between local authority rates and revenue. Local authority services are based on the revenue they generate and charges are collected by them. I note the...

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (Resumed) (16 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister of State is always welcome.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I propose, as an amendment to the Order of Business, that we adjourn this item until next week.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Maurice Cummins: I propose the suspension of the House until 4 p.m.