Results 7,401-7,420 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement: Motion. (19 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister and the forthright manner in which he elaborated on the republican movement and those involved therein. It has always been my belief that Sinn Féin and the IRA were inextricably linked and that the republican movement is involved in corruption and racketeering, and continues to be involved in punishment beatings. We, on this side of the House, have no wish to play...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: People under 18 cannot go into a bookie's shop and place a bet. Likewise, people under 18 cannot play the lottery, yet children can legally place bets on the tote, which is a State-run body. This happens throughout the country on dog and horse racing tracks. Some people may say there is no harm in this, which may be true for the majority of children, but others can get hooked on gambling....

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The only problem was that the other side of the House was asleep when the amendment was put and agreed to.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: That is the only ambiguity that existed last week.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The first sentence of this evening's motion commends the Government for its prudent handling of the public finances. Senators on the Government side have a cheek to suggest this after the Punchestown debacle when €15 million was spent in the Minister for Finance's constituency and proper regulations and procedures were abandoned. Where was the Progressive Democrats, the so-called guardians...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: However, the people who are paying the taxes know all about them. While they may be small increases to Senator Mansergh and his friends, they hit the poor and middle classes. Whatever they are called, they are extra taxes on the public. In 2002, An Agreed Programme for Government stated: "We will keep the public finances in a healthy condition and we will keep down personal and business taxes".

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Mansergh will not like to hear of some of the taxes but they exist. In 2002, motor tax increased by 12% and hospital charges by 26%.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The cost of the drug refund scheme rose by 31%, VHI charges by 18% and the cost of cigarettes and alcohol by 15%. Bank and car charges rose by a staggering 108%, bin charges by 29% and ESB charges by 13%.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: College fees rose by 9%.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Parking fees rose by 25% and bus fares by 9%.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: They are all stealth taxes and extra charges which the public must pay.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: They do not need a 9% price increase. The Minister could find the money for the debacle at the mad cow roundabout. In the December 2003 budget, the Government introduced further charges and taxes. The drugs refund scheme threshold was raised by €8 to €78 per month, accident and emergency charges increased from €40 to €45 and there was a 15% increase in the cost of a private bed in a...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The cost of a three year passport for infants up to three years of age rose from €12 to €15 while the five year passport for those between the ages of three and 18 years rose by over 100%, and the emergency fee for passports increased by €37. Motor tax increased again in 2003 by a further 5%. The House knows of the increases in commercial rates, which have soared way beyond inflation....

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: This is due mainly to the Government's failure to control prices. With regard to jobs, industry and small business, there are 170,000 people on the live register according to the Central Statistics Office.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: Some 11,000 industrial jobs were lost in 2003. Industrial employment is at its lowest level since 1998 and almost 30,000 jobs have been lost since 2001. ISME warned that 35,000 small firm jobs are in danger. According to a survey carried out by that group, one quarter of companies stated they expected to employ fewer people this year. The same survey showed that most small business owners...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: We have witnessed the impact of the 16 social welfare cuts. One disgraceful cut was reversed, that hitting at poor widows, on which the Government was forced to row back. It is a pity the surplus in the finances is not used to reverse the other 15 cuts. It is clear that Government priorities are not in line with those of hard-working, honest people.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: They did that before.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The 1977 budget was the cause of it.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister was one of those who opposed it.

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Maurice Cummins: What about the first-time buyers?