Results 4,421-4,440 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the reform of the junior certificate, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude no later than 5.45 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons, who may share time, not to exceed eight minutes, followed by questions to the Minister from the floor during which Senators are asked to confine themselves to one minute when...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I will try to be as brief as possible. There is a Minister waiting outside. We are eating into the time allocated for the next debate. Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke about the appointment of Mr. Cardiff to the European Court of Auditors. This matter was also raised by a number of Senators. According to a report in today's Irish Examiner, the Minister for Finance has said that as far as he...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I will bring the comments made by Members this afternoon to the attention of the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach. Senator Bacik asked about the climate change Bill. It remains a priority for the Government. We want to engage in proper consultation on the matter. The Government is totally committed to the introduction of a new climate change Bill next year. Senators Mullen, Byrne,...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Maurice Cummins: That is typical of the scaremongering that has been going on over recent weeks. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Hogan, will clarify that matter when addressing the Water Services Bill here next week. Senator Quinn raised the question of the numbers of clerks of works being reduced. They have been reduced mainly because of the massive decline in the construction industry but the question of...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Maurice Cummins: -----the €10 billion decrease in interest charges-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Maurice Cummins: -----is probably one of the main achievements of this Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Conway spoke about the banks. We have addressed that. Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the issue of traffic problems in Galway. Galway has an excellent mayor and I am sure she would be willing to bring all the agencies together to solve the traffic problems. It should not require the Minister for Transport to intervene to bring the interested bodies to solve a traffic problem.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator O'Keeffe raised an important item regarding the regional drugs task force, parental drinking habits and the question of alcohol abuse. It is an item we should discuss further in the House. Senator Leyden spoke about the judicial appointments advisory board. It does make recommendations to the Government. That is the current position. As regards making it statutory, that is another...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements, Questions and Answers (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I will be brief. I seek an update on the 20 bed palliative care unit proposed for Waterford Regional Hospital. When will we see work start on this much needed unit? In the last capital programme St. Brigid's unit in St. Patrick's Hospital was to be replaced by a 50 bed unit. However, it was removed from the capital programme in the interests of political expediency to allow a similar...

Seanad: Health Services: Statements, Questions and Answers (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 8 November 2011.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Yes, but I am sure that the Sinn Féin Members will get an opportunity. They have already tabled questions to the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I am sure that they will be given the opportunity to ask those questions during the debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: No statements. As I said at the beginning, group spokespersons——

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Darragh O'Brien, among others, referred to yesterday's events in Brussels. The developments have been generally welcomed, but we need time to digest everything in the agreed programme. As some have observed, working the deal does not mean passively submitting to it; rather, it means attempting to make the deal serve us in a better way in negotiating on issues. However, the deal is...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: There were other questions about the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, which he addressed yesterday——

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Now allegations are being made against other senior Labour Party Ministers.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: We have had allegation after allegation, followed by withdrawal——

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I accept that.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Fidelma Healy Eames called for a debate on education, with particular reference to special educational needs. Senators John Crown, Catherine Noone, Cáit Keane and others also raised points on education. The Minister for Education and Skills will be in the House on Tuesday, 8 November for a debate on junior certificate reform, in particular, and curricular reform generally, and...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Colm Burke spoke about education, and also about the diplomatic service and how our young people were contributing abroad. Senator Mullins mentioned the gentleman outside the House. If this gentleman has information, he could pass it on to the Minister for Justice and Equality. I am not aware of the intricacies of the situation. Perhaps the Senator might bring the matter to the...