Results 1,741-1,760 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I assume there will be an Easter egg for everyone in the audience. Senators Darragh O’Brien and David Cullinane called for a debate on the health service plan. I will try to get the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to attend the House to discuss that matter. The number of people with access to free medical care is the highest in the history of the State. Up to 43% of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: If the Senator allows me to finish, I will give him the information.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator tends not to let other Members to finish their points. Up to 43% of the population, 1,988,321, had access to free GP care at the end of 2013. Up to 1,863,984 people had full medical cards, while a further 124,337 had GP visit cards. In 2013 the Health Service Executive awarded an extra 100,000 medical cards, of which over 23,000 were on a discretionary basis. Put that in your...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Of course, smoking is not allowed in the House. I have no intention on commenting on the spats between the two Deputies in Carlow and Kilkenny. The Taoiseach has stated Mr. Frank Flannery should give evidence before the Committee of Public Accounts, with which I agree. Senator Susan O’Keeffe raised the matter of inter-country adoptions. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Michael Mullins raised the issue of the €68 million allocation for new social housing announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan. This is to be welcomed, in addition to the €15 million allocated for the refurbishment of local authority houses that are boarded up. Senators Michael Comiskey and Denis O’Donovan raised the issue of a Dutch super...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Leyden could go to the Dáil bar instead.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the 2020 Strategy on the Irish Language, in a change to the original schedule, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and conclude not later than 1 p.m., 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 12.50 p.m.; and...

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Ar 10.30 a.m. maidin amárach.

Seanad: General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Statements (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: On the Order of Business Members questioned the fact that we were only discussing the heads of the Bill and wondered why we would not have the Bill before us. When the Taoiseach came into the House following the referendum, he gave an undertaking that he would bring the heads of the Bill before the House and the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. We are honouring...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Leyden asked about the committee on the banking inquiry. I understand that it will be a committee of the House, so it is quite likely that there will be a Senator on it. We have made representations to the Government to have the Seanad represented if a special committee is set up.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Regarding the letter from Jean-Claude Trichet, Senator Leyden seems to know more than I do about where that letter is and what it contains. The mind boggles and one has to wonder why the previous Government did not publish that letter at the time.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Naughton called for a debate on higher education in the format of a public consultation session. Our next public consultation will be about human rights but I will speak with Senator Naughton privately to discuss her ideas in that regard. Perhaps we can organise such a debate later in the year. Senator O'Brien referred to the opening of the heritage centre in Manchester, as did...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The last two speakers spoke about the Wild Atlantic Way. We had wild times in the House earlier. I do not know what has come over some Members this afternoon.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: I am available for mediation. Senators Darragh O'Brien, James Heffernan and Martin Conway, among others, spoke about the passing of Christine Buckley. She was a remarkable and courageous lady and I express my condolences and those of the House to her family. On legislation being introduced in this House, as I have said on numerous occasions, I can only play the cards that have been dealt to...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator also referred to the people of Tibet. I have great respect for their endurance and will call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to debate the issue in the House. Senator Colm Burke raised the matter of the drafting of legislation. I will raise the matter with the Government Whip and he, in turn, will raise it with the Attorney General. The matter is being and needs...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the general scheme of the Seanad electoral (university Members) (amendment) Bill 2014, to be taken at 3.45 p.m. and to be adjourned not later than 5.45 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed six minutes.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: Senator O'Donovan, the Acting Leader of the Opposition, inquired about the Legal Services Regulation Bill. I understand the legislation went to committee on 12 February. As the Senator is aware, it is a lengthy Bill and it will take some time to dispose of it in committee. Report Stage must also be taken in the Dáil before it is introduced in the Seanad. As such, it will be some time...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: There were not many Members in the Chamber.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the reform of further education and training and the apprenticeship system, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to conclude not later than 1.30 p.m., with the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 1.20...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (4 Mar 2014)

Maurice Cummins: As Leader of the House I am privileged to pay tribute to the late Martin Joe O'Toole, former Deputy and Senator. He sadly passed away last October. I wish to express my sincere sympathies to his family, to his sons and daughters, his wider family circle and many friends, some of whom are with us today. Martin had a long and distinguished public life serving as a Deputy from 1989 to 1992...