Results 25,381-25,400 of 26,857 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I am glad that we do not have a Fianna Fáil President.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: That is not a point of order, with respect.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I thank the Senator for the clarification. It is important.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Very important.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: A number of the candidates received unfair treatment from the media and this played a central role in the presidential campaign. The media must reflect on how it values the role of the presidency and how it approaches future presidential elections. We support the motion but add that it is far from the only reform that needs to be made as regards the presidency. We have no difficulty with...

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: It is an important area that the Government could examine. Some people would argue that one cannot have representation without taxation but the role of the President does not have any powers or functions over taxation and it is an important but symbolic role. The President embodies what is best in Irish people and we should allow all Irish people to participate.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Especially given that over 100,000 have been forced to leave our shore. They should not be denied an opportunity to vote for their President. Such a measure is important. The age limit for the presidential election should be examined. The provision regarding 35 years is arbitrary. It exists because people feel that a president should have life experience but 35 years is too high. Surely...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: No.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I have called for a full debate on poverty on a number of occasions in this House in recent months. The Leader indicated he would consider hosting such a debate but up to now he has not come back with any timeframe or date. A number of reports have been published since I made those calls. A report by the Irish League of Credit Unions, published last week, reveals that 1.82 million people...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: On a point of order, I ask for more consistency from the Cathaoirleach with regard to people making contributions. When we have an opportunity to speak we raise one issue, but Senators on the Government side are allowed to raise two or three issues. There should be consistency.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, lines 31 to 32, to delete all words from and including "and" in line 31 down to and including "so," in line 32. These amendments are being taken together because they all deal with removing the ability of the Minister to exercise powers of discretion in a number of areas. Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 remove the discretion to refuse to make an order to confirm...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Disregard the recommendation. It has the potential.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I accept the Minister is well intentioned in terms of what he is trying to achieve but I believe the provision is flawed. In my view, political oversight is where we legislate for the setting of parameters and rules. That is what we should do here for the Labour Court, namely set out rules and conditions to which it must have regard. We had a discussion about those previously. We are not...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I know that.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I accept that but the Minister should do so only on the basis of a recommendation which comes from the court because it makes a determination based on what has been laid down by us as legislators. I shall make a comparison for the Minister. I am not sure if he was a councillor but I was and so were a number of Senators.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Then the Minister will fully understand the point I shall make. I was part of group that developed the housing policy for Waterford City Council. We developed a scheme of letting priorities by setting out the parameters under which people were entitled to housing and the housing officials were then given the power and responsibility to implement the policy. They decided to whom and how...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I wish to clarify a point I made earlier. When I talked about a conflict between workers' rights and job creation I made the point that it was a false dichotomy. I do not believe that there is a conflict. It is important that we have robust protections and enhance employment rights. The Minister seeks to improve some of the employment rights and bodies and to streamline the process which...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: The oversight does not end when the Labour Court makes a recommendation to the Minister because there is recourse to superior courts. There are options for people to have redress through the superior courts of the land. In regard to accountability, we should not create an impression that it stops at that level. It does not stop at that level, there are superior courts which could act in an...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (12 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, lines 37 to 39, to delete all words from and including "or" in line 37 down to and including "agreement," in line 39.