Results 2,641-2,660 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The island of Ireland is my country and I am proud to see the island of Ireland is my country.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I did not state what we want is exactly what is in the North. I stated we will end up with a raft of individual charges, all regressive, not based on ability to pay and moving away from direct taxation which I believe is deeply unfair. The Minister of State also spoke about unaccounted for water which is a problem. He also spoke about where the meter will be placed. He stated only the...

Seanad: Death of Nelson Mandela: Statements (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Nelson Mandela was, by any standards, an exceptional human being. He was a towering figure and an inspiration to freedom loving people the world over. I extend to the family of former president Mandela, to President Zuma, to the people of South Africa and to the South African community in Ireland my sincere and heartfelt condolences on the death at Madiba. Nelson Mandela is one of my heroes...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I propose to share time with Senator Cummins. The redevelopment of the courthouse in Waterford city is long overdue and the provision of extra courtrooms is to be welcomed. I am concerned that the aforementioned works may lead to a loss of court services in Waterford city. Any loss, whether short-term, medium-term or long-term, would be a disaster for Waterford city. I will not mince my...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I concur with Senator Cummins that the overall investment in the Courts Service in Waterford should be celebrated and strongly welcomed. It would make no sense for the Government to invest in increasing the courtrooms and services in Waterford from two to six, and then lose the services altogether. That is a nonsensical argument. My argument was about the short-term potential loss of...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It is three weeks before Christmas and, unfortunately, one of the country's most popular department stores closed last Saturday as workers embarked on a one-day stoppage over pension rights. I understand we will see another stoppage at Marks and Spencer tomorrow. This is a no-win situation for the workers, the company and the general public. The company has a reputation for quality, not...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: If the Senator from the Labour Party wants to take exception to anything I have said, he is entitled to do so but I stand in solidarity with workers who are seeing their pension rights attacked by companies. We are talking, in many instances, about workers in low-paid jobs. The vast majority of those in the retail sector are low-paid workers. We are having this discussion on the same day...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It criminalises some workers and we will have that debate later on. The intent of the Bill is to open up a discussion about all of these issues and I will take the opportunity this evening to air my views on the Bill. In the context of the industrial action at Marks and Spencer, I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on pensions because both public and private sector workers are very...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We oppose the three sections because we are opposed to the Bill in its entirety and totality. I do not want to speak on any section for too long as the House has much business to get through today. We made our position on the Bill quite clear on Second Stage. It is important to put on the record as we debate Committee Stage the various concerns we have about the Bill. I believe in...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I do not accept it, because it is a political con job from the Government.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: He can say it is a fact, but all pensioners are entitled to a medical card as of right because they paid their taxes. That is now being means tested, albeit in a measure brought in by Fianna Fáil before the current Government reduced the thresholds. That means medical cards are being taken away from people who have them. They had universal health care and full cover, and now many of...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The only thing that has changed is that the Minister of State's party is in government now.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: That is the only change. I think the people themselves can see through that. I have made my point. I am opposed to the change. What I will say is that I would prefer if we had parties in government, including both our parties, which support public services, universality, basic social protections for citizens, funded through general taxation, provided as of right, and not on the basis of...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I would prefer a coalition partner to be a party of the left that believes in the core social values. I have a difficulty with the fact that the Labour Party is in government with a right wing party, rather than building a genuine alternative. That is a separate argument and I do not wish to get into that here and hold up the House. I have made my argument and I will listen to what the...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: That is not what I said.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. Much of what he said I agree with, but we need to be clear about the arguments being made on all sides of the House. I have never said access to GP cover is being removed in this legislation from anyone. My arguments relate to the income limits which are changing. They were first introduced by Fianna Fáil and have been...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I am sure all Senators are receiving the same volume of complaints. There is a difficulty with discretionary medical cards which is impacting on people. The Senator can smile, but there is much hurt and confusion among many families and individuals. The Opposition has a responsibility to hold the Government to account. It may not be helpful for the Minister to go back to what was said...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I am dealing with it. With respect, we had the same nonsense yesterday. We are dealing with changes to medical card eligibility.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We have every right and entitlement to remind the Government parties of what they promised because we are here to hold them to account. I want to set out the facts. I have a responsibility to all those people who contacted me and to those organisations that have asked me to again highlight the inconsistencies in the Government's position having regard to what its members said then and what...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I will set out the facts as I see them and if the Minister of State wants to counter any them-----