Results 2,541-2,560 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I support the amendment to the Order of Business and join the calls for a debate on health care. There are many issues to be discussed with the Minister for Health. The rising cost of private health insurance, for example, has been raised by several colleagues. Those rising costs must be seen in the context of the Government's plan to build the system of health care delivery around...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: That is not fair.

Seanad: Electricity Transmission Network: Motion (13 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte's return to the House to again discuss an issue raised on the Adjournment some weeks ago. I commend Senator Rónán Mullen for the pragmatic wording of the motion which should be supported. As I said previously, I have no objection in principle to the Grid Link project for the south-east or other EirGrid projects across the island. It is...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (14 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to the House. I support the Bill. Company Bills are a bit like buses. One can wait for hours and no bus comes and then two come at the same time. The more substantial companies Bill, which I also support, is working its way through Committee Stage currently. I must refer to the different approach being taken by the Government to its...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Harbours and Piers Development (14 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, and thank him for taking this Adjournment matter. I have tabled a number of matters on this issue in recent years and it is important to get an update from the Department on the current position. The Minister of State will know there is a need to dredge the harbour at Dunmore East. It is accepted this needs to happen because the lack of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Harbours and Piers Development (14 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome the fact that €800,000 was made available under the capital programme to extend and widen the slipway. The real issue is the €4 million necessary to dredge the harbour and dispose of the spoil material. I accept that the project must be conducted in an appropriate manner due to the presence of TBT. The Minister of State...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome back Ms Blake; it is great to see her back. On behalf of the Sinn Féin Party, I offer my condolences to Senator Coghlan on the passing of his mother. I also wish Senator Jimmy Harte a speedy recovery and we in Sinn Féin send our best wishes to his party colleagues. We are all friends of Jimmy and we want to see him back on his feet as quickly as possible. He is in all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Not-for-Profit Sector: Discussion (19 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the witnesses to the meeting. I am hugely supportive of the social economy and the notion of social entrepreneurship. I do not believe it is recognised to the extent it should be in terms of its potential. We would possibly all accept that. Last year, on behalf of the committee I drafted an economic development strategy for the southeast, much of which was based on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Not-for-Profit Sector: Discussion (19 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I can quote an anecdotal story that supports the second point about engaging with local authorities. I do not know if Mr. Coughlan is familiar with the Dunhill Ecopark in County Waterford, which does much good work. Initially it found it difficult to get support. Now that it is successful, the local authority is asking what support it can give. We should look to those centres and projects...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I propose we continue with Oireachtas Members putting questions to the witnesses after which the committee can discuss what it wants to do next. We should not make any decisions until all of the questions are asked.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the delegations. I am from Waterford and as such I am directly affected by this issue. I stand with all of the communities affected, including the organisations present today, who are rightly concerned about this project. There has been much discussion on this issue thus far. Senator Landy asked Mr. Brannigan for his view on the consultation process. There is a need to inject...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I wish to raise the issue of Seanad reform. In as much as we can, we welcome the news the Government may extend the vote in Seanad elections to all third level graduates. At one level this is a step forward, but we can all agree it is not real reform; it is not what people want and it will not go far enough. As long as all citizens in the State do not have a vote for the people in this...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (26 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister. Senator Maurice Cummins made a very passionate contribution on the plight of the former Waterford Crystal workers. He spoke about the injustice visited upon hundreds of former workers who had to take the State to court to get their pension entitlements. He expressed the hope the High Court case would be heard as soon as possible and mentioned that it might be heard...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (26 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: The posting of workers directive relates to workers in a firm who are temporarily transferred between member states in order to fulfil contract work. The directive is to ensure that workers receive the minimum protections in the state in which they are working and is intended to circumvent the movement of cheap labour and the race to the bottom. The problem in this State is that the minimum...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (26 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: To clarify, is the Minister saying that we are supporting the uniform closed list?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Forthcoming Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: Discussion with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (26 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: If we are rebuilding that framework - I hope it is done as quickly as possible - will it then be the case that workers will have these additional protections under the posting of workers directive in addition to the requirements in regard to the minimum wage?

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (27 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: On behalf of the Sinn Féin Party I join in the condolences offered to Bernard's family and friends and join in the glowing tributes paid to him today. It is impossible for me to follow his Fianna Fáil colleagues who have spoken very eloquently and passionately about his achievements as an individual and politician. I did not know him personally but have heard him described several...

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome the Bill and the establishment of the Child and Family Agency. Sinn Féin has called for such a Bill for many years. We also welcomed the appointment of a Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and the establishment of a new Department. In the referendum last year, the people endorsed a constitutional amendment to strengthen the rights...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Palliative Care Services (27 Nov 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have raised this issue three times on the Adjournment, including with the Minister of State as far back as 2011. We have, therefore, discussed the issue many times and the Minister of State will be aware of the background. Commitments were given by the previous Government in 2011 not only to build a palliative care unit but also a full...