Results 4,001-4,020 of 26,889 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: One-Parent Family Supports: Motion (15 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister and welcome the opportunity to have this debate. It is not often I disagree with Senator D'Arcy and it is not often I criticise him in this House, but I have to say I found his remarks in regard to the Dunnes Stores workers to be quite flippant. The reality is that those workers are at the moment being exploited by an employer and there are many people on low-hours...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: I have tabled this motion on the back of a parliamentary question my party colleague, Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, tabled last week on hospital waiting times at University Hospital Waterford. Every time I table parliamentary questions, which I have done since 2011, the waiting times are getting worse. I will not judge the Government on my standards or Sinn Féin...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: With all due respect to the Minister of State, he did not write that script. It was obviously written for him by a civil servant in the Department of Health. It is clearly an inadequate response to the questions I have asked. It talks about reassuring people that waiting list performance will be assessed. It then talks about performance evaluation and the significant potential of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: What is the Government going to do to reduce waiting times? All the Minister of State has said is that the position will be assessed and reassessed.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: That response is simply not good enough. If that is what the Government is going to do, it will not reduce waiting times at University Hospital Waterford.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: In 12 months time I can guarantee that, if resources are not provided, the Minister will not have met the 18-month and 15-month targets.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: Since our last sitting, SIPTU members in Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus have served notice to strike because of a refusal on the part of management of both companies to discuss the trade union members' concerns about tendering 10% of all contracts for bus services. Bizarrely, while it is proposed to privatise 10% of bus routes across the State, 100% of bus routes in Waterford city are to be...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: On Second Stage Sinn Féin signalled that it would support this Bill but that it had concerns about some provisions that had been raised with it by the Free Legal Advice Centres and Community Law & Mediation. In their joint submission the two organisations called for the deletion of section 4, arguing that it would do nothing but make it more difficult for carers to access income...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I will press the section but will not press it to a vote. All we can do on this one is wait and see how it works out in practice. If it is the case that Free Legal Aid Centres, FLAC, and the other organisations are right, then the Minister of State might be able to give a commitment to revisit the issue. We can give him fair wind on this....

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: I support the sentiments of the previous speaker who has articulated the concerns many of us have about this issue. We tabled an amendment on it which has been ruled out of order because it would pose a charge on the Exchequer, which it would, but there would also be a beneficial cost to the State in ensuring lone parents and single mothers and fathers have access to extra hours of work and...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: Senator Gilroy should sit down.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: Whatever about being negative, I am positive about the future of this country.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: There is a big difference between challenging unfair Government policies as we see them and being negative. I support positive and fair policies and I want to see a fair recovery.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: The Senator chastised people for interrupting him so now it is his turn to listen to what is being said. The quarrel from the Opposition in recent years has not been about any attempt to reduce the deficit or create jobs but how unfair the adjustment has been on many working families. Despite what we will get from the Government over the next few days, statement after statement, Minister...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs: Motion (29 Apr 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister. It would be churlish of any of us in opposition not to accept that we have seen significant numbers of jobs created in recent years since 2011. This Government and this Minister took over an absolute mess that was left by the previous Government. Hundreds of thousands of people were unemployed. Far too many of our young people emigrated. We have lost possibly a...

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: I support Senator Healy Eames's request. Given that we are discussing the issue of Seanad reform, it is important that every Senator is given an opportunity to contribute to the debate. I commend the working group on this report. Those of us who are in favour of radical Seanad reform were surprised by many of the recommendations. If they are implemented they will bring substantive reform...

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: That is my view. Senator Norris is entitled to his own views.

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: The Senator had the opportunity to make a long contribution. Everybody else should have a similar opportunity to contribute to the debate. The university panels are elitist. I have made that point during the campaign and I will continue to make it.

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: It does not matter how many voters there are.

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

David Cullinane: Everybody should be entitled to vote based on Irish citizenship and irrespective of educational attainment. If this is to be the Irish people's Parliament, they should be able to vote for Members of the Seanad. It should be a franchise based on one person, one vote. The system of Taoiseach's appointees should also be abolished. Legislators should be elected by popular vote. I welcome the...