Results 6,461-6,480 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 24: In page 12, subsection (3), line 21, to delete "may" and substitute "shall". Sections 12 and 13 deal with inquiries into the conduct of prisoners and sanctions that can be imposed on them if they are found to have breached prison rules. Amendments Nos. 24, 27, 29 and 31 are essentially of a technical nature. Amendment No. 24 allows for procedures for an inquiry to...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 29: In page 13, subsection (1)(g), line 25, before "during" to insert "but not confiscation,". In view of the Minister's commitment to reconsider the wording of the subsection, I withdraw my amendment.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 31: In page 14, subsection (5)(b), line 5, to delete "has" and substitute "has, in the opinion of the governor,".

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: Amendment No. 35 seeks to delete "notify the governor of his or her intention to" because this phrase infers no duty on the prisoner and introduces confusion in the context of the steps which must be taken for an appeal to be lodged. Amendment No. 36 allows the prisoner to make an appeal directly, which I understand to be the Minister's intention. Amendment No. 37 then allows the prisoner...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: Amendment No. 43 refers to appointing qualified people to an appeals tribunal. I feel strongly that the constituency the Minister describes in section 16(3) is unnecessarily restrictive. As I said on Second Stage, I understand that it has probably been modelled on other tribunals. However, it overlooks the pool of experience provided by former prison governors, for example, or those who...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: Perhaps certain of the men in white coats would be better qualified than some of the tribunal members.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I still believe that confining membership to the legal profession is very restrictive. The Minister mentioned the Human Rights Commission. If one had people from it or perhaps a former chairman, they would be eminently qualified to navigate whatever legal obstacles were in their way. The provision confining membership to the legal profession is unnecessary for such an appeals tribunal.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: Is the legal profession not also capable of that?

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I took on board the Minister's comments on this on Second Stage and, therefore, have not tabled many amendments on the section. I have suggested that when future prisons are built, they would include courthouses on site. This would cut down on the various costs associated with transporting prisoners between court and prison.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: More than 12 months ago I raised the question of the delay in issuing Garda age cards. Garda age cards are used by persons of 18 years of age and upwards who wish to enter night clubs and other venues. It takes four to six months, and sometimes longer, to issue such cards. I have been approached by a number of these people again recently who asked the reason for the delay in issuing the...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, line 5, after "his" to insert "or her". This amendment is entirely technical in nature and refers to the definition of "governor". As a general rule, the practice in legislation is to refer to gender-neutral terms such as "member", "practitioner", "officer", "Minister", etc., in a gender-neutral fashion by using the phrases "him and her" or "his or her". I...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, subsection (1), line 2, to delete "Government" and substitute "Oireachtas". The effect of the amendment would be to ensure no contract for the privatisation of prison services would be entered into without the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Such an important process should be subject to non-governmental scrutiny. Amendments Nos. 5 to 11,...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: Section 6(6) does not cover the issues I raised. When claims are made against the State regarding custody officers, it will be too late. These amendments should be made.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister can make rules and, while section 6(7) covers the issues I raised to some extent, the Minister should be more specific.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I failed to address amendment No. 11 in the group. It is a technical amendment, the function of which is to expand the definition of "applicant" to address all eventualities. The definition in the Bill is insufficient.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: Our amendments are more specific and would suit the legislation better than its current provisions.

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I move amendment No. 4: In page 7, subsection (4), line 14, to delete "the Garda Síochána" and substitute "An Garda Síochána".

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Committee Stage (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: I am trying to standardise the situation in all statutes. The proper name of "An Garda Síochána" should be included. The Tánaiste turned down a request for a similar amendment to the Criminal Justice 2006 Act, but the correct term of "An Garda Síochána" should be applied. As the Tánaiste has indicated that he will not accept the amendment, we will probably press it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: Could Senator Leyden do any better?

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2006)

Maurice Cummins: The price of gas should also be reduced.