Results 1,621-1,640 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Garda Vetting (24 Oct 2012)

David Cullinane: I second the amendment and seek clarification. When the amendment refers to Ireland, we want to be sure it means the island of Ireland. People living in Down and Armagh work for the HSE across the Border. The wording of the amendment concerns us but I would be happy if we get clarification from the proposer. I am also conscious that when we talk about Ireland in legislative terms, we must...

Seanad: National Dementia Strategy: Motion (24 Oct 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State. I commend Labour Party Senators for tabling a motion which has strong sentiments which I fully support. It is encouraging when Government representatives have an opportunity to table motions in Private Members' time, that they have substance and deal with important issues. I am impressed by the wording of the motion which I do not think anybody in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Marine Safety (24 Oct 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank the Cathaoirleach for giving me the opportunity to discuss this important issue. Fishermen being lost at sea is a major issue on the south-eastern and southern coast of Ireland, as it is across the entire country. We have lost many fishermen all around Ireland and I know many families personally who have been affected by this in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Marine Safety (24 Oct 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome that, as per the Minister of State's reply, the Minister and Department intend to introduce legislation which will make personal locator and vessel beacons mandatory and further to introduce a code of practice for the safety of fishing vessels of less than 15 metres, which is a significant improvement in terms of where we were on this six months ago. It is hoped the relevant...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)

David Cullinane: Yesterday, I tabled an Adjournment motion on the need for an enhanced GPS system for fishing vessels and fishermen. I was pleased with the response given by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. He stated that the Minister is looking at introducing legislation that would make it mandatory for all fishing vessels to have the new enhanced GPS systems and for...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)

David Cullinane: We are all conscious of the need to improve safety.

Seanad: Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Statements (25 Oct 2012)

David Cullinane: After the next election, maybe.

Seanad: Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Statements (25 Oct 2012)

David Cullinane: I may follow that lead. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is now four months since the summit of 29 June, when a statement was published that included a reference to Ireland. It is important in the context of this debate to remind ourselves of exactly what was stated. It read: The Eurogroup will examine the situation of the Irish financial sector with the view of further...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I also wish to support the call for the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to come before the House to discuss the composition of new hospital groupings throughout the country. The Leader will be aware of a serious situation that has emerged in the south east whereby a recommendation may be made by the expert group headed up by Professor Higgins to dismantle the regional hospital...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I take the opportunity to appeal to Senators from all parties throughout the south east to ensure we work together on this issue and that we do not allow this to go ahead. We must ensure we do not see another hospital downgraded, or people who live in Waterford having to travel to Cork while people who live in Wexford and Kilkenny have to travel to Dublin. We must ensure they do not have to...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: The Senator should back it up with facts.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: The political will is not there.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: Senator Michael D?Arcy was out of order in making comments he cannot back up.

Seanad: Social Welfare Appeals System: Motion (7 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I commend the group of Senators, the Taoiseach's nominees, for tabling this motion. I regret the fact that the Government has tabled the amendment it has to it. Before I talk about the substance of the motion, I would like to make a general point about social welfare offices and how the public can interact with staff in those offices. The public interface is not what it should be. Many...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I support the call by a number of Senators this week for a debate on banking. There is no doubt that the people are outraged because of the pensions being paid to retired bankers who were the architects of many of the problems this country is facing. These people were responsible for very sharp practices in the banks which led to the collapse of the banking system and forced the Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I make the same argument with regard to the banks. I understand why Senator Conway would argue for a banking inquiry but really what this country needs is for the Government to take control of banking policy. We saw what happened with the Personal Insolvency Bill in that we are still giving the banks a veto. We saw what happened with the recommendations in the Keane report, such as the...

Seanad: Youth Unemployment and Public Policy: Address by Professor Christopher Pissarides (Resumed) (8 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome Professor Pissarides to the House. There was something in his contribution for everybody across the political spectrum. I agree with him that austerity on its own damages the domestic economy. We all accept the need to reduce the deficit in this State and across Europe. However, the concern is that investment and growth are not receiving the political attention they require and...

Seanad: Matter raised under Standing Order 30 (8 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I join other Members in commending Senator Norris for tabling this motion. It is important for Members to have a debate on the court decision. It is also important that Members do not blame the courts or the judges for today's decision because I believe the judgment gives cause for concern. On behalf of my party, I wish to state its clear view that the referendum should go ahead as planned...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I pay tribute to the 15,000 people from the south east who marched over the weekend in defence of Waterford Regional Hospital and services at the hospital. There were a number of meetings today between Oireachtas Members, consultants and clinical directors across the south east, the Minister for Health and the Secretary General at the Department of Health. It is very clear opposite views...

Seanad: National Children's Hospital: Statements (13 Nov 2012)

David Cullinane: I learned today that the Minister is not in favour of shotgun or forced marriages and I agree with him on the site chosen and that we should get on with building the hospital, which we all want. It is a welcome development that the site has finally been chosen and we will now see the building of a new top quality national children's hospital, which will be an enormous addition to the health...