Results 3,641-3,660 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I am sure none of us will when the Senator produces it.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: There is a problem. It is difficult for the Minister to be sitting here for very lengthy contributions. We started at 11.30 a.m. and it is 4.15 p.m. It is the reason the Ministers have switched over and back and the Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, has been in. The problem is that questions are being asked and are not being picked up on and not being answered. That is why we come...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: My point is that we are asking questions. Some of them are being picked up by the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, and some by the Minister sitting there, and then they are not being answered because there is no communication between them.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, also sat here for God knows how long. How many points were made that the Minister might not even be aware of? That is not the point I wanted to raise at all. Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell asked a question earlier and I want to address it through the Chair. She read out a section of the Bill relating to the holding of a plebiscite, which is the first...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: It does not mean anything. There may not be any vote in the Oireachtas, there may not be any plebiscite, there may not be anything, because it could just be amended if a Government wants to do that. That is the simple reality. Examples were given earlier of industries that were deregulated and it does raise concerns about Irish Water and what could happen there in the absence of a...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I want to say to Senator O'Donnell that I will speak for myself. She can speak for Fine Gael and herself. I speak for Sinn Féin.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I repeat the point I made. The Minister is like a second-hand car salesman-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: -----trying to sell something that is like asking us to buy a pig in a poke. I was here for the 17 hours that we discussed the Water Services Bill and not once in all of the discussions we had at that time - this was only a year ago and we had 17 hours - was the holding of a plebiscite mentioned by the Government. Now it is an issue because they are saying they are listening to the people,...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I am not going to be fooled by any three-card trick by this Minister or any other. What we should have and what the people demand is a constitutional referendum. It could easily happen if the political will was there. The Minister can make this happen and it is the only way we can guarantee that the people will decide. There is no other way. If the Minister or anybody else suggests...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: It can be repealed. That is not the point I made. The Minister should answer the question.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Minister might answer the question I asked.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Labour Party will not be, that is for sure.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Minister's party will not be in government again.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Minister might answer my question, for the fourth time.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Minister is delaying the passage of the Bill. I have asked a simple question and he has refused to answer it time and again. I will be back in again.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: That is the first time.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: Or Spanish water, anyone?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I will be supporting the amendment. In these amendments we are seeking to go as far as we possibly can in the absence of a commitment from the Government to have a constitutional referendum. Anything that strengthens the Bill is welcome and that is what this amendment does. A fair point is being made that the assets are separate from the shares. However, I wish to correct something the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: Absolutely. I want to correct something the Minister said earlier which is still relevant to this amendment.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I know it is. I want to respond to something the Minister said which is related to all of these amendments to the same section. They are all about the same issue.