Results 4,861-4,880 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Ar 10.30 maidin amárach.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (8 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I wish to amend the Order of Business. It is proposed that the debate be resumed on a future date and that progress be reported at 1.45 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I join the Leader of the Opposition, Senator O'Brien, in wishing well all pupils taking the junior and leaving certificate examinations today and I wish them every success for the future. A number of Members requested debates on finance, the economy and the EU-IMF bailout. The Minister for Finance or the Minister of State at his Department will come to the House next week. The time for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the jobs initiatives and competitiveness, to be taken at 11.45 a.m and completed at 1.45 p.m, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called upon to conclude not later than 1.40 p.m.; No. 2, Biological Weapons Bill - Second Stage, to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Today's business is Nos. 1 and 2. No. 1, the allocation of time for the Order of Business, will be taken without debate. We propose three minutes for party leaders and two minutes for other Members to conclude within 55 minutes, with the Leader having ten minutes to respond. Members will generally accept those proposals. No. 2, statements on the Fourth Report of the Special Rapporteur on...

Seanad: Fourth Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection: Statements (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Ar 10.30 maidin amárach.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I join the Leader of the Opposition, Senator O'Brien, in complimenting the new group that has been formed in the House. They are excellent people and will do a great job here. We are all appalled at the recent murder of a gentleman in Donabate. We extend our sympathies to the family of the gentleman in question and hope that the Garda Síochána will apprehend somebody at an early stage for...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senators David Norris, Fidelma Healy Eames and Mark Daly have requested a debate on the economy. The Finance (No. 2) Bill will be before the House in a fortnight. I have spoken to the Minister for Finance in that regard. On Second Stage he is prepared to allow Members to expand their contributions to deal with a number of the matters on which a debate has been requested, including NAMA and...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: That is the reason Sinn Féin is not represented on the committee. If Senator Thomas Byrne wishes Fianna Fáil to give up one of its positions-----

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator suggested Fianna Fáil might form a group with Sinn Féin which would allow extra space.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Michael D'Arcy raised the issue of post office robberies throughout the country. In that regard, there is a need for a debate on law and order issues. Debates have been sought on various issues relating to the Department of Justice and Equality. The Minister will come before the House next week to discuss renewing the terms of the Offences against the State Act. He will also come...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Jim Walsh raised the report of the Competition Authority on legal fees and other services. This matter was addressed in the IMF-EU bailout programme and can be dealt with here also. Senator David Cullinane referred to the amount of time allocated for a debate. If there is not sufficient time today for the debate on the child protection report, the debate can be resumed and continued...

Seanad: Allocation of Time: Motion (7 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That the Leader of the House be called to reply to the Order of Business no later than 55 minutes after the proposal of the Order of Business; that the contribution of each group leader shall not exceed 3 minutes; the contribution of every other Senator shall not exceed 2 minutes; and the reply of the Leader of the House shall not exceed 10 minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Darragh O'Brien called for a debate on the programme for Government. I will endeavour to provide time for such a debate in the coming weeks although I cannot commit to any particular date in that regard. However, I assure the Senator that we will have a debate on that subject in the coming weeks. I do not propose to accept Senator O'Brien's amendment. Members will be aware that...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: I hope to have a debate on the JLCs. The problem is getting Ministers to come to the House. Any Member may ask for a debate but it is then my duty to ask a Minister to make himself available on a particular day. It is not an easy task, given the schedules of Ministers. I will endeavour to have as many Ministers as possible come the House. I suggested yesterday that we could have debates...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: It is within our remit to do so. Senator Cullinane spoke about health matters and unemployment. We can incorporate unemployment and other matters in the debate on JLCs. It is for Members to focus on the area they wish to dwell on. Senator Sheahan made an important point about banks and their lending to small businesses. This is a major problem. We may incorporate that matter in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Conway raised the matter of Shannon Airport. This could be raised on the Adjournment. I recommend that he do that.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Kelly raised the issue of medical cards. This is a serious matter. Community welfare officers have discretion in this matter and it can be taken up with the Minister for Health and Children. Senator Byrne referred to WikiLeaks. Some interesting leaks have been published in newspapers. Exchanges of information between governments and reporting by diplomatic missions is an important...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Quinn spoke about the prison service and the report on prisons. I am endeavouring to have the Minister in the House next week, if possible, to discuss that report. Senators Quinn, Reilly and Mooney raised the issue of food and food labelling. The previous Seanad debated the Food Harvest 2020 report. Perhaps we should have another debate on that subject in the coming weeks. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Maurice Cummins: That is not what I stated. People can seek their own clarification on this matter. I thought what I had said was very clear. With regard to what Senator Darragh O'Brien said about the charge being introduced on 1 January, I never mentioned such a thing in my clarification.