Results 24,121-24,140 of 26,795 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: How much-----

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I will ask it again.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: If it is not true, the Minister of State might give us that information even at this stage as we have debated it for hours. Senator Ó Clochartaigh mainly took this issue for my party but I was here for some of the debate.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I listened to a good deal of the debate.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I put questions on this. The Minister of State is a bit cranky today for some reason-----

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: -----but that is a matter for himself.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: With respect, the Minister of State has not and I have listened to the debate.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Just because Members are not in the Chamber does not mean that they do not hear what is being said in this House, no more than the Minister of State does not know what is being said in the Dáil in his absence.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Let us cut out that nonsense.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I assume the Minister of State is in the Dáil for every debate. Is that what he is telling me?

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: No, I am not going to listen to that guff from the Minister of State. We do not have to be in the Chamber for every part of a debate.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I am speaking to the section. I put it to the Minister of State that he has not given us any indication of the level of charge that will be imposed on people. Families have no idea how much this will cost them. Senator Barrett in a previous debate today mentioned the figure of €750. The Minister of State said it would not be anything like that figure, therefore, he should give us...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We engaged in a lengthy debate on charges and we have just discussed an amendment designed to include an ability-to-pay clause in the Bill. It is disappointing that the Government voted down that amendment, which was an attempt by those of us who oppose the charges in the first instance to try to bring some element of fairness to the process. People have different views as to whether water...

Seanad: Critical Utilities (Security of Supply) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I cannot, as is customary, commend the author of the Bill for bringing it forward. I spoke to him prior to the debate because this legislation is abhorrent and unhelpful and it is beyond me how any Oireachtas Member would put effort into criminalising workers. The Senator disagrees but I will demonstrate how it does. He also said the legislation does not and will not prevent workers from...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We have every right and entitlement to remind the Government parties of what they promised because we are here to hold them to account. I want to set out the facts. I have a responsibility to all those people who contacted me and to those organisations that have asked me to again highlight the inconsistencies in the Government's position having regard to what its members said then and what...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I will set out the facts as I see them and if the Minister of State wants to counter any them-----

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I am addressing my comments not to the Minister of State but through the Chair - this seems to have been happening a good deal on Committee Stage debates recently for some reason, perhaps the Government is anxious to get legislation pushed through over Christmas. Prior to 2008 people over the age of 70 received a medical card without a means test. That is a fact. That was the position...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. Much of what he said I agree with, but we need to be clear about the arguments being made on all sides of the House. I have never said access to GP cover is being removed in this legislation from anyone. My arguments relate to the income limits which are changing. They were first introduced by Fianna Fáil and have been...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I am sure all Senators are receiving the same volume of complaints. There is a difficulty with discretionary medical cards which is impacting on people. The Senator can smile, but there is much hurt and confusion among many families and individuals. The Opposition has a responsibility to hold the Government to account. It may not be helpful for the Minister to go back to what was said...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I am dealing with it. With respect, we had the same nonsense yesterday. We are dealing with changes to medical card eligibility.