Results 5,901-5,920 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: We realise that most of it is done in writing but we are proposing the insertion to emphasise that it should be done. It does not make any difference whether it has been done previously in other Bills. It is a fair request to ask the Minister to insert the term "written consent". If it is what happens, why not insert it?

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: No. The Minister of State will come back to the issue on Report Stage. I withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the provisions in section 9. Greater flexibility must be provided to port companies to borrow funds to finance projects. This is an important section and its provisions would be welcomed by the port companies as it would give them greater flexibility where borrowings and investments are concerned. I presume they would need ministerial consent for larger amounts than those...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the amendment. The reduction to four months will be beneficial to everyone in that reports and financial accounts will become available at an earlier date.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: There are rail links in Waterford.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I respect the view of the Minister of State but cannot agree with him. Handing over these powers to An Bord Pleanála is a negation of democracy. If the Minister has responsibility for decisions, the elected representatives of the people can debate them in the Houses. Handing over the powers to a body that made dubious decisions in the past according to many local authorities is not the...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: No.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I raised this matter during the Second Stage debate on the Bill because I believe this provision is a retrograde step. I served on the board of a port company in Waterford, where there were three local authority members — one from Waterford County Council, one from Waterford City Council and the third from Kilkenny, where the actual port is located. The local authority members were people...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Not in commercial ports surely.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Do some of the smaller ports have less than 12 employees?

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: They were removed from them.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: It is not definite.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: I am pleased the Minister will examine it and that is all I will ask him to do. Perhaps it could be resubmitted on Report Stage. It is necessary. If the Minister does not have regard to these plans, it will be a negation of local democracy. I am glad the Minister has agreed to examine it although I realise he has not given any commitment. We will raise it again on Report Stage.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: This is getting to the point made by Senator O'Donovan a few moments ago with regard to transferring powers to An Bord Pleanála. The Minister is responsible for policy and in view of this the proposal to transfer powers to An Bord Pleanála is outrageous. It is a negation of responsibility. At least if the Minister is responsible we in the Oireachtas can hold him or her accountable and we...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Paddy the plasterer.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Why are they not put in the bin and a line drawn under the matter?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: The Leader should tell the Minister that.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: Look how wrong the Americans got it on a previous occasion.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Maurice Cummins: They should be blown up.