Results 4,361-4,380 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (30 Sep 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking this Commencement matter. Since I was elected to Seanad Éireann, I have tabled Commencement or Adjournment matters on waiting times at University Hospital Waterford, formerly known as Waterford Regional Hospital, at least twice each year. Unfortunately, for the past seven years, under this Government and its predecessor, services...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (30 Sep 2015)

David Cullinane: That may be the case but he can certainly refer them to the Minister for Health. The Minister of State came to the House to take this serious matter on behalf of the Minister.The Minister for Health must be aware of what happened in Waterford last week. I am sure the Minister of State will accept that it is unacceptable that patients were diverted from a regional hospital because of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (30 Sep 2015)

David Cullinane: I apologise to the Minister of State, but I tabled a number of commencement notices and there was a mix-up on my part. There was one on waiting times at the hospital and another on waiting times for children with disabilities. The latter is the one that was selected for today. I welcome the six additional therapy posts. It is important that children with disabilities have access to early...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2015)

David Cullinane: I call for a debate on the capital programme announced yesterday by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It is important from the outset to state any increased capital spending is to be welcomed because we have been starved of capital funding, not only from the Government but from the previous Government because of what happened in the economy.We need to see more capital...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2015)

David Cullinane: He is not easily embarrassed.

Seanad: Longer Healthy Living Bill 2015: Second Stage (30 Sep 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister. I commend Senator Crown on bringing forward a Bill that is worthy of support, and I support it. It is not the first time the Senator has brought forward legislation, which is what we are here to do, and I commend him on it. I also commend the Minister and the Government on accepting the Bill and allowing it to go to Committee Stage. Hopefully, it will reach...

Seanad: Longer Healthy Living Bill 2015: Second Stage (30 Sep 2015)

David Cullinane: The Minister is wrong and he should inform himself of the facts. I listened to-----

Seanad: Longer Healthy Living Bill 2015: Second Stage (30 Sep 2015)

David Cullinane: I am accepting that does happen. The Minister can be flippant about this issue if he wishes but a consultant who works in the hospital was on local radio yesterday and said that this happened not for the reasons given by the Minister, but because of capacity issues in the accident and emergency department. That is what happened and that is the Minister's fault. That is the responsibility...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: This is the first opportunity I have had to offer my best wishes to former Senator Jimmy Harte who has retired. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I wish him continued success in his recovery. We all hope he will recover fully. It was untimely and dreadful that his time in the Seanad was cut short. He was a very able Senator and we had many exchanges across the floor, as Members know, but we...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I also wish to raise the issue of Irish Water. A previous speaker said the Government's plan is illogical and to an extent one could argue that it is, given all of the failures of Irish Water and water charges. There is a very clear logic in terms of what the Government is doing with the water conservation grant and other measures, which is to entice people to register and then pay even if...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: Not at all.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I pass on my condolences to all the families bereaved in Carrickmines and also the family of Garda Tony Golden. I extend my sympathy to all the families, as other Senators have done. I am sure there will be many calls by Senators for various Ministers to come to the House to discuss budget 2016. I agree with the Senators who have said the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: Yesterday the Government attempted to bribe people with their own money in regard to budget 2016. The hallmark of the Government over the past four and half years has been that the top 20% of income earners in the State have benefited every single time in every single budget by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Yesterday the top 14% of income earners gained approximately €900, while...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: The issue of climate change is the biggest challenge facing our generation and we have a responsibility to take action. Unfortunately, Ireland's five year action plan on climate change expired in 2012 and we are now in 2015. The Bill is weak and very much the work of Mr. Phil Hogan and Fine Gael. I cannot commend a Bill which has so many shortcomings because it would not do justice to the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I am nearly finished. I ask for the indulgence of the Acting Chair.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: The Minister is responsible for local authorities and there will be no success without their being central to the implementation of any plans to create a low carbon society. The Bill is welcome, but I have no doubt that if the Minister was standing in opposition today and it was presented to him, he would have the same critique because he said as much when he was in opposition. There is...

Seanad: Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 1:In page 5, line 19, after “enterprises,” to insert “micro businesses,”. I understand the Minister of State has requested that we do not table amendments today and that he may consider them on Committee Stage in the Dáil. If that is correct, I do not mind withdrawing the amendment on the basis that we can resubmit it at that stage.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staffing (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, and thank him for taking this Commencement matter. The issue relates to a school which was told in September that it had a temporary English as an additional language, EAL, post, but then in October the school received an e-mail to say that was not the case. EAL posts are for children who need extra support for learning English. The best...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Staffing (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: The answer does not bring clarity. In fact, it raises more issues. In the Minister of State's response, he says that the criterion used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2015-16 year set out in primary Circular 0005/2015, which I quoted, is that 20% of the total enrolment of the school is made up of pupils that require EAL support. It then goes on to say that while schools must...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I, too, would welcome a debate on the North. We debated the matter in this Chamber a number of weeks ago. On that occasion the contributions made by most of the Senators were comprised of a long list of political charges against Sinn Féin. Nothing constructive was offered on how to solve the problems with the peace process or successfully conclude the talks. I wish to respond...