Results 181-200 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: I accept that there are councils which are struggling to get this right. There are different solutions being tried in different areas and we will come to a conclusion about all of them. We should not expect to win the Grand National the first time we enter it. There is a long course before us, this is not a seven furlong sprint. An enormous amount is being done and we should not be led by the...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: I will not accept an amendment that would compel any local authority which made waste charges under the new section 75 of the 1996 Act also to provide a mandatory system of waivers in respect of all or part of such charges. It would be a departure from the status quo that would not be useful or necessary. Currently local authorities are not under an obligation to provide for waivers in...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: Making the system mandatory would not improve it, it would simply mean a manager could introduce a system that observed the legal niceties of the Bill without any meaningful basis. The current system is working well across the State. If it is not broken, we should not try to fix it. I am loath to go any further and cannot accept the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: This is a short Bill. Its chief effect will be to end the dual mandate from the next local elections in 2004 onwards. It will also continue the current long-standing arrangements for the election of the cathaoirligh of county and city councils. This will be done by repealing the provision in the Local Government Act 2001, which would have introduced new arrangements for elections from 2004...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: —and having at the time opposed the introduction of new arrangements for the election of county-city cathaoirligh to now suddenly oppose their omission.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: From where I stand, I would place my judgment against that of Senator Hayes any day of the week when I see where he is sitting. Is this a volte-face or simply the lack of a coherent policy? At least Fine Gael cannot be accused of sitting on the fence when it is straddling both sides at the same time.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: To return to the Bill, section 8 is a standard provision providing for the short title and collective citation. I commend the Bill to the House.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: For God's sake—

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: We have already done so in the case of MEPs, Ministers and Ministers of State.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: The same principles.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: It will be automatic in much the same way as it is for Members who are appointed Ministers or Ministers of State.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: The Senator does not have to take it.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. (26 Feb 2003)

Martin Cullen: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. As he is aware and has acknowledged, the provision of modern environmental infrastructure to support social and economic objectives has been and continues to be a major focus of Government spending. The unprecedented increase in investment by my Department on water and sewerage schemes under the current and previous national development...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: It is more a figment of the media's imagination than reality.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: Now that the Senator is in the House.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: What else would he say?

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Martin Cullen: That is worse again.