Results 5,821-5,840 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator is missing his breakfast.

Seanad: Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The report of the Oireachtas Joint Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union is to be welcomed as it comes at two critical junctures for the European Union. First, it occurs as all 27 member states decide on the Lisbon treaty, a document that is intended to update and reform the workings of the Union and bring Europe closer to its...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (9 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister to the House. As someone who was made redundant ten years ago after working for the same company for more than 20 years, I am probably the only Senator who signed on for unemployment benefit. I received a statutory redundancy payment of approximately £6,000, a princely sum at the time. It is not a pleasant position in which to be, as one wonders where and whether...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: As a teller, under Standing Order 61 I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: We have witnessed substantial increases in unemployment in recent months. Last month alone, 18,000 people lost their jobs. It now appears we are facing the prospect of approximately 300,000 people unemployed by the end of the year. People who find themselves unemployed have to wait eight to ten weeks for unemployment benefit. In many instances those people have worked all their lives and...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Burke has made a very good point, particularly in this day and age when there is much fraud relating to bank accounts. The Minister of State might explain the displaying of bank account details if that is what is meant in the Bill. I would certainly have reservations about showing the bank account details of any of the charities.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: How many members will be on the board? A minimum of four is mentioned in the Bill. Along with my colleagues, I welcome the fact that the Minister of State will not preclude members of local authorities from becoming members. This has been a constant theme in the legislation we have seen coming through the House in the past number of years. Local authority members are treated as second...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Government can still do it in the Harbours (Amendment) Bill.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Did Senator Leyden tell her that he voted against her membership in the Harbours (Amendment) Bill?

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Leyden voted the local authority members off the harbours board and Aer Lingus.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Buttimer has covered most of what I wished to say. Charity begins at home, and that is certainly true as far as Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are concerned. Rather then precluding members of local authorities, I hope the Minister will go the whole hog and provide for the appointment of a local authority member to the board, whether from the Local Authority Members' Association,...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I agree with Senators O'Toole and Norris. Standing Orders make it abundantly clear that the Leader must order the business of the day on that particular day. Under Standing Order 16, we will have to have an Order of Business tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: What has Fianna Fáil been doing for the past ten years?

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: That is the problem, the Government is not looking after them.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: He is easily impressed.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Leader is making some tune of this.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2008)

Maurice Cummins: There is none.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I support the sentiments expressed by Senator Norris in this regard. It would be our hope that this is just a starting block and that we would continue to lobby as Senator Norris has outlined. I am sure the Minister of State in his reply will indicate that the Government will continue to press ahead with a view to gaining further ground in the future. This is a very important starting...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: In an ideal world and with all countries singing from the same hymn sheet the amendment would be acceptable. The Minister of State referred to the prospect of Irish troops coming under fire. For example, were Irish troops currently in Chad under attack and in need of help from another country that is not signed up to the convention, nobody here would say that we could choose who we wanted...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I compliment the Minister and his officials on introducing the Bill. As I indicated on Second Stage, Deputy Timmins introduced similar legislation in the other House. Most of the Fine Gael Party Bill is included in the legislation before us. The Oslo process has been lengthy and the Government and its officials have done Ireland proud. I extend best wishes to the Minister and his...