Results 681-700 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: We got the most recent figures.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The record of the House will not show that because people will be able to read the transcripts of what we said. All we are getting from the Government representatives is nonsense. They are not dealing with the real issues, they are making disparaging comments on the amendments we have tabled.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I will deal with that later. The Minister of State claimed that our amendment omitted several people, such as the Ceann Comhairle. We are working off page 6 of the Bill, which refers to a 29.96% reduction for the Taoiseach. Our amendment proposes that the reduction be 64%. The Bill refers to a 24.83% reduction for the Tánaiste; our amendment proposes a 59% cut. The Bill provides for a...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The point is that I am reading from the Government's Bill.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The Government proposes a reduction of 24.83% for the Ceann Comhairle; we propose a reduction of 55.5%. How then can it be said that we omitted the Ceann Comhairle?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: As the Minister of State knows, we are trying to be consistent in this. Our position is that the salaries of those at the top of the public sector should be capped at €100,000. If he read our pre-budget submission, which I am sure he did, the Minister of State will know we have also called for a reduction in the pay of Deputies and Senators. In addition, we are seeking the establishment...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Despite all the promises made, we are simply getting more of the same. People do not see any balance or fairness in what is proposed. Despite the nonsense from Government Members about the motivations of my party in putting down these amendments-----

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: -----many Senators, on both the Government and Opposition side, have, over the course of many years in this House and outside it, spoken about high salaries for people in the public sector. The Minister of State's party opposed benchmarking, for example, which served to drive up pay for those at the top of the public sector. I make no apology for seeking pay parity and insisting that those...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Senator Sheahan might get to go on Vincent Browne's programme himself after this. We will see how he gets on.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Senator Landy is getting very worried. His Dáil aspirations are gone.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I have a number of points. I like to enlighten people from the Government parties when they have queries and questions. They sometimes make it very easy for us.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The first point I would make on the amendments under discussion is that we cannot table a simple amendment which calls for the complete abolition of the €100 charge because it would be ruled out of order. That is why we have looked at mitigating the worst excesses of the charge and ways in which we can protect people on welfare, including old age pensioners, and those who earn under...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I appreciate it is very painful and difficult for Labour Party members at present as they are in very real trouble given they are trying to defend the indefensible and have broken so many promises in regard to their own manifestoes-----

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: -----that they were reduced to clutching at straws, and picking up on this misinformation in newspapers to throw at the Sinn Féin representatives. I know they are scraping the bottom of the barrel but-----

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: -----with respect, they should not make it that easy for us. On another point, the whole purpose of this charge is to raise revenue. Why are people being asked to pay this €100? The Government said there was to be no increase in income tax and that an increase in income tax would hurt people. Yet, many people are being asked to pay this €100 charge, which is €2 per week. It is a...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I am dealing with the charge of €100.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I am dealing with the €100 charge. The Government is saying anybody on mortgage interest relief is okay. In the budget, it increased the mortgage interest relief to 30% for certain people who are in very real difficulty with their mortgages. While the Government is affording them this welcome relief, it is also taking €100 per week from them. There is no logic to this. The point I am...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Is the €2 per week coming from the trees?

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Where does the money come from?

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The problem is that nobody is buying what the Government is selling. People who are to pay the €100 are saying the weekly €2 must come from their income. When I hear the nonsense from Fine Gael and the Labour Party that people are not paying any more income tax, I contend I am paying more taxes. This is a tax.