Results 1,941-1,960 of 2,156 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: Who paid for this work? How much did it cost? Was there ever any contribution, directly or indirectly, from Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland, or the Friends of Sinn Féin to develop or run that system?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: In the 2019 accounts of Sinn Féin, there is no recorded expenditure on IT development. However, there is an expense of £41,595 for IT development recorded in the Sinn Féin accounts in Northern Ireland. What was that expense for?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: Chair, as I said-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: -----it is unacceptable that we do not have the accountable officer of Sinn Féin before the committee. It is an affront to this committee. It is unacceptable to me. I will be requesting formally, Chair, that the general secretary or the assistant general secretary of that party comes before our committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: Chair, I would ask before you conclude the meeting that you address the issue that I raised at the outset, which was a formal request that the general secretaries of Sinn Féin, People Before Profit and the Independent groups to come before this committee. It is unacceptable that we did not have an accountable officer here from Sinn Féin and I formally put that request here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

John Cummins: Chair, I need to know why the invitation issued to Sinn Féin, which was marked on the Teams website as “Invite to general secretary of Sinn Féin”, was addressed to Deputy Eoin Ó Broin. Deputy Ó Broin has confirmed to this committee meeting that he is neither the general secretary of the party, nor a member of the Ard Comhairle, nor a member of the national...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for his presentation. The general scheme is very exciting. I went to college in Limerick for four years and had a great four years of education down there. As Deputy McAuliffe stated, I am conscious that, with the exception of Deputies Mitchell and O'Donoghue, none of us is from Limerick. I compliment everybody who has been involved in this process to date...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

John Cummins: Is will one point above the point on the scale that applies to the current chief executive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

John Cummins: That is fine. Not to labour the point in terms of a deputy, I appreciate what the Minister of State said regarding the title of deputy mayor. I do not suggest using that title but perhaps there could be a formalised procedure within the council so that matters would not just be dealt with on an ad hocbasis. If the speaker or príomh comhairleoir was unavailable, perhaps there could be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

John Cummins: I will bow to the knowledge of the people of Limerick.

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 May 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister and thank him for initiating in this House what is some of the most important legislation that will be debated during this Twenty-sixth Seanad. Despite what some would have us believe, the Government takes the housing crisis extraordinarily seriously. Rather than talk about grand plans, ideology and misplaced analysis that the State should be the only player in the...

Seanad: Affordable Housing Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 May 2021)

John Cummins: No.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Policy (11 May 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, for taking this Commencement matter. I congratulate him on his role. I have not to date had the opportunity to do so in the House, which says much about our curtailed schedule. I will not take my full time. This straightforward issue has been brought to my attention and warrants a second look by the Department. I am referring to the new...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Policy (11 May 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State. While I appreciate his response, I still feel there is a fundamental flaw in the system. Income that is received for maintenance payments is factored into the consideration of assessable income for the individual that receives it yet, on the other hand, it is not taken into account in policy terms for the person who pays it out. While I appreciate what the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill: Discussion (11 May 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome Councillors Sheahan, Hoade, Fennelly, Anglim and Colgan to the meeting. I have been listening to their contributions intently over the past hour or so. The key words in this are partnership and collaboration. They will certainly receive that from this committee. We are more than happy to engage. Several pieces of legislation have been referenced, including the electoral reform...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill: Discussion (11 May 2021)

John Cummins: The point that was made about section 75 and local authorities being best placed and having the granular details of the housing needs and plans for a given area is a very valid one and we will take that up with the Minister. I thank the Association of Irish Local Government and its members. We all look forward to all of the matters raised, including pay and non-pay elements, being addressed.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2021)

John Cummins: I wish to raise a very serious matter that has far-reaching consequences for farm families right across Waterford, the south east and further afield, namely, the decision of An Taisce to further appeal a decision of the High Court in respect of a decision of Kilkenny County Council and An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for a €140 million continental cheese plant at the...

Seanad: Education (Leaving Certificate Examinations) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 May 2021)

John Cummins: I, too, welcome the Minister to the House. As a fellow teacher until I was elected to the House last year, I compliment her and her colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, on the work they have done in the past 11 months in the Department in what have been the most challenging of times. The decision made on 17 February was most welcome and timely. It gave certainty to students,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Engagement with the Office of the Planning Regulator (4 May 2021)

John Cummins: I confirm I am in Leinster House. I will start by thanking Mr. Cussen and his team for the work they are doing. I echo the comments made by my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, about the planning leaflets. They have gone down well with anyone who has used them and with whom I have engaged. I compliment our guests in that respect. The development plan process is ongoing across the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Engagement with the Office of the Planning Regulator (4 May 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Chair. Do I have 30 seconds?