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

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Darragh O'Brien referred to the gambling control Bill. We will await the Minister's comments on same.We were initially told that the Bill would be introduced last year, but I now understand that it will not be published before the summer. I agree with the Senator that it was initially intended that the Betting (Amendment) Bill and the gambling control Bill would be run fairly...

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I am sympathetic to the amendment proposed by Senator Darragh O'Brien but I await the Minister of State's response. I share the Senator's concerns regarding the gambling control Bill. It was intended that it would be introduced in parallel with the Betting (Amendment) Bill. I am aware it is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality but it is not leading to the spirit that was...

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: They are hobby horses.

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator O'Brien should not lose the house whatever he does.

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Bill, which is a good first step. Its focus is on facilitating the taxation of remote betting and levelling the playing field for bookmakers. Everybody will agree with this. I cannot disagree with anything my colleague in the Opposition stated. The gambling control Bill is an essential part of the gambling and betting jigsaw which must be put in place. We have now put in...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Gender Recognition Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 4.45 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator MacSharry called for a debate on equality in education, particularly about teacher promotional prospects. We will try to arrange such a debate. The funding of local government was also raised. This matter has been the subject of Commencement debates in the past few weeks, with specific reference to Sligo County Council. We will try to get the Minister, Deputy Kelly, to come to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: If it was only down to resources, the situation would have been solved a long number of years ago when resources were thrown at it. However, the system got worse. I totally reject Senator Leyden’s assertion that accident and emergency departments throughout the country are mismanaged. I would like to compliment doctors, nurses and all involved in accident and emergency departments...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister is doing everything possible. The 50 managers of the hospitals were invited to meet the Minister yesterday. Of course there is quite an increase in flu-related admissions to our hospitals. The Government has allocated €25 million in a national service plan and that is being used as planned in providing additional funding for 50 transitionary care beds in the greater...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I am sure this will be welcomed throughout rural Ireland, in particular. The Government has been criticised in rural Ireland in the context of the possible closure of schools. I hope this policy nails that lie on the head at this stage. Senator Barrett has raised the question of Aer Lingus on a number of occasions in recent weeks. He has said that public representatives will not be swayed...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I am sure the other House and the Government will stand firm and stand up to these threats from the tobacco company. Senators Leyden and Brennan referred to the question of reducing the speed limit in housing estates. Everybody agrees that something will have to be done. Perhaps the best course of action involves putting up signs stating that the speed limit is 20 km/h, installing speed...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Brennan also complimented the Irish cricket team. He was joined by Senator Conway in complimenting the community down in the Loop Head Peninsula on its efforts in promoting Loop Head, which is now in the top 100 green destinations in the world. Senator Conway particularly complimented Councillor Keating on his stewardship in that regard. Senator Quinn pointed out that a Bill on...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Ar 10.30 a.m. amárach.

Seanad: Appointment of Ombudsman for Children: Motion (12 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I propose that the Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Bill 2014 be now taken at 2.30 p.m. rather than 2 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The idea of that change was to give Members an opportunity to attend committee meetings and the Order of Business later. Senator Naughton welcomed the allocation of €320,000 for additional funding for festivals nationwide. She also welcomed the awarding of a purple flag for Galway and lauded many initiatives in her native city in this regard. Senator Zappone called for a debate on...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: No, that is George Orwell, not here. Senator Mooney also praised Fáilte Ireland on the greening of prominent buildings on St. Patrick’s Day across the world. I also compliment the agency on its efforts in this regard. Senator Jim D’Arcy raised the inclusion support scheme announced by the Minister for Education and Skills which will bring together several services in...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Marc MacSharry raised the question of Aer Lingus. The Government will make a decision on the sale of the 25% share after considering all points from the committee established to inform its deliberations. I was asked for a debate on the budget of the Department of Health. The Minister was in the House recently to discuss the health service plan and the matter was discussed then....

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the appointment of the Ombudsman for Children, to be taken at 1.15 p.m. and to conclude no later than 2 p.m. with contributions from spokespersons not to exceed six minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply no later than 1.55 p.m.; and No. 2, Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Bill 2014, Committee and remaining Stages to be...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (11 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Section 19(1) refers to a register of remote bookmaking operations and states: The Revenue Commissioners shall establish and maintain a register (to be known, and in this Act referred to, as the ‘Register of Remote Bookmaking Operations’).I presume that the register will become common knowledge and it will be advertised, by the Revenue Commissioners, who is on the register or...