Results 25,741-25,760 of 26,857 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Sale of State Assets: Statements, Questions and Answers (19 Apr 2012)

David Cullinane: Would Labour Party Members have made the same statements had this debate occurred two years ago? The answer is "No". Not because of the economic climate, but because the Labour Party has changed its policies and positions. That is the reality. When Labour Party Senators refer to people being ideologically driven,-----

Seanad: Sale of State Assets: Statements, Questions and Answers (19 Apr 2012)

David Cullinane: -----they do so to negate the fact that they held different views not so long ago.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

David Cullinane: I want to give a cautious welcome to yesterday's statement on lone parents by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton. It was an important and significant statement. When the budget was first announced, those of us in opposition said that child care was an impediment to many unemployed lone parents seeking access to the labour market. I welcome the Minister's statement that...

Seanad: Human Trafficking and Prostitution: Motion (18 Apr 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister to the House and more than that I welcome his contribution to the debate. I commend the Government amendment. The Leader said it was a conciliatory amendment but it is also action-driven which is important. My party will support the Government amendment for those reasons. The amendment commits the Government to a planned public consultation exercise, a detailed...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2012)

David Cullinane: I support the call that the Minister of State with responsibility for NewERA - which is an oxymoron in the context of the Minister concerned - to come to the House to discuss all issues around the potential water charges and property tax, in respect of which there is confusion. I agree with analogies made in regard to the nightmare in the Custom House and the nightmare in Kildare Street. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2012)

David Cullinane: The Government needs to listen to the people. Working people are paying more PAYE and PRSI and the universal social charge but are getting fewer services. These are the same people who have to pay private health insurance at the same time as paying taxes for health care. Local authority services are being cut to the bone and people are getting no extra service for all of these so-called...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I second the amendment to the Order of Business tabled by Senator Ó Clochartaigh. He mentioned the memorandum of understanding and whether the household charge was in it. I was one of those who examined the memorandum and saw no reference to the household charge. Regardless of that, there was reference in the memorandum to the minimum wage, the cut to which was reversed. There was also a...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: That is the reality. It should stop blaming people for the mess it created and solve the problem. That is what legislators should be doing. I ask the Leader about a very serious matter, namely, the sit-in by hundreds of workers who worked for Game. It is shameful that in 21st century Ireland a company can shut its doors, not pay its workforce and give them no notice whatsoever. Workers...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I asked whether the company was in breach of the law. It is a different question from the one raised on Tuesday.

Seanad: Redundancy Issues (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: Today I took a short walk from these buildings to Dawson Street. I called into the Game shop to offer support and solidarity to the workers in the shop who are currently engaged in a sit-in. As the Minister of State is aware, that is the case in many centres throughout this State and in the UK as well. I raise this Adjournment motion because of the gaps that exist in legislation on the...

Seanad: Redundancy Issues (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: The Minister's statement indicates that the Minister for Social Protection has no plans to change the legislation on redundancies and also that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has no plans to amend the existing minimum notice legislation. My simple question is what the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, has to say to the workers who are engaged in a sit-in in Game.

Seanad: Small Business: Motion (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I propose to share time with Senator Lorraine Higgins.

Seanad: Small Business: Motion (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: Several issues were raised which apparently attract a cross-party consensus. The first is the need for safety nets for self-employed people in the form of an entitlement to social welfare benefits. As Senator Mooney observed, we all accept that something must be done in this regard. The point, of course, is that nothing has been done thus far. Given the cross-party support expressed in...

Seanad: Small Business: Motion (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following: -notes with grave concern the recently released GNP figures that indicate a contraction of domestic economy; -recognises that most SMEs are engaged in the domestic economy; -notes the need to make more supports available for those who are self-employed; -notes that access to credit remains a huge...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State and the opportunity to participate in this important debate. I also welcome the well rehearsed and delivered speech by Senator Cáit Keane, in which again the narrative is that it is all Fianna Fáil's fault. There is a clear departure in terms of policy on the part of the new Government which it is stated needs time because Rome was not built in a day but...

Seanad: Privacy Bill 2012: Second Stage (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank Senator Norris and those who proposed the Bill. I apologise to the Minister for not being in the House for his contribution as I had meeting but I will commit to reading his contribution. Given what previous speakers have said it was a significant and important contribution in the context of the Bill. I understand Senator Norris will not push...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: There is no doubt the household charge has been a shambles from its conception to the sorry state in which it has left the Government. Senators should cast their minds back to the introduction in the House of the legislation giving effect to the charge when the Minister indicated, in a very arrogant and dismissive manner, that he was not minded to accept amendments tabled by my party, other...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: Post offices are being closed down.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: Senator Conway is engaging in wishful thinking.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: What about the septic tank charges?