Results 1,681-1,700 of 2,156 for speaker:John Cummins

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid Pandemic Supports (7 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: It is not an understatement that the live theatre and events sector is in disarray since last Friday's announcement by Government to cut the capacity to 50%. I do not envy the Minister or her Cabinet colleagues who have faced unprecedented decisions over the past 18 months, but I have to question the logic that sees public transport being able to operate at 100%, while safe venues, such as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid Pandemic Supports (7 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: I reiterate the money has to get to where it is needed most, which is the smaller local and semi-professional groups. The scheme mentioned by the Minister of State in his reply stipulates that a group must have a turnover of €300,000 in two of the past three years and must have a minimum production value of €150,000. That will not cater for the very people who need to be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: This morning, I tabled a Commencement matter with Senator Malcolm Byrne in respect of the live entertainment and theatre sector, the 50% capacity constraint that has been placed on venues and the challenges it is causing for local groups and not-for-profit organisations that are in the middle of organising productions, concerts and pantomimes. I gave the examples of Waterford Panto Society,...

Seanad: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Acting Chairman. I join with Members in welcoming the Minister to the House and thank him for bringing forward a once-in-a-generation piece of legislation. It is a very comprehensive and complex Bill that runs to 259 pages. It is only right and proper that we acknowledge all of the officials in the Minister’s Department who have worked exceptionally hard on it, not only...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (7 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: Yes.

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (7 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: I propose that Senator Carrigy and I both speak for two and a half minutes. I join with colleagues in welcoming the Tánaiste to the House. Exceptional times call for exceptional measures. There is no question that this Government and its predecessor, which the Tánaiste led, have put unprecedented supports in place since the onset of this pandemic. Schemes like the temporary wage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Update from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (7 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: I have just sat down. I thank the Minister of State and I apologise that I was not present for all the committee meeting as I had a commitment in the Seanad. I would like to comment on a couple of areas of the Minister of State’s brief. The built heritage grant schemes that are in place, such as thatching grants schemes, are very valuable. I do not need to tell the Minister of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: I wish to follow on from the theme of the contribution of my colleague, Senator McGahon, namely, Covid. I raised with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, in the Seanad last night the issue of the cohort of 230,000 people who received the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine, of which I am one and I know Senator McGahon is one. It is generally our age cohort that received that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: Not to labour the point, the best-case scenario here is that we introduce a system in good faith to try to reduce the number of judicial reviews taken and to enable public participation in the planning process at the first stage. The worst-case scenario, however, is that we block up the entire planning process in local authorities. The only solution involves resourcing planning departments,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State and officials. These regulations are welcome in order to bring clarity to the sector. It is very important that they have clear sight of these in short order. The concerns I expressed on Second, Committee and Report Stages do not necessarily relate to the fees structure but relate more so to the resourcing of local authorities to be able to fulfil their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development (LRD Fees) Regulations 2021: Motion (2 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: Law and order and justice are values which my party hold very dear. They are values I share. I am proud that since 2011 we have had a 54% increase in Garda numbers in my own county of Waterford, with a similar, if not greater, increase in civilian staff numbers. We have also seen huge increases in terms of the Garda fleet and the development of specific units within An Garda...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Health): Statements (1 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: That is fine. I thank the Cathaoirleach. I am in the cohort who received the single-dose Janssen vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.I welcome the Minister. He spoke about Ireland being the country in Europe with the fifth lowest mortality rate in respect of Covid. That is phenomenal and it is due to our high vaccination rate. He noted 42 additional ICU beds have opened this...

Seanad: Covid-19 and the New Measures (Health): Statements (1 Dec 2021)

John Cummins: Are we getting supplementary questions?

Seanad: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister to the House. Obviously the national development plan is exceptionally important for my own city of Waterford. The ambition in Project Ireland 2040 to drive population growth within the south-east region and to have balanced regional development and interconnectivity between the regions is of critically importance. I heard Senator Malcolm Byrne speak about Rosslare...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I am from a coastal county - Waterford - so all elements of this are very important to me and the people I represent. Mr. Cronin said all of the information is readily available to allow decisions to be made. Will it take 13 months to compile all of that information? What is the best-case timeline regarding the completion of this body of work? Mr. Cronin referenced actions and mitigation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Protected Areas: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (30 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: How many members of staff are working on this? How does that compare in terms of resourcing? Mr. Cronin mentioned the UK. Anyone in answer to a question like this would say, of course, we could do with more resources, but I am trying to ascertain current resources in respect of a comparable nation such as the UK, even on a pro ratabasis.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: Two weeks ago I expressed my disappointment at the leader of Sinn Féin and of some Opposition Deputies in objecting to 1,592 rental properties in north Dublin. I called out the warped logic that said building 1,592 rental properties, at a time when we have such a shortage of rental accommodation, was going to make the situation worse. I genuinely did not think that we would be back in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: ----- on public land, which is the mantra we hear in this House and the Lower House every single day of the week. A target of 100% social and affordable housing on public land is what was voted against by Sinn Féin, three Labour Party councillors, Social Democrats, People Before Profit and some independent councillors in Dublin City Council this week, where they opposed the Oscar Traynor...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: As regards the contribution of Senator Sherlock, if there was a cumulative rent increase of 4% and 4%, that was illegal and not permitted under the legislation the Government brought forward earlier in the year. If a landlord has been in breach of that legislation, that should be reported to the RTB, which the Government is financing with additional resources of up to €21 million for...