Results 3,661-3,680 of 26,889 for speaker:David Cullinane

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

David Cullinane: The more the Cathaoirleach interrupts the more he delays proceedings.

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

David Cullinane: I have respect for the Chair.

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

David Cullinane: Some Senators on the Government side obviously want to get out early and do not want any debate.

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

David Cullinane: Leaving that to one side, we are sticking to the issues. Perhaps we can at least make our contributions. I made a comment earlier that promises in whatever part of this Bill are not worth the paper they are written on. The Minister knows full well the point I am making that they can be undone. Whether it has to do with the assets in this or the previous amendment in respect of a...

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

David Cullinane: That is a surprise.

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

David Cullinane: I thought repetition was banned.

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

David Cullinane: That is the next amendment.

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

David Cullinane: This is outrageous repetition.

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

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “(b) a Resolution of each City and County Council is passed approving the alienation,”.This amendment adds a subsection to the so-called triple lock relating to the plebiscite. We propose that a resolution of each city and county council is passed approving the alienation. For many years the...

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

David Cullinane: I agree that the best way to do it would be in a straight vote of the people, but, unfortunately, we are not going to get this because the Minister has refused to hold a constitutional referendum on the issue. That is a clear contradiction of what he said in the past five hours. I wish the people will have a say, but, unfortunately, they will not if any future Government is minded to do so....

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

David Cullinane: Yes, they also elect Senators which is obviously an important function, even though Senators should be elected directly by the people. I do not believe there is any contradiction in what the Minister and we are saying, other than about the hypothetical situation that may or may not arise. He believes it will never happen, but I believe it could potentially.

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

David Cullinane: We support these amendments. It is a decent attempt at meeting the Government half way and trying to strike that balance between the plebiscite, which Sinn Féin believes is flawed, the inability of the Seanad to propose a constitutional amendment, and all of the amendments that have been ruled out of order. What is interesting about this amendment is that the Minister has said on a...

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

David Cullinane: I welcome the last comment made by the Minister, because essentially this is what we have been seeking for some time. It is a pity it was not done months ago. If it had been done and the Minister had such discussions with his Cabinet colleagues we might be in a very different position whereby the Minister would be bringing forward a Government amendment which established a...

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

David Cullinane: I accept that, but the point is that we have been calling for this for months. Had the Minister done this earlier, he might not be in the mess he is in now. Why could he not have done that months ago, when the Cabinet met on the issue of the ownership of water and whether we needed a constitutional referendum? Whether something could be done was obviously discussed. The Government had the...

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

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

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

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

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

David Cullinane: I have been critical of the Minister and the Government’s approach to Irish Water from the Water Services (No. 1) Bill to this one. However, the Minister is genuine in his attention to this issue. He has gone some way to meet our concerns. I regret the fact that it was not done sooner and we could have been in a different position today. The Minister has said he will consider some...

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

David Cullinane: That is if we pass the Bill of course.

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

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

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

David Cullinane: I will be supporting the amendment. Unfortunately, any amendment which sought to remove the water charges completely has been ruled out of order, so that is that. We might return to those discussions when we get to the section but the amendments still in play, which have not been ruled out of order, seek to delay the introduction of the charges. Any amendment that seeks to delay the...