Results 1,541-1,560 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 17: In page 46, lines 1 to 23, to delete subsections (3) and (4) and substitute the following: "(3) Pensions payable under the Scheme shall be indexed in line with the Consumer Price Index.". I will be brief because I am interested in the Minister's response. We support the move to index pensions in payment in line with the consumer price index, CPI. Our difficulty with...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Yearly.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: The logic of Committee Stage-----

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: -----is that we can accept the principle and come back on Report Stage.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I was making the point that when amendments are tabled on Committee Stage and if a Minister is of the view that there is some flaw in the amendment he might accept the logic of the amendment and it can be dealt with on Report Stage. If the concern is that we have not specified the "how", we will not press this amendment, and we will return on Report Stage with an amendment that will specify...

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: We will see then if the Minister will accept it.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: No.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: This is the so-called enabling clause which provides for the Minister to uprate current public service pension schemes in line with the consumer price index but at an undetermined point in the future. That is part of our problem with it. As this may be my last opportunity to speak on this section I want to indicate that we will be opposing the Bill. As I said earlier, we support career...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: This Bill is very welcome. All of us hoped it could have been before the House much earlier, but it has arrived now and we support it. It is unfortunate that we cannot complete the legislative process before the summer recess. Members would have preferred if it had been possible to deal with it before the summer, but we must wait until we return in September to finalise the Bill. That is...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: The Labour Party, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin disagreed with the charge at the time. We all accept the cost of medicine to the State and to individuals is too high and we all acknowledge there is waste and over-prescription of medicine. We also agree measures must be undertaken to address the problems but the last way to do so is to punish those who are least able to pay. In opposition, the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I commend the Minister on the amendments. It is important we ensure that in seeking to reform this area, we make it as accountable as possible. The Minister has gone a long way and he is to be commended on the changes that are being introduced. Anything that can increase accountability and oversight is vital. I might come back to the issue of corporate donations under amendments Nos. 6...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the amendments but seek clarification on a number of issues from the Minister. Up to now the practice has been that political parties could make their annual accounts available, though they were not required to do so. In the context of these amendments, are we talking about every branch of a political party? If that is what is being proposed, it would be useful. The only...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Can I ask ---

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I support these amendments. The Minister has struck the right balance with €100. What is the position if a series of lodgments of sums under €100, such as €99 or €95, is made to a donations account? That could cause concern for the commission. The commission would have no obligation to investigate such an account. We are always examining ways in which we can prevent people...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I support the amendments, which relate to section 7. I stated earlier I would take this opportunity to raise the issue of corporate donations, although I know the Minister was referring to cash donations. The Minister has gone a long way and the new donations thresholds have gone a long way towards meeting our demands. However, we have made the point we are in favour of a complete ban on...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Perhaps the Minister could provide Members with an update.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I am giving the Minister an opportunity to use the Seanad in an important way.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: He might provide information, given that the Lower House has gone on its holidays earlier than the Seanad.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I support the amendments. When we seek to ensure that individuals provide maximum information, and if we want proper accountability and transparency, no doubt there is a price to be paid. That price, for election candidates, is that there is an element of bureaucracy now involved in terms of managing accounts and providing information. We are implementing, as best we can, the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (20 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Earlier I commented on the donations element of the Bill and I commend the Minister on having gone a long way in that regard. We should not forget the gender quota aspect of the Bill, which is a significant step forward. I know it is not without its detractors and that some people believe quotas will not work. We need to face up to the fact that we need to do something to ensure we...