Results 25,821-25,840 of 26,857 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: They will be more than happy to give the answers.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I am delighted that Minister has one. I agree with Senator Hayden, as I am sure does the Minister, that nobody wants to have to increase any form of taxation, direct or indirect. We are in a difficult situation and we must reduce our deficit. We have accepted this and we have stated so ad nauseam. Of course we must reduce our deficit. However, as the Minister stated, the choices we make...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: You are taxing the small guy in Donegal.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: You are taxing the small guy in Donegal.

Seanad: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I raise this issue because I have been in contact with the board of management and the principal of Gaelscoil Philip Barún in Tramore, County Waterford, for many years and have supported them in their battle for a school and capital funding. A meeting was organised with Oireachtas Members last week, with representatives present from the...

Seanad: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: The Minister's response says that the project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning and acknowledges the need for a new building on a 2.5 acre site owned by the Department. However, it reads as if this is an impediment. The school is more advanced than most schools in the capital programme. This school is at the architectural design stage and the design team has been...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: On a point of order, there is no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Seanad: Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: Senator Norris is successful.

Seanad: Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State. This is a short and technical Bill but I take this opportunity to thank all those who give blood in this country. I welcome any legislation that allows for streamlining of services and improved efficiencies in the health sector. I support the Government's efforts in this regard. The Bill shifts responsibility for procurement of clotting factor concentrate...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: It is unfair to say, either way, whether people think the Government is doing a good job. We must wait until the next election. We can take some pointers from opinion polls, which have been consistent and show a flowing away of some support from the Government, especially the Labour Party. There is a drop in support for the Government parties because of some of the policies which have been...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: What we have said is that some of our public representatives have decided not to pay. It is not the job of any political party to tell the electorate what to do but it is clear that the electorate, the people of this country, have made up their minds that they will not pay the charge. We have not advocated that people should not pay it, and we will not call on people to pay the charge...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I will not ask somebody to pay a flat, regressive €100 household charge but I am not saying they should not pay it.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: We are opposed to it politically. What we are doing is what any party should do. We are taking the arguments directly to the Government parties in the Dáil and in the Seanad. People talk about leadership. Senator Whelan talked about the footpaths and the lighting in playgrounds having to be paid for yet he has the brass neck to sit in this House, along with members of his party, Fine...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: That was in the Fine Gael manifesto. I am talking about Labour and Fine Gael. Fine Gael in its manifesto said that burden sharing would have to be imposed and unilateral action would be taken, if necessary.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: That was in Fine Gael's election manifesto.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I am not deliberately misleading the House.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: That was in Fine Gael's election manifesto.

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: There was also a good deal of public commentary by Fine Gael's public representatives during the course of the election campaign. We then had "It's Frankfurt's way or Labour's way" and all that nonsense, and that the money would not go into the banks. As I said numerous times, Deputy Eamon Gilmore at the time made a name for himself as the tough man taking on the Government and the banks...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: What does not add up and what is not right socially, economically or morally is that we should be paying back private banking debt. That is what we are doing at a time when we are asking people to shoulder huge amounts of pain. Low to middle income families are being asked to pay every time. The Minister of State can sit in his chair, nod his head and do whatever he likes but the reality...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: If you were listening you would have heard me say how they would be paid for. You were half asleep. I said there is money in the National Pensions Reserve Fund-----