Results 6,841-6,860 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Garda Investigations: Motion. (28 Sep 2005)

Maurice Cummins: Many of my words will echo the remarks of previous speakers and the Minister. It is absolutely fitting that the motion before us is an all-party motion which every party in the House fully supports. The decommissioning of IRA weapons must be welcomed by all right-thinking people. It was long overdue and hopefully the IRA and Sinn Féin will abandon, along with the weapons and explosives, the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: The suggestions and proposals are sensible and strengthen the Bill. We must respond to the major changes in society that we have witnessed in recent years, and this goes some way towards achieving that goal. Regarding members on secondment from other police forces, the Minister is right that we must have people with dynamism and fresh ideas and approaches to dealing with matters. I fully...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I did not entirely understand the Minister's last point. Is the section in question technically incorrect?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: The existence of a typographical error means the section is not correct.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: What is in front of us is not correct.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: Although I could do so, I will not press the matter at this stage. I agree with the Minister's comments regarding matters of a sensitive nature and so on. The penalties for those who are found to have abused the system in this regard must be clarified because we cannot have a situation where files go missing or are mislaid. However, in a situation where it has been announced that there will...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: We fully support the two amendments. They make eminent sense.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: As the Minister stated, this House addressed that entire area at length. Amendment No. 43 states the Minister shall cause a copy of guidelines to be issued. When will these guidelines become available? Amendment No. 41 allows for the inclusion of persons representing local community interests. That was also discussed at length and we made the case that public representatives represent local...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: And the Minister will provide the money straightaway.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: They will probably do a lot better than the National Aquatic Centre.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I thank the Minister for the time he has given to the debate in the House. On this side of the House we were very disappointed that the legislation was not recommitted to Committee Stage in the other House. That prevented us from dealing with many amendments the Fine Gael Party wanted to put forward. This Bill is the most important legislation dealing with the Garda Síochána since the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: ——served the State well in protecting the citizens and the institutions of the State. Many members of the force have given their lives in this cause. The Bill must be seen as a new beginning, a new challenge and a new era of transparency. To that end, we welcome the Bill. It presents a new challenge, which the force will be capable of meeting. We wish to thank the Minister for giving of...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: That is not always right.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: Not in Donegal. To where could the gardaí in Donegal have passed them on?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: We need to ensure that the best people are doing the work of the Garda Síochána, as the Minister said. I agree with his comments about transparency and fairness, which are of paramount importance when promotions are being made within the force. We all want the best people to be promoted. I intended to make the point the Minister made about the promotion panels. People who are above reproach...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: So the version of the Bill we have in front of us is technically incorrect.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: We have strayed a long way from Garda promotions.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I agree with much of what Senator White said but it does not refer to the amendments in group 9.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: I hope it is based on ability.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (30 Jun 2005)

Maurice Cummins: This is a strong section. Dismissal will occur if a member undermines public confidence, which is subjective. Who defines "public confidence"? Summary dismissal should be the last resort and all disciplinary procedures should be exhausted before it takes place. I agree with the Minister that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander but dismissal must be handled delicately. The...