Results 5,841-5,860 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

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

Maurice Cummins: I empathise with much of Senator Norris's statements. The Austrian and Belgian situations are interesting. Were we to adopt a similar resolution, would we delay our ratification of the convention? Neither Senator Norris nor anyone else would want or suggest that, since it makes sense that people apply the same standards in legislation. I would welcome the Minister of State's comments in...

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

Maurice Cummins: How were the stipulations that a munition should contain fewer than ten explosive submunitions and that each such submunition should weigh more than 4 kilograms arrived at? It is obvious that much negotiation took place but regardless of whether it is large or small, a bomb is still a bomb. I look forward to the Minister of State's explanation in this regard.

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

Maurice Cummins: I thank the Minister for his explanation. It is obvious the definition came about as a result of painstaking negotiations. Fine Gael would prefer a ban on all cluster munitions. However, to seek to change matters at this stage would result in our applying different standards to other countries thus delaying ratification of the convention. For these reasons, we will go along with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Leyden should raise the matter with the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Leader only picked the good parts of the Senator's contribution.

Seanad: Council Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism: Motion (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of order, yesterday the Leader indicated that an error had been made on No. 1 and that the Order Paper should have read that the motion was "to be taken with debate" rather than "without debate". This morning he again indicated that the motion would be taken without debate. Which statement is correct? What is the position?

Seanad: Council Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism: Motion (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: In response to a query from Senator Regan, the Leader indicated the motion would be debated today.

Seanad: Council Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism: Motion (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Did the Leader indicate on Tuesday that the motion would be taken with debate?

Seanad: Council Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism: Motion (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: We object to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Council Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism: Motion (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I raised a point of order before the Order of Business was agreed.

Seanad: Council Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism: Motion (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: No, it was not afterwards.

Seanad: Council Framework Decision on Combating Terrorism: Motion (27 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: On a point of clarification, we are not against the motion per se, but rather against it not being allowed to be discussed. That was our reason for calling for a division.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Waterford.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for his comprehensive contribution. I welcome the Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008, which is before the House today and acknowledge that my colleague in the Dáil, Deputy Billy Timmins, introduced a similar Bill earlier in the year. The Bill before us, after amendment in the other House, contains many of the objectives...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The amount of freight carried by rail is minimal. There is a need for more freight to be carried by rail. The Irish Exporters Association has claimed that up to 10% of all freight could be carried by rail if there were a willingness on the part of CIE to do so. I have raised the matter before in the House. CIE has no interest in carrying freight by rail.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: When I worked in Waterford Port, five to six freight trains came into the port every night with up to 150 containers. Nowadays, practically none goes into the port. It is because CIE is uncompetitive and has no interest in carrying freight. I thought it would have been the Green Party's policy, as well as every other party's, to take freight off the roads. I call for a debate on...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I was in Leinster House 2000 and I heard them.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The House is being treated with contempt, given the way this has been introduced. The Minister of State gave undertakings on Second Stage but when amendments such as these are tabled on Committee Stage, Committee Stage should be postponed until proper amendments to deal with this specific matter are put before us. It is not acceptable to be told an amendment may be tabled on Report Stage or...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: It is extraordinary that a Bill on housing does not contain a definition of homelessness and has little or no mention of homelessness. The Minister of State should take on board the amendments that we have put forward. People are putting forward amendments to improve the Bill. We would welcome the acceptance of such amendments or an assurance from the Minister of State that he will put...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I join my colleagues in calling for relevant debates on topical issues that concern the public. Both sides of the House this morning requested debates on gangland crime, education cuts, which we have asked for on this side of the House for the past five or six weeks, and, as Senator Quinn said, the economy. We were assured by the Leader of the House five or six weeks ago that we would have...