Results 1,161-1,180 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I commend the movers of the Bill. We all want to see change and reform in the way we do our business. I agree with some items in the Bill but there are some that I totally disagree with. I reject totally that the Government has been in any way obstructionist in relation to this Bill. Let us look at the Title of Bill - the Seanad Bill. I would have thought that it would have been called...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I am sure that when the report is in place we will have another very important debate in this House on the proposals put forward. Again, I reject the claim that we have not been reforming this House. We have done quite a number of things to reform this House already.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: We have referred to the public consultation committee. We have already met the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on European Scrutiny. Senators Quinn, Leyden, van Turnhout, Colm Burke and myself will examine the EU work programme which will be published this month of November, probably next week. We will look at areas we can debate from that work programme in this House. That is one item. We will...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: This is an effort by the Government. Some people do not like it because it will affect them personally in terms of how they get elected. They are right to fight their corner in that regard. They are very right in fighting their own corner and we have to listen to them as well. This Government has listened to what the people said in 1979 and will try to legislate for same. I reject totally...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to allow the House until 5.50 p.m. to conclude its work on this Bill.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Fifth Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: We are on Fifth Stage and the Minister has said that she will be bringing it back to the House. I propose that we extend the time until 2.15 p.m. if necessary. We are on Fifth Stage, so I ask for the co-operation of Members.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Fifth Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that we extend the time allocated for the debate by five minutes to allow us to complete our consideration of the Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I note Senator Lorraine Higgins’s points about the penalty points system. I am glad that Senator Paschal Mooney referred to the remarks made by Deputy Gerry Adams in New York, which had not previously been mentioned. They were totally unacceptable. Journalists are being killed throughout the world and very upset at such remarks. Although the Deputy might compare himself to him, he...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Sligo Members in particular have raised the question-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: It is 3.50 p.m. Senators MacSharry, O'Keeffe, Comiskey and Henry, who all happen to be from Sligo, raised questions on Sligo County Council. We are all aware that it has a massive debt at this point in time. Of course, it is the elected members themselves who have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting an annual budget and...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I note the Senator's points and those of others on the junior cycle. Senators Craughwell, Wilson, Mooney, Michael D'Arcy, Mullins, Healy Eames and others referred to the dispute with teachers on the junior cycle. It has been recognised that the Minister has gone some way, though obviously not as far as the unions would like, and I hope both parties work for a solution. That is what...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator could let me reply. He had his say.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Government has taken more than 500,000 people out of the universal social charge which Senator Walsh and his party imposed on the lower paid. That is what the Government did on the universal social charge and it will continue to reduce that Fianna Fáil tax.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m and adjourn not later than 2 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 2, statements on fisheries, to be taken at 2 p.m. and conclude not later than 4 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not...

Seanad: Suicide and Mental Health: Statements (11 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: At 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 12 November 2014.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Thomas Byrne referred to the statements on the schedule and the lack of legislation. This is the first week we have seen statements on each of the three sitting days. In the preceding nine sitting weeks, we dealt with legislation every week and debated the various Stages of some 13 items of legislation this term. Two new items of legislation will commence on Second Stage next week...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on suicide and mental health, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than 5.40 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Mooney, Leyden, Coghlan, Bradford and others raised the important issue of the Jean-Claude Trichet letter which will certainly form part of the banking inquiry. In my view those letters should be investigated by the banking inquiry which I am sure will deal comprehensively with them. In the House yesterday the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: That is good to hear. I am sure Senator Leyden will be called to give evidence to the inquiry in that regard.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Whelan spoke about the debate on Irish Water and he highlighted the need to invest in infrastructure. A number of Members have asked for a further debate on Irish Water. When the Government has finalised its plans I will ask the Minister, Deputy Kelly, to come to the House. It was regrettable that we did not have a comprehensive debate. There was no objection to the Order of...