Results 121-140 of 7,765 for speaker:Maurice Cummins

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome Deputy Tom Barry and his daughter to the House. I also welcome my friend and former colleague on Waterford City Council, Hilary Quinlan, to the Gallery. Many Members sent good wishes to everybody in the House. Senator Mooney asked about the Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill. We have general agreement from everybody as regards the contents of that Bill so I do not think timing will...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Norris asked about the Order of Business and we will look at the situation of Commencement debates and the Order of Business. He is right that we had eight or nine Members earlier but we have a lot more now, thankfully. Senator Leyden asked about the scrutiny of legislation in the House. He is quite right and we have had a number of amendments and Bills accepted in this House....

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Mullins spoke about flooding in towns and said shops were open for business and should be supported. Senator Quinn also raised the matter of businesses in small towns on this side of the Border. They need to be given every support they can be given. Senator Barrett wished Arlene Foster well. It appears that she will be the first woman First Minister in Northern Ireland

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Senator also welcomed the raising of interest rates in the US, saying it would be good for the economy of the world, eventually. Senator Coghlan spoke about the guillotining of Bills. A guillotine probably would have been introduced for a number of Bills yesterday but they were all finished in ample time and none was guillotined.I hope that the same will be the case today. Guillotining...

Seanad: Sitting Arrangements: Motion (17 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I move:That, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business:(1) The Seanad shall meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, 18th December, 2015 and the following arrangements shall apply:(a) Standing Orders 29 and 30 shall stand suspended; (b) there shall be no Order of Business; (c) the business to be taken shall be confined to the items set out in the Schedule to this...

Seanad: Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Motion (17 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I move:That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, when the final report of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis is circulated to members in accordance with Standing Order 103L, the Cathaoirleach shall, at the first available opportunity, interrupt the proceedings of the Seanad, whereupon the Leader of the House (Deputy Leader or another Senator authorised by the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2015: Motion (17 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I move:That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft:Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2015, copies of which were laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 9th December, 2015."

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (17 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015 - amendments from Dáil Éireann, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to be brought to a conclusion not later than 1.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 2, motion regarding the earlier signature of the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator MacSharry raised the closure of Garda stations, particularly Easky Garda station in County Sligo, and the fact that the OPW sold that Garda station for €60,000. The Senator complained that these Garda stations should be available for community use. I believe it was the intention that if communities showed an interest, serious consideration would be given to community use. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Journalists were always known for examining and researching their facts before publishing anything, but obviously there is a need for------

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Comiskey complimented the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, on the fishery quotas. The Minister has done well in that regard in recent years. The Senator welcomed the increased quotas for whitefish and prawns in particular and the abolition of the policy on discards. The Senator also outlined the difficulties for businesses and farmers resulting from...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. He has been a regular visitor this afternoon. The Bill's main purpose is to deal with the funding of the Oireachtas for a number of years. I note that there is a €14 million increase connected to the forthcoming general election. I also note from the Minister of State's speech that much of this will cover termination allowances. I...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: This matter was the subject of meetings with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin. While he was very sympathetic towards us, nothing happened. I do not think we were even talking about offices but rather about some small areas where Senators were looking for parity of esteem with their colleagues in the other House.These matters should be dealt with and...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: The Order of Business is No. 1, Appropriation Bill 2015 (Certified Money Bill) - all Stages, to be taken at 1.45 p.m. and brought to a conclusion not later than 2.45 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to recommendations, include only those set down or accepted by the Government, with the time allocated for Second Stage contributions by group...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Senator Mooney said the multi-agency approach to flooding had not worked and should be abandoned in favour of a single agency approach. Senator Quinn agreed and also called for a Shannon river basin authority. The Minister of State, Deputy Harris, spoke comprehensively on the situation and the Government is doing everything possible. The money, some €430 million, is in place through...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: Is it not natural that there would be so many fewer people?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: If one closes down the Garda Training College in Templemore, how can one expect to have more gardaí? Let us be fair about it and look at the facts rather than dealing with extraneous issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: It is because of the policies the Senator's party pursued.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Maurice Cummins: That is because of the policies the Senator's party pursued in government, which included closing down the Garda Training College in Templemore and stopping recruitment. We have already recruited 1,100 more gardaí and we will do a lot more in the coming years because we have rectified the economy.It is still fragile-----