Results 22,761-22,780 of 26,795 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (28 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I am disappointed to hear the Minister will not accept amendment No. 52. I will set out the rationale for it. I have listened to what the Minister has had to say. The new section 201B sets out a right of petition by the child to the Minister against either the finding or sanction or both. It is unclear why this petition is to the Minister rather than a child-friendly independent tribunal,...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

David Cullinane: There is no doubt that the first steps towards the privatisation of Aer Lingus were taken by the previous Government, when 74.9% of the stake in the company was sold off. This Government, and the Labour Party especially, opposed that move at the time - they opposed privatisation - yet they can come in today and stand over the selling off of the remaining stake. By selling off the remaining...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

David Cullinane: -----that this will lead to job losses. At least have some honesty about what is being proposed.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015: Second Stage (27 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I give a cautious welcome to this Bill, although I have some concerns and reservations about it and about the establishment of the commission itself, which I will articulate. Obviously, however, any measure that will hopefully put money into the pockets of low-paid workers is something I would wholeheartedly support. We heard from the first...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015: Second Stage (27 May 2015)

David Cullinane: It does not. It deals with the minimum wage, and that is all it does.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015: Second Stage (27 May 2015)

David Cullinane: The Labour Party tells us it wants to take politics out of setting the minimum wage. This is precisely the problem. The party's election manifesto from 2011 states that wage competitiveness should not be confused with a low wage agenda, yet this is the very agenda it is now pursuing in government. The Minister of State tells us that he can take no action on zero-hour contracts until he has...

Seanad: Health Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Statements (27 May 2015)

David Cullinane: There is plenty of room over here.

Seanad: Health Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Statements (27 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. She has been here a great deal in recent months dealing with a range of issues relating to mental health services and people with intellectual and physical disabilities. She should be commended on taking them seriously. It is a credit to her. If we had more Ministers who spent as much time debating these issues in the Chamber, it would be...

Seanad: Health Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Statements (27 May 2015)

David Cullinane: It might be an adaptation as simple as installing a shower rather than a bath. If it is classed as priority 2 or 3, though, it will never be done. Even applications classed as priority 1 do not get done and must wait on lists. The money is not there. People blame local authorities, but the latter depend on grants from central government. This issue needs to be examined. An increasing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (26 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I thank the Cathaoirleach and welcome the Minister of State to the House. I tabled this Commencement motion last week and coincidentally, there was a report on Newstalk this morning by Kieran Cuddihy, who obtained figures through a freedom of information request regarding national waiting times for children with mild to profound intellectual or physical difficulties who were waiting for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (26 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State's response and the decision to prioritise Waterford city and county once the 120 new posts have been delivered. I am concerned, however, that 22 applications have been on hand for more than six months and their completion is long overdue. Perhaps some of the cases I cited are among this group of 22. If I may, I will forward to the Minister of State e-mails I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospice Services (13 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State. The issue I wish to raise is the need to provide 24-7 cardiology services at University Hospital Waterford. Many people in Waterford city and county and across the south-east region have been involved in a long-standing campaign to secure improved cardiology services at the hospital, including the replacement of the current service which operates office...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospice Services (13 May 2015)

David Cullinane: The Minister of State indicated that the acute coronary syndrome programme report of 2012 recommended that outside of Dublin, full 24-7 coverage should be provided at Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Galway, with University Hospital Waterford to continue to provide a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. service. The report identified additional costs in extending the service at Waterford and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I call for a debate on public services and, as an extension of that, on public service pay. The Government announced in the so-called spring statement that extra money would be made available for public spending, and there are discussions beginning with the trade unions on public sector pay. It is important that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform come to the House to listen to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: All-Island Economy: Discussion (12 May 2015)

David Cullinane: The witnesses are all welcome before the joint committee. The first obvious point to make is that we have an all-island economy. It is not something we want to happen; there is an all-island economy. Much of it happens organically because businesses and entrepreneurs recognise the value of the all-island economy if they can create jobs, grow their businesses and so on and if they can take...

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I support Senator Healy Eames's request. Given that we are discussing the issue of Seanad reform, it is important that every Senator is given an opportunity to contribute to the debate. I commend the working group on this report. Those of us who are in favour of radical Seanad reform were surprised by many of the recommendations. If they are implemented they will bring substantive reform...

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: That is my view. Senator Norris is entitled to his own views.

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: The Senator had the opportunity to make a long contribution. Everybody else should have a similar opportunity to contribute to the debate. The university panels are elitist. I have made that point during the campaign and I will continue to make it.

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: It does not matter how many voters there are.

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: Everybody should be entitled to vote based on Irish citizenship and irrespective of educational attainment. If this is to be the Irish people's Parliament, they should be able to vote for Members of the Seanad. It should be a franchise based on one person, one vote. The system of Taoiseach's appointees should also be abolished. Legislators should be elected by popular vote. I welcome the...