Results 5,161-5,180 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: What about the McCarthy report?

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I understand the Minister is prepared to extend it to six months. I do not believe six months is sufficient. Again, no breeder I know would breed a bitch at six months. It would be cruel to start breeding bitches at six months of age. The two years I have suggested might be excessive. We had intended to make it one year. If the Minister were prepared to set the period at one year, it...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 14, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(a) the operator of the establishment is registered through the Irish Coursing Club,". This is an area we spent a long time debating on Committee Stage in particular, namely, that the operator of the establishment is registered through the Irish Coursing Club. The Minister has said he has been in contact...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: It is not hyperbole. I have the letter to hand.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: They certainly are not.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I refer to the 1958 Act.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: Why are they not available?

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: It is not good enough.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I have been accused of using hyperbole, but I was quoting from a letter from the chief executive officer of the Irish Greyhound Board. He said the illogical and misguided extension of the legislation would effectively destroy the greyhound industry. They are not my words and I am not using hyperbole. They are the words of the chief executive of the Irish Greyhound Board and I suggest he...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I am sticking to it. The Minister suggested I was using hyperbole, but I was quoting from the letter from the person who is best placed to describe what effect the legislation will have on the greyhound industry.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 14, line 17, to delete "4 months" and substitute "2 years". This amendment relates to breeding bitches. According to the Bill, bitches would be breeding at four months. That is a ludicrous provision. Breeding bitches in any establishments will be at least 18 months to two years old before they start breeding. To refer in the Bill to breeding bitches of four...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator is talking about cruelty to animals if he is talking about breeding bitches at four months. Nobody in the country who is breeding dogs would breed a dog at four months of age.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: This is absolutely crazy. It shows a disregard for and a complete lack of knowledge about the breeding of dogs. As we said on Committee Stage, to suggest that a person would breed a dog at four months and that they be included under this Bill, really sums up what the Green Party knows about any animal and certainly about the breeding cycle of greyhounds, in particular.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: If it is not four months, why did the Minister not change it?

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, line 34, to delete "3 months" and substitute "12 months". We have tabled several amendments on Report Stage. At least two months have passed since Committee Stage and I would have expected some amendments from the Minister by now. We are informed that amendments will be accepted in the other House. That amounts to treating this House with contempt. The...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of order, the Minister mentioned he was going to introduce amendments today.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I stand corrected.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I will not interrupt the Minister.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: I find the procedure the Minister is going through extraordinary. In response to our amendment he said he was prepared to provide for a six-month lead-in period, but why is the Government amendment not before us? The procedure is that the Minister should table an amendment outlining that he accepts a six-month provision. I appreciate he has gone some of the way, but the procedure he has...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2010)

Maurice Cummins: Why make reference to the amendments on Report Stage when they are not ready? Why tell us what the Minister will do in the Dáil? He should use the House properly and debate the amendments using the appropriate procedure. I accept he will provide for a six-month lead-in period rather than three months, but the procedure should be to table an amendment to that effect which we cannot accept...