Results 26,121-26,140 of 26,857 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 11: In page 8, subsection (4)(b), line 15, to delete "the year 2012 and the year 2013" and substitute "the years from 2012 to 2015". I will not speak too long on the amendment because it is simple and practical. I welcome the inclusion in the list of those exempt from the charge of people who live in unfinished housing estates. I assume the logic is that all services...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Bill 2010: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister. We seem to have a mania in this country for introducing criminal legislation which is often draconian and seldom, if ever, used. It is usually a response to a public outcry and rarely is a comprehensive solution sought to crime and its causes. I am not making this point to impugn this Bill. While I have concerns about aspects of the legislation, in respect of which...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I was called three times.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: There must be something in the water this morning because I find myself in complete agreement with Senator Gilroy and disagreeing with Senator Barrett-----

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: This is a market system which shows health care as a commodity and not as a fundamental right. We are dealing with an unfair system as regards funding and access to health care. Senator Barrett made a point that there is no proof that people could not access private health insurance from some operators. The issue is not whether people are prevented from obtaining cover but rather that the...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The Bill arrives in that context and in the context of a declining health insurance market. VHI has said it expects up to 200,000 people to give up private health insurance by the end of 2012 as a result of rising unemployment. The proportion of the population with health insurance declined from 49% in 2007 to 47% in 2010. The numbers qualifying for and receiving medical cards have...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I agree that a two hour debate on the budget is not acceptable.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: One of the problems in this House is that when the budget was announced we were given two hours to debate it. During that debate a number of people who made very short contributions highlighted the harsh cut for people with disabilities. As a result of that and representations from Members of the Lower House, the Government accepted the cut was wrong and is now reviewing the situation. We...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The social development fund, the social inclusion fund.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: They opposed water charges. I was interrupted.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I am not in difficulty.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Can Senator Byrne name the property?

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Name the property, Senator.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Now we are dealing with hypothetical properties.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: People are in consistent property. That is the only point we are making.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The wealth tax is income linked. One could be asset rich but if one's income is not sufficient one will not be subject to it.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The Senator can hold on to his single transferable vote speech and we may hear it on the discussion of the next amendment or else next week and the following week and perhaps the week after that. How about that? We have heard it all before.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The fiscal powers.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Amendment No. 6 provides that the sum may be revised by the Oireachtas. This is an important amendment and I ask the Minister of State to consider it. We are arguing that the Houses of the Oireachtas should in the first instance decide whether to increase the charge. It should not be the prerogative of a Minister to increase the charge. I will not rehearse all the issues arising because I...