Results 1,181-1,200 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Second Stage, to be taken at 1.45 p.m., with the contribution of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes. The reason the Bill is not due to be taken until 1.45 p.m. is because the Minister is not available until then.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: In the interests of clarity it has been agreed that the motion will be discussed during the debate on Irish Water which will be taking place fairly soon.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The time arrangements will be the same as those I outlined. It is now midday. The Minister will be called to reply to the debate no later than 2 p.m. with the contributions of Senators on Irish Water and on the motion not to exceed five minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: That is not true.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I ask if it could be agreed that the vote on the motion would be taken at the end because it will cut into the time.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: In that case, would the Opposition be agreeable to taking the statements first and the motion in the following hour because otherwise we will be cutting into the time for the statements? The House can decide again to change its mind and take the motion in the second hour which would be more suitable.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I propose that with the agreement of the Opposition, the debate on the motion will be in the second hour of the debate. I propose that statements be taken first, with the motion in the second hour, followed by the vote. If we take the motion, first we will be cutting into the time for the statements.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Minister cannot do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: As I said previously, I propose that with the agreement of the House we would have the two-hour debate, with one hour, being the second hour-----

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: -----and that we would have the vote on the motion at the conclusion of the debate rather than cutting into the amount of time for statements.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I will agree that it be taken without debate to get it out of the way.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senators Heffernan and Mullins spoke about the review of the electoral register. It is not fit for purpose at present and there is a need for local authorities to get their act together and to take a unified approach to the problem because as Senator Heffernan mentioned, there are people on the register who died a number of years ago and people who were removed from the register when they...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I am responding to Senator Byrne in his absence. Fianna Fáil has been panicked into a position to abandon water charges for an undefined period, a position not accounted for in the party's pre-budget submission. Typically, Fianna Fáil is just making up a contradictory policy as it goes along. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that radically reforming the water system for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Its original deal with the troika envisaged a €400 annual charge dating from last year with no allowances. Fianna Fáil does not know where it is on the matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: If the Senator thinks there is confusion on Irish Water within the Government, there is no policy where Fianna Fáil is concerned. The party has dithered from one way to another on numerous occasions and will continue to do so. I referred previously to what Senator MacSharry said on the beef crisis. Senator Bradford called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: That has gone on in this House for far too long. I cannot solve the issue. Members should look into their own hearts and examine the manner in which they conduct themselves in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Darragh O'Brien has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business calling for legislation to be introduced to provide for a referendum on Irish Water. I do not doubt that water is a resource of the Irish people. I do not think there is any doubt about that. The Taoiseach has stated on the record that the Government has no intention of privatising Irish Water in any way. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I do not think the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin have any intention of privatising the water supply. The Government is still preparing a package of reforms on water. The Taoiseach stated yesterday that his preference would be to strengthen the existing legislation that already prevents the privatisation of Irish Water. I think we should wait and spend a little time in...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: -----if he feels that what the Taoiseach and the Government have come up with is not strong enough. I ask the Senator to postpone any move, given that we are having a debate on Irish Water today and in light of the fact that the Government will clarify its stance on many issues next week. Senators Hayden and Norris expressed significantly differing views on Ruhama, which certainly does a...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2014)

Maurice Cummins: If the Senator is not happy with the reply, I cannot do anything about it. That is the reply I have given her. Senator Cullinane spoke about Irish Water. I think I have addressed that matter. Senator Landy called for the restoration of the bereavement grant. That is a matter he can raise with the Minister for Social Protection in the course of the social welfare Bill which will come to the...