Results 25,521-25,540 of 26,857 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: -----project itself is in the midst of a very real crisis that we all want to see solved in a way that makes life better for citizens, not just banks and bondholders. We want a better solution, a solution that will work. We simply do not believe the solution proposed will work. The Minister of State is referring to real-world solutions. The need for direct recapitalisation is one. I will...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: A number of weeks ago Members had a debate on the Mahon tribunal in the immediate aftermath of the publication of its report.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: While it was a highly constructive debate, Members must revisit the issue again to have a debate on the planning system. Such a debate must consider the findings of the Mahon report and the need to implement its main findings.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: If the Fianna Fáil Senator is trying to create a link between Oireachtas Members who used their salaries to employ staff-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: ----- and to take people off the dole-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: -----to compare that to the corruption within Fianna Fáil. I think they are stooping to a new low.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: Those Members who make that claim should be also told clearly that they pocket all of their salaries and expenses.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: We need to move to a situation where we have reduced salaries and fully vouched expenses, which is for what my party has been calling.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: I will forgive Fianna Fáil Senators for their interruptions, because I know corruption is a very sensitive issue for them. The issue I wish to raise today, if I can be allowed to do so-----

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: I am not wandering anywhere. I am making a point about a court case that took place in Waterford a few weeks ago, where a former Fine Gael town councillor was found guilty of corruption in respect of a planning and rezoning issue in the county. It is important to have an independent, thorough investigation into what happened in County Waterford. It is also important that we move beyond...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: That is dreadful stuff.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: Greedy politicians.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: But they are part of the equation.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. As I understand it section 2 provides the Minister for Finance with the authority to make payments to the ESM to cover this country's contribution to our share of the authorised capital stock. The amount involved is extraordinary. Section 3 sets out the amount but I am dealing with section 2 which gives the Minister power to do so. The...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: This attitude is inherent in the design of the proposed ESM. We should have a financial mechanism on which countries that need help can call for support in difficult times. We also accept that we need a mechanism that protects the integrity of the euro. However, of more importance is protecting the livelihoods and standards of living of ordinary Europeans, be they working or unemployed....

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: Someone mentioned my party's position on the ESM treaty and claimed that the emperor had no clothes.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: I caught up while trying to figure out what Senator Michael D'Arcy meant. The analogy is a good one.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: I would change it slightly, in that the empire has no clothes in light of events in Europe. Clearly, we are stumbling from one crisis to another. We have endless EU summits, the pre-summit commentary, which-----

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: -----is concerned with building expectations and hyping considered responses from our European leaders, the inevitable fallout and policies that are being put in place despite their not meeting the needs of Europe or the Irish people. One month after the austerity treaty referendum, we are entering another period of negotiations that, as the Minister of State will accept, will see a shift in...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

David Cullinane: I ask the Leader to put pressure on the Government to block the payment of €1.14 billion in bonds which the Irish Bank Resolution Company is due to repay on 26, 27 and 28 June. Of the four separate bonds, two were held previously by Irish Nationwide Buildin Society and two were held by Anglo Irish Bank. Sinn Féin has long argued that these bonds should not be repaid in full and that a...