Results 2,921-2,940 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Sinn Féin’s amendments Nos. 52, 53, 55 and 56 seek to improve the membership and the remit of the community development committees to include State agencies and to promote social inclusion. These amendments also mitigate against taking power away from the local communities by adding representatives from the social partners and communities of interest. I hope the Minister will be...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We do not have agreement on that one.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 52: In page 49, line 29, after “authorities” to insert “and statutory agencies”.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 53: In page 49, line 37, after “promoting” to insert “social inclusion and”.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Minister should accept our amendments. If he is saying the consultation will take place, what is wrong with making sure this is clear in the section? In amendments Nos. 64 and 65 we are calling for engagement with the local community in the preparation of the plan. We want such engagement to be absolutely certain. The phrase "engagement and consultation" is very clear and explicit in...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 83: In page 54, to delete lines 34 to 39, and in page 55, to delete lines 1 to 4.We are seeking to delete some sections of the Bill because we do not believe the Minister has been ambitious enough on the issue of mayors. If the Bill is to be genuinely reforming, the Minister should go further than simply having a plebiscite on a mayor for Dublin city. Even at that, once...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: In a real democracy the people would elect mayors. Mayors would not be elected on the basis of pacts between councillors.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The one party in this state that would be closest to the DUP is Fine Gael.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Irish Unionist party.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Minister has an affinity with the DUP.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Bill and the amendments we are discussing have nothing to do with the DUP. The issue is directly elected mayors-----

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The problem is that it does not provide for directly elected mayors. It should be the case that we have directly elected mayors in all of our major cities. Why is the Minister not going to give his own constituents in Kilkenny an opportunity to vote on whether they want to have a directly elected mayor? Why does he believe it is okay in Dublin only?

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Minister might explain that one to the House. What is different about the people of Kilkenny? Why is Dublin being singled out? What about Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford? Why are they being treated differently? If this really was a genuinely reforming Bill and the Minister was genuinely interested in improving democracy, as he claims he is, he would be making such a provision...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Minister has said he wears his county's colours with pride. He should, therefore, be a little more ambitious for the people of his own county and the people of this state. He should not just be looking after the people of Dublin. He should not forget that there are other counties that deserve the same level of representation.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I support the sections that relate to the preparation of local economic and community plans. I have been a long-time advocate of local government playing a much more central role in economic development, and it is one of the few positive elements of this Bill that I can support.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Minister is doing some good things in the Government that merit support. However, we need to learn from the mistakes of the past. The Minister served on the old city development boards himself. They were good in theory, but not very good in practice in some areas. It depended on the local authority involved. One of the difficulties that city and county managers encountered, as well...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: That is the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan's, version of democracy: guillotine, like the Water Services Bill 2013.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Under Standing Orders I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I wish the Cathaoirleach and every Member of House a very happy, prosperous and peaceful new year. I want to move an amendment to the Order of Business, as the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, is to be in the Seanad from 3.45 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the Order of Business. I propose that an hour should be put aside to discuss the debacle at...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: We did not get answers about salary caps and bonuses when we asked questions. Not once did the Minister of State present indicate that bonuses were in place. We also asked about the cost of establishing Irish Water and not once were we told that up to €80 million was spent on consultancy fees. We also asked about the transfer of assets but did not get the required information. The...