Results 861-880 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Members were very unruly throughout the Order of Business today. It does nothing for the decorum and dignity of the House to have such occurrences. People should reconsider, when they come into the House, whether they do things properly. It would be better if they did not come in if they are going to involve themselves in the type of activity we have seen here today. Senator O'Brien...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Let us not forget that the period in respect of automatic discharge from bankruptcy was reduced only two years ago from 12 years to three years.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: It takes time for measures to bed in. It is unfair to engage in knee-jerk reactions to legislation which only came into effect in December 2013.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Hayden and O'Donnell raised the issue of profits in the banking sector. Senator O'Donnell also mentioned that she is not a great fan of the banks in terms of what they are currently doing and called for a debate on the banking sector. I have asked the Minister for Finance to come to the House for a debate on that issue, although I have not yet been successful. However, I continue...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: As I mentioned yesterday, mortgage arrears are putting a great deal of pressure on many families. The Government is determined to ensure that as the recovery deepens, nobody will be left behind. We are making headway in terms of improving the situation. The most recent figures show a significant improvement in arrears, particularly in respect of family homes. The Central Bank figures...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I will leave it to the Member who proposed the amendment to the Order of Business. Does he want to come here at 5 p.m. when the Minister is here? The Minister is available after 5 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: We hope to finish our business at 2 p.m. but we will reconvene at 5 p.m. at the request of Senator Darragh O'Brien.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister has agreed to come in at 5 p.m and that is the only time he can come in. We will suspend from when we finish the Workplace Relations Bill 2014. The Minister for Health will come here to discuss ambulance and emergency services for 30 minutes.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (5 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: We had agreed to an amendment to the Order of Business in order that the Minister for Health would come to the House at 5 p.m. The Minister will be held up until 6 p.m. at least in the other House. The Minister has agreed to come to the House for half an hour next week to deal with the matter and I have agreed this with Senator O'Brien as well. Therefore, we will not be dealing with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 1.15 p.m., and No. 61, motion 17, to be taken at 4 p.m., with the time allocated for the debate not to exceed two hours.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Before I reply to the Order of Business, I note that there are only seven or eight Members present. Approximately 25 Senators made contributions on the Order of Business. Where did they go?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I am reluctant to reply in respect of many of the points raised by those who have gone missing. Senator Mooney quite correctly raised the leaked HSE report which deals with overpayments, copies of which many of us received. As a number of Members noted, those overpayments should be returned to the Exchequer. Those who are overpaid by the Department of Social Protection are obliged to repay...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: They will certainly have support from this side of the House in condemning all violent acts against individuals in this country.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Hayden raised the issue of rents and argued that an information campaign informing tenants of their rights should be instituted. I support her comments in that regard and hopefully the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government or a Minister of State at his Department will come to the House to discuss regulations which could be introduced to help tenants. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: -----all the information he requires and I hope he is satisfied in that regard. Senator Keane called for a debate on child care and asked that any such debate be evidence-based, which I am sure will be the case. Hopefully we will have that debate with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Reilly, next week. Senator Healy Eames asked for a debate on the elimination of milk...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (4 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that Report and Final Stages of the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014 will not be taken today and that Committee Stage will conclude at 4 o'clock, as previously outlined.

Seanad: Establishment of Electoral Commission: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, amendment from Dáil Éireann, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, statements on the national car testing system, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 and to conclude no later than 6 p.m., with the contributions of Senators not to exceed...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator MacSharry raised the question of mortgage arrears and insolvency arrangements. No doubt the Government understands the real pressure that many families are under in this regard and it is doing everything possible as the recovery deepens so that nobody is left behind. Each situation is different and needs an individual solution to meet the needs of a particular family but it is clear...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I hope that never comes to being. I am sure the Minister will come to the House to debate the matter. The Minister has stressed the need for competitiveness and for research and development in those areas, especially the manufacturing areas. I am sure the Minister will come in to address the point and have a debate on the issue in the near future. Senator Crown spoke about the...