Results 1,061-1,080 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: This section refers to the Living City initiative which I raised on Second Stage. Has there been any further indication as to when we can expect the initiative to become a reality? It has been promised for a number of years. I realise there were problems and some of it had to be cleared with Europe. What is the current position and when is it likely to be in place?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Like all the people of Waterford, I received a flimsy leaflet through my letter box from Sinn Féin about income tax. It was the usual populist poppycock. It referred to taxing the wealthy and said Fine Gael and the Labour Party were giving tax relief to the wealthy. It comes back to the reply of the Minister of State. People on the higher end of the lower income tax bracket, at...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I will confine my remarks to the universal social charge or USC, the issue addressed in the section, and speak on income tax when we discuss the relevant section. I welcome the provisions on the universal social charge. The Bill removes liability for the USC from 80,000 people, bringing to more than 400,000 the number of people who have been removed from this liability since the Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The vast majority of Members who have spoken this morning have spoken on the Áras Attracta case which we saw on our television screens last evening. Everybody who saw the programme was shocked. It is totally unacceptable that vulnerable people should be treated in such a cruel and insensitive way. There is an ongoing inquiry and due process must apply. However, I hope that...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: That is fine. We will try to have the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, attend at another time, in early course, because it is necessary that we have clarification on what is happening now. Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business which relates to the Aer Lingus AGM. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has attended here previously to respond to an...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, came here and gave a very comprehensive reply.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister is quite willing to come here again. I accept the amendment to the Order of Business which means we will have statements on the Government's stance at the Aer Lingus AGM from 3 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. today. I accede to the Senator's request and thank the Minister again.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I cannot debate the matter any sooner than I have outlined and we have ordered the business accordingly.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I am trying to assist the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: We can talk. We have tabled a discussion of the Finance Bill. The 3 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. slot is free and I have asked the Minister to attend. He is willing to come in to explain the matter. Does the Senator want to amend the Order of Business or not?

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I amend the Order of Business to indicate that we will have the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport here at 3 o'clock. Senator Bacik, and indeed all Senators, have made very good contributions and outlined their personal, family and other circumstances in regard to the programme on Áras Attracta. The contributions were very touching. We will try to arrange a debate on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Finance Bill 2014 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 11.45 p.m. and to be adjourned no later than 3 p.m. if not previously concluded; No. 2, statements on sustainable farming and the dairy pricing outlook, to be taken at 3.30 p.m. with the contributions of all Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply no later than 4.50 p.m.;...

Seanad: Committee Membership: Motion (9 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I move: That-Senator Susan O’Keeffe be discharged from membership of the Committee of Selection and Senator Marie Moloney be appointed in substitution for her; and Senator Lorraine Higgins be discharged from membership of the Committee of Selection and Senator Aideen Hayden be appointed in substitution for her.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I am not offering to bring a senior Minister before the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: A number of Members raised the issue of payment of the junior bondholders. They will be at the very end of the queue, as outlined by all Ministers.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: They will be behind taxpayers-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: -----the credit unions and many others. They will be at the end of the queue. If there is any money left-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: -----consideration will then be given to them.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Naughton and Comiskey welcomed the increased funding for festival and events programmes announced yesterday by the Minister of State, Deputy Ring. It is very positive news for tourism here. Senator Cullinane also welcome the announcement about Waterford Crystal, on which I have already commented. The Senator, along with Senator Ó Clochartaigh, also spoke about the people of...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Double insolvency-----