Results 421-440 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: The outrage we are now getting from those same parties about what is happening in the North is just false outrage. It would be beneficial if the Leader were open to allowing for proper debate in the House on the powers and functions of the Assembly. I will deal with that in the context of my speech.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I try, but when I am being harassed by the Government side-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: The Acting Chairman would be good at that himself.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Let me deal with the issue at hand. My party favours moves that will further environmental protection. We believe it is vital to have a comprehensive mode of inspection and oversight in this area. We take a rights-based approach to the environment. Having a clean environment is a right that must be upheld to achieve a better quality of life. Clearly, considering the damage a faulty...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: The bottom line is that if Government representatives want to grab hold of the Sinn Féin pre-budgetary submission - I will ensure they all receive a copy - they will see that there are many alternatives that could be considered to tackle wealth in this country-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: -----to ensure that high earners pay their fair share, especially those in the political system and at the top of the public service, who walked away with lottery prize-sized payments in recent times. Many of the proposals we are making would allow the Government to raise revenue without having to penalise again working people in rural areas. We can have inspections through the local...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: The Government should implement Sinn Féin's alternatives because this is why they were proposed.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I thank sincerely all of the Senators who responded to the letter sent on behalf of the Sinn Féin Senators a number of weeks ago on speaking time. We received a positive response from Senators of all political parties. In regard to what the Leader of the House had to say today on the statements which would be taken on two important topics, with respect, he missed the point. Whether Sinn...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: The labour laws are far too weak. That is the problem. We need stronger labour laws to support workers.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: One does not need to be an employer to know that workers need rights.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: We need to support workers' rights.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements, Questions and Answers (17 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I would like to call a quorum.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Three times last week, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I called for a debate on the budget and, more specifically, on pre-budget proposals from parties, groupings and individuals. On the three occasions, the Leader failed to respond or to give us a date on when exactly this could take place. Senator Coghlan spoke of having to wait until the budget is published. We know from all the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: The Minister for Finance confirmed that VAT will go up by 2%.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: While we called for a debate about what should be and what could be in the budget, parliamentarians in Germany were discussing the Irish budget so it is somewhat rich for Senator Coghlan or anyone from the Government to talk about having to wait until the budget is published when members of foreign parliaments are discussing what could be in the budget.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: We have called for a debate in the House. As far as we can see, the Dáil and the Seanad are being treated with contempt because we are not being given an opportunity to discuss all pre-budget proposals from all groupings properly.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I fail to see what is wrong with the Minister for Finance coming to the House to discuss alternatives not only from political parties or groupings, but to give all of us an opportunity to present to the Minister all the options and alternatives proposed by advocate groups throughout the country. How many meetings have taken place in this building at which groups have come in to discuss their...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I call on the Leader to afford us the five minutes speaking time given to statements being taken today. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business so that the Minister for Finance would come in to discuss pre-budget alternatives and so that a Sinn Féin representative would get five minutes in this context.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Well said.