Results 4,241-4,260 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I support the call by Senator Darragh O'Brien for a debate on Greece. We need to have a discussion on the role of the Government in this, which is essentially what he called for.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I will come to that, Senator, with respect.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: Absolutely. I would have no difficulty with any such debate if people would allow me to make my contribution.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. We are served up a number of gems on the Order of Business and we have had two classic examples today. The first was from Senator Michael Mullins, who is in the Chamber, who said that the Greek Government had raised unrealistic expectations. In fact, what the Greek Government wanted to do was exactly what Senator Jim D'Arcy said, which was to clean up...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: It was the two previous bailout programmes, supported by the troika and parties associated with Fine Gael and the Labour Party, which created the deep problems in Greece. At least the Syriza Government wants to see taxes collected from the wealthy, the oligarchs and the well-off in Greece, who have not been paying their taxes, as well as others. At least they are committed to doing-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: At least they are committed to doing that, unlike the Senator's sister parties, which failed in Greece. What the Greek people need is not Brian Cowen or anybody else being sent to Greece to heap more misery on them, but debt restructuring and debt reprofiling. That has to be a centrepiece of this deal, which many people would call a diktat because the Greek Government and the Greek people...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: The reality is that the banks were closed when the referendum took place. That appears to have escaped the minds of the two Ministers who made their comments today.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: What we need is a debate in order that we can have a discussion on this issue. I do not believe that what was agreed will bring about the type of sustainable economic recovery that is needed in Greece. What we are trying to prevent is our being back here again in six months' time or a year-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: -----when matters are worse because we did not have a comprehensive agreement that would sort out the problems in Greece.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I would welcome a debate on this issue. Let us have a sensible debate on the issue in which we can leave behind political charges being made by the Government representatives and discuss the type of deal that is necessary for the people of Greece.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for his constructive engagement as we pass the Bill through the House. I do not wish to be negative but I must place the following on the record. I welcome the passage of the Bill and the setting up of the Low Pay Commission. However, I still do not think the commission has the powers and teeth that it deserves and needs to deal comprehensively with low pay in...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following:“(5) An employer may subsequently apply to the Court to become party to the agreement in its application to any worker or workers to whom it applies.”.As I would like to catch my breath, I might listen to the Minister of State's response first.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: We have discussed most of these amendments in detail so, while I will press them, I will not speak on them, because we have made the arguments already. I anticipate that the Minister of State will not support most of them, because he has already indicated this. They are all important, but there are some I want to speak on. I will press this amendment.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 2: In page 10, line 40, after “concerned” to insert the following:“and 3 months’ notice of this decision shall be given to the trade union by the Court of its decision after which an appeal maybe heard no later than 6 weeks after the decision has been made”.This amendment was tabled following representations from the Irish Congress of...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:“(g) country money,”.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 4: In page 14, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:"(e) the percentage of workers in the identified economic sector earning two-thirds or less of median income; (f) the pervasiveness of part time and/or short hour contracts in the identified economic sector;".When a recommendation has been made to the Minister, issues such as low pay and the percentage of...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 5: In page 14, after line 38, to insert the following:"(c) hours of work;".This was the amendment that the Mandate trade union asked us to include. It is to ensure that not only rates of pay, but also hours of work, would be looked at when forming REAs. That might go some way towards addressing what happened in Dunnes Stores and what happens in other companies where...

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 6: In page 16, line 36, after “not” to insert “blacklist,”.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 7: In page 16, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:“(a) trade union membership or activity,”.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report Stage (14 Jul 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 8: In page 17, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:“(6) The Minister may authorise other persons, including designated union officials, to carry out inspections and monitoring of Registered Employment Agreements, Registered Employment Orders and Employment Regulation Orders. (7) The Minister may make regulations providing access, for union officials,...