Results 24,861-24,880 of 26,841 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Garda Resources: Motion (6 Feb 2013)

David Cullinane: I am always amused when I hear Government representatives talk about the Opposition playing politics with issues. I am sure if we were to waste our time and go back over endless hours of contributions the Minister made when he was Opposition spokesman for his party and when he was seeking to hold the then Government to account on a range of issues, we would see that he was often accused of...

Seanad: Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister back to the House. On my own behalf and that of Sinn Féin, we welcome this legislation which we will be supporting. It is appropriate recognition of the wrongdoing of the State at the time and a fitting gesture for the families of those who were stigmatised owing to the Emergency Powers (No. 362) Order 1945. The Second World War was, notwithstanding the neutrality...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2013)

David Cullinane: The McAleese report released yesterday vindicates what the Magdalen women have been saying for a decade that the State was complicit in their detention, in their routes of entry into the laundries and in the direct State funding of the laundries. Nowhere was that more relevant and true than in the laundry in my home city of Waterford. If the Leader has read the report, he will see in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2013)

David Cullinane: I join with previous Senators and the Leader in paying tribute to Senator McAleese and wishing him the very best of luck in whatever he chooses to do from now on. In respect of the report into the Magdalen laundries, which is being published as we speak, I believe we all need time to digest the report and look at the recommendations that will undoubtedly be in it. I very much hope those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Reform of National Micro and Small Business Support Structures: Discussion (5 Feb 2013)

David Cullinane: We are here to discuss supports we can give to the small and micro-business sector. An issue that has arisen frequently is that of prompt payments. The Minister will be aware of the EU directive on the matter, about which the organisations representing business - ISME and the Small Firms Association - are unhappy. They see it as a sticking-plaster solution. They carried out a survey this...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Harbours and Piers (31 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for his response and acknowledgement of the importance of the harbour and funding required. The Minister of State indicated in the response that 80% of harbour sediment contains TBT, which may or may not be the case. Obviously, I cannot second guess that. Perhaps the Minister would request the Department to pass on the scientific evidence and reports which...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Harbours and Piers (31 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I have twice raised in the House the issue of the need to provide funding to dredge the harbour at Dunmore East. It is a small fishing village on County Waterford's east coast. There is no doubt that the harbour needs to be dredged. The Department has recognised this need. Many vessels can only land at the harbour and the port at high tide because of the build-up of silt. This restricts...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I call for a debate on rural Ireland and the many issues facing communities there and facing people living in towns, villages and hinterlands throughout the State because of the loss of services. As the Leader lives in a constituency with a big rural base, he is aware of many of the issues which pertain. We can all give examples of services being lost in rural communities. An example of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I should apologise in that I spoke to amendment No. 27 in my last contribution and not to amendment No. 25. Senator Bradford raised the point I would have raised. It had more to do with the UK. Unfortunately, we have a Border on this island and people from the North may have convictions which may be spent in the North but which may not be spent here. We would argue for equal treatment for...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 25: In page 11, before section 9, to insert the following new section:?9.?Convictions obtained outside of the State, that would for the purposes of the provisions of this legislation be considered ?spent? were they obtained within the State shall be considered spent convictions.?.The purpose of the new section is to specify the disclosure required for relevant work, in...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 27: In page 12, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following subsection:?(7) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, all persons shall be precluded from making specific requests in order to secure information regarding spent convictions so as not to circumvent this legislation.?.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 21: In page 8, to delete lines 27 to 33.I support all of these amendments but amendment No. 21 is the amendment that Sinn Féin tabled. We want to ensure the limitation on two convictions being classified as spent is removed. I referred earlier to someone who might have more than two convictions not being able to qualify for this. A number of separate convictions may...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I listened to the Minister of State's response and will withdraw amendment No. 21 to give us time to reflect on her remarks and to come back with an amendment that might better reflect my contribution. Our core argument is that a minor, or even relatively serious offence, such as the example I gave, can lead to three separate charges. That issue is more pertinent than the matter addressed...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: No, it is the same. I will withdraw the amendment and resubmit it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: No, I will withdraw the amendment to resubmit it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for her response and also the Government Senators who spoke. I found myself agreeing with almost all of what Senator Bradford said in his thoughtful contribution. The approach that is being taken - and Senator Bradford's contribution is a manifestation of it, in some respects - is a little bit too cautious. I want to restate the position because we need to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: They were re-tabled as Government amendments but nonetheless the thrust of the opposition amendments was accepted. As regards the Bill now before us, I regret that we are sticking to the conservative approach. That should not take away from the fact, however, that this is a good first step and one which I hope will improve the situation.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: A period of 30 months is not four years.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this important legislation which, as Senator van Turnhout stated, will be supported from all quarters in the House even if we have amendments which seek to strengthen it. On Second Stage I gave a very broad welcome to the Bill because regardless of the differences we may have with regard to its limitations we should all see it as part of a...

Seanad: Water Fluoridation: Motion (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White. I thank Senator Norris for tabling this Private Members' motion today to allow us review the position on fluoridation of water in the State. It is an interesting issue and it has provoked continual debate not only in this country, but around the world. One could argue that there are many issues that we could be...