Results 1,481-1,500 of 2,156 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: Is Mr. Wickham aware of any issues being identified in that context?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: What about the inspection and periodic testing of those materials? Is the Department satisfied that enough is being done to ensure we do not have a repeat of what has happened heretofore? That is the key question here. If we are not satisfied that enough is being done on scrutiny, inspection and assessment of materials that are coming out of quarries today, what do we need to do to ensure...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the announcement that Cabinet made yesterday about increasing the income disregard for students, so that they can earn additional moneys outside of term time without it affecting their student grant. This has now been increased from €4,500 to €6,552 as a result of the decision by the Cabinet. I raised this issue within our own Fine Gael Parliamentary Party several...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I have been thinking about what the Senator has suggested on all of the points and I keep arriving back at the same point. If I am applying for something adjacent to a site that requires substitute consent – let us say I want to build a house - why in my right mind would I attach an application for a genuine development to something so toxic that it requires substitute consent? I...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: It is not an issue.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House for the Second Stage debate on this Bill. This is one of the most exciting and reforming Bills we have had before the House in some time. It is an extensive body of work.I thank the officials who have worked extensively on the legislation. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage which, as...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: That is a great shame because any political party that receives State funding should certainly have the general secretary-----

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: If I could continue.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Acting Chairperson. The point I was trying to make is very important and valid. Political parties that receive State funding should certainly co-operate with an Oireachtas joint committee. It certainly was not just one party in the singular. A number of parties did not send their general secretaries to the committee for engagement on what I believe is significant legislation....

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I will not interrupt the Senator either. He need not worry.

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: The Senator will not be on the electoral commission, do not worry.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (1 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House for what I feel is a very important Commencement matter, which is the eligibility of students for the SUSI grant if they take on additional work during the summer period. As he will be aware, many students rely heavily on the SUSI grant to assist them in getting through college. I commend him on the changes that he has brought forward, which mean...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (1 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and for taking this proposal, seeing the benefits of it and, as he stated at the outset, seeing it for what it is - a common-sense proposal that will benefit students and employers and help to assist in addressing the staff shortages we have in the economy at present. I welcome that the Minister stated he will make this change but I stress...

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Fine Gael supports the Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022. As has been outlined already, the main proposal is to introduce an interest cap on moneylending loans which will protect low-income households who avail of moneylender loans. I too represent many working class communities and have done so since 2009 when I became a councillor in...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: That is the first time that has happened.

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome this amendment from the Government. It is an important change. The previous iteration would have excluded anything in the past, whereas we are now capturing that in the previous ten years. People may have been convicted under the Building Control Act in the previous ten years and it is right and proper for the public to know that. That is why we are introducing this in the first...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome these proposed changes to the fair deal scheme. I understand and appreciate the concerns in some quarters that these provisions encourage the movement of people into nursing homes. We need to look at them in the reverse and see the benefit of these homes, which are vacant in the case where a family member is already in a nursing home, being brought back into productive use for...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome these amendments being brought forward to strengthen the legislation that has already been passed by this House to place the affordable purchase scheme and the shared equity scheme on a statutory footing. Will the Minister comment on the date for the commencement of the shared equity scheme? We are hoping that it will be in place for July. Will he confirm that is the case? In my...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: I genuinely think the Senator has made serious allegations in suggesting An Bord Pleanála would, in some way, not do its duty to adjudicate on planning applications on their merits. We either have faith in our planning system and the independence of An Bord Pleanála to do its job or we do not. I have faith. I am not happy with the delays in An Bord Pleanála and think one...