Results 5,661-5,680 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Maurice Cummins: The Opposition also submitted them at the last minute because we received the Bill so late. That is another reason more time should be given to digest the Bill. It will be challenged every step of the way, not in the Houses but outside, where they are queuing up with their legal advisers ready to pounce on the Bill and pick out loopholes. It is important that we dot all the i's and cross...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Many thousands of people receive rent allowance from the HSE. To the best of my knowledge, they must know their landlords but because of the Data Protection Act are not obliged to inform local authorities about them. Is it intended to amend the Data Protection Act so this type of information might be shared by the various agencies? That was one of our reasons for tabling the amendment in...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Maurice Cummins: I apologise for interrupting the Minister. Does this mean the HSE, which provides rent allowances, is obliged to give the names of the landlords to the local authorities?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Maurice Cummins: We appreciate the offer.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Local authorities do not have a system which allows them to account for everyone's house or second house.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Maurice Cummins: The PRTB is a problem but if the Revenue Commissioners does not have the information, it should have it and it is an offence if people do not declare a second property to the Revenue. There is a mechanism for penalties and everything else in that regard. The legislation puts the cart before the horse. We should get it right from the beginning and there is no point falling into these...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: The people do not believe the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of order, did the Leader forget to announce a sos? No sos is scheduled between noon and 5 p.m. Is it planned to have a sos?

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: On 3 February, through a motion in the Dáil, the Government formally corrected the public record to state that there was no evidence that the Stardust fire of almost 29 years ago was started deliberately and that the cause of the fire is unknown. This happened as a result of a report by Paul Coffey, Senior Counsel, which recommended that the Government should consider correcting the public...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: The Government has spent approximately €40 million on a site, including design and planning, for a new prison at Thornton Hall, a project which has been shelved indefinitely. Recent reports suggest that our prisons are grossly over-crowded and that conditions therein are deplorable. I call on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come into this House to outline what he...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: I take this opportunity to pay Senator Boyle the same compliment I paid to Senator Bacik.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: I advise the Senator to be careful with regard to his comments on these matters. He should observe the proprieties that exist in the context of the separation of powers.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Who said that?

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2009)

Maurice Cummins: When the Provisional IRA murdered Robert McCartney in Belfast it continued to intimidate his family for a long period, forcing some of them to emigrate. The same thing seems to be happening in Dublin at present. That organisation, not content with murdering Joe Rafferty also, now continues to intimidate his sister who decided to run for the local elections to highlight her brother's case...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2009)

Maurice Cummins: That type of intimidation must be stopped and the people responsible must be caught because it is an attack on democracy. That is the last thing we need in the State at present. I urge the Leader to liaise with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to ensure every step is taken to bring the perpetrators to book.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2009)

Maurice Cummins: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Maurice Cummins: The charge was made that one of my colleagues was making a political football of this issue, a charge I totally reject having listened to the debate at the time. I would like to quote my party leader yesterday on this issue: It is not for me or anyone else to point the finger of political accusation. I extend to the Taoiseach and the Government the hand of unity, political solidarity and...