Results 24,541-24,560 of 26,795 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (13 Jun 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I have raised the issue of long outpatient waiting times at Waterford Regional Hospital a number of times in the House. My party health spokesperson, Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, sought from the HSE a full breakdown of the figures on all of the departments and specialties at the hospital in respect of outpatient waiting times to...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2013)

David Cullinane: I join previous speakers in expressing deep regret at the drowning of Shane, Paul and Kenny Bolger from Passage East in a terrible tragedy off the coast of County Waterford. I extend my condolences to the men's mother, Margaret, two brothers, Michael and Anthony, and two sisters, Linda and Paula. The men belonged to a large family of seven which has been fishing for generations. The death...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (12 Jun 2013)

David Cullinane: I commend the youngest Oireachtas Member, Senator Reilly, for bringing forward this important motion and for her excellent articulation of the issues affecting young people. It was a very strong performance. I read an article in one of the national newspapers today and it mentioned an exchange yesterday in the Seanad, which was unfortunate. The same article referred to the fact that the...

Seanad: European Union (Accession of the Republic of Croatia) (Access to the Labour Market) Bill 2013: Second Stage (12 Jun 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister to the House. Sinn Féin supports the Bill and has consistently supported Croatia's accession to the European Union and EU enlargement generally. As the Minister will be aware, however, my party has difficulties with the political, social and economic direction Europe has taken in the past 20 years and the democratic deficit in the Union. Notwithstanding these...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

David Cullinane: I supported and commended the Government on the publication of the national carers' strategy. It is very important we take a holistic approach to caring and ensure people have access to training and have proper income and respite supports. There is a package of measures which are necessary to ensure those people who do a tremendous, difficult and demanding job in looking after people in...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2013)

David Cullinane: The failure of the Constitutional Convention to discuss the Seanad is not the fault of convention members. We should not call into question the value of the Constitutional Convention on the basis of the remit set down for it by the Oireachtas. We must make clear that the fault lies with the Government. As a previous speaker noted, the Government was afraid to allow the convention discuss...

Seanad: Early Child Care Education Standards: Statements (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister for attending the Chamber at short notice. I commend Senator Jillian van Turnhout for pressing the issue and the Leader of the House for arranging the debate. Everyone in the House and the public at large were shocked by the contents of the "Prime Time" programme. The shock was quickly followed by anger owing to the fact that this was not a new issue. As far back as...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: We see what they did. A vote would be more important in the next general election.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: -----Labour Party Members will reap what they have sown from the people they have betrayed and let down by doing what they have done since coming into government.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: What colour is Senator Cummins's shirt?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister to the House to debate legislation which should not be before us at all. He has a bit of a neck to present the Bill as anything other than threatening legislation whose intention is to divide and conquer the trade unions and threaten public sector workers into accepting a deal that imposes cuts to hard-fought gains made by staff over many years. The vast majority of...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: He cannot even look people in the eye because there is such an arrogance about the Government-----

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: -----that he cannot even listen to what people have to say. Just like the Minister for Justice and Equality, he does not even have the ability to listen.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: The Labour Party in opposition knew all about soundbites. It must be a source of embarrassment for the Minister and his party-----

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: I sat here for 20 minutes without interrupting once while Senator Gilroy criticised my party.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: I would like to continue with my contribution uninterrupted. The Minister will have an opportunity to respond later. It must be a source of embarrassment for some trade unions that they are in some way affiliated to the Labour Party, given what the Minister is doing in introducing this Bill and the erosion of workers' rights it involves. Does the Minister not realise that those rights,...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: The Government cannot deal with any of that, but it has no difficulty introducing legislation that empties the pockets of low- and middle-income workers. She quoted a report that referred to the growing economy. The ESRI reports on the last two budgets referred to their being the most unfair and the most unequal. Here is what the Government could have done. If the Government cut the pay...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: It could, for example, deal with real waste in the system.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: It is €100,000 a year.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

David Cullinane: The Minister knows exactly what our proposal is. Public sector pay should be capped at €100,000.