Results 4,401-4,420 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: Our amendment puts a timeframe on it and we support the thrust of what Senator Barrett has said. Our amendment proposes that the expert group should report back within ten days and not 30 days, which is what is in the Bill. The wording of the Bill states that in implementing climate change measures the Government needs to "have regard to" - which is a phrase often placed in legislation by...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 8:In page 7, line 31, to delete "6 months" and substitute "12 months". I did not want to come in on the last number of amendments or the section because the Senators who spoke made the points I would have made, so I did not feel the need to prolong the debate. However, I do want to pick up on something the Minister said in the last part of his contribution. There is no...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister for his reply. To be fair, what he says makes sense. While I propose to withdraw the amendment, it does show up that a one-size-fits-all approach, whether in six or 12 months, is, possibly, not the way to go. The Minister has made the point that children have different needs and will come into the system at different times and so on, such that providing that a plan be...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: On behalf of my colleagues in the Sinn Féin Party, I warmly welcome Senator Máiría Cahill to the Seanad. I wish her very well and every success. I acknowledge the presence of her family and friends in the Gallery. Like previous speakers, I think it is appropriate to remember the former Senator Jimmy Harte and to wish him every success in his recovery. It has to be said that...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Technological Universities (18 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: I also welcome the Minister and thank him for taking this important motion, even though it does not fall into his portfolio.I am glad the Minister has taken this Commencement matter because he has taken a hands-on approach to what has been happening in the south east in recent years with the jobs action plan and the south-east action plan as well. The Minister will be aware of the importance...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Technological Universities (18 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: It is obviously good and useful that both institutes are at least talking and that some progress is being made, if I am to take the Minister's word at face value. I am sure that some progress has been made. I have spoken to people in both institutes on numerous occasions, as well as other stakeholders mainly in Waterford but also in the wider region. The problem is that while they may be...

Seanad: Services for People with Asthma: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take part in this debate and commend the authors of the motion on raising the issue of asthma in the Seanad. I was diagnosed with asthma a number of years ago, almost by accident. I thought I had a bad cough linked to hay fever, a condition from which I suffer badly in the summer. Most people do not realise that there is a connection...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: It is important that we have a debate in this House as soon as possible on the agreement in the North which has been reached by all parties and by both Governments. It is obviously good news that the institutions will remain in place. It is also good news that additional funding has been agreed - £550 million to help the most vulnerable citizens in the North. I note that as a result...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: I, too, call for a debate on health care with the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar. Opposition Senators and some Government Senators have been calling for this for almost a year and it has not happened. It is not fair to say to nurses because they are pondering strike action as a last resort that they are putting older persons at risk or that they are responsible for what is happening....

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: Yesterday in the Leader's absence, many of us again called for a debate on health care. I support the proposed amendment to the Order of Business. For almost six months now, Senators from Government and Opposition have been calling for the Minister for Health to come before the Seanad, not to deal with legislation but to take statements on health care. An awful lot has happened in those...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: Who?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Obviously, we are in a better position with this social welfare Bill than we were with the first three from this Government. Having said that, we have to look at what has happened in the round, consider the Government's five budgets and look at this budget in its own right. We must consider the analysis of those organisations which are tasked...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: It could not be up.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: I appreciate that. I welcome the positive elements of the legislation. We supported the Bill in the Dáil and we will support it here. If something is being given back to people, it has to be supported but a great deal more could be done. If we had a more progressive Government that did not include either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, I am sure we would be looking at a different...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: I commend Senator Wilson on bringing forward the Bill, even though I would probably vote against it if a division were called.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Nov 2015)

David Cullinane: We did indeed and I will get to that. If I had a choice, I would vote against the Bill but it will not be pushed to a division. It would take a brave politician to go back to the people again on Seanad abolition and nobody is inclined to do so. If a constitutional convention was held on Seanad reform and it recommended changes, I would support that and those changes could be put to the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (1 Dec 2015)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am pleased he is taking this Commencement motion. I have raised this at least seven times as a Commencement motion in the Seanad over recent years. When the new hospital groups were being established - it was not under Deputy Varadkar's leadership but under the leadership of a previous Minister for Health - Waterford was grouped with Cork in a new...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Services (1 Dec 2015)

David Cullinane: The Minister's answer seems to be different from the one I received in May, which seemed to be an outright "No". The Minister's answer may be somewhat positive in that the issue remains to be considered and prioritised by the HSE. The Minister said one of the key criteria is that there be sufficient patient volume, which is the case. I gave the Minister the figures earlier and we have the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2015)

David Cullinane: I concur with the sentiments expressed about the issue raised by Senator Lorraine Higgins. School enrolment is not something that should be confined to a Commencement motion. For some reason it is an issue throughout the State. This week I have been contacted by three families and I could not understand why, all of a sudden, school enrolment was an issue. There seems to be some sort of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2015: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2015)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.