Results 22,221-22,240 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: The MP is a Sinn Féin MP.

Seanad: Children First Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: First and foremost, I commend the Minister on bringing forward this Bill. It is a good day for Ireland and the State that the passage of the Bill before us through the Houses is reaching its conclusion. I sat on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for the first two years in which I served in the Seanad and it was an issue the Minister constantly supported and raised. He...

Seanad: Children First Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 3:In page 24, line 21, after “1991” to insert the following:“, including a person taking care of one or more children (other than that person’s own such children) in that person’s home, but not including any such person who is a relative of the child or children or the spouse of such relative”. I will be very brief on this...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 1:In page 4, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:“ “low carbon” means an aggregate reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 80 per cent (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment, and transport sectors; and in parallel, an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector,...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: We certainly will not be withdrawing these amendments. In response to the Minister of State' scripted response, I would say that targets are set in many areas. We had to set targets for how much waste could be sent to landfill. That obviously led to much more use of recycling and reusing of waste. Unfortunately, many of those targets were set by Europe and not by the State. We were...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: Did the Senator say something?

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I am nearly finished but I responded to the Senator. I do not accept the Minister of State's weak response. She has not addressed why clear targets have not been set but spoke about the national policy, which falls short by far. Ireland has a big problem with climate change but it is not on its own. I accept that Ireland is not as bad as a lot of other European countries and does a lot...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: May I speak to it?

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 3:In page 5, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:"(a) a target of reducing CO2emissions by at least 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050,".

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 5:In page 6, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:"(d) the principle of climate change justice for developing countries and countries vulnerable to climate change,". I am sure the Minister of State will agree that while climate change impacts on developed countries, it has a profound impact on developing countries, particularly in food and energy production....

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: We were seeking the inclusion of the reference in this section also. While I appreciate, as stated by the Minister of State, that the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, has inserted similar wording in other parts of the Bill, I would still like to press the amendment, although not to a vote.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I agree with the remarks of the previous speaker. I have made reference a number of times to the all-party consensus which appeared to be evident at the environment committee, which is good and positive. On the subject of political reform in the future, I have no doubt but that it will again be a topic of conversation for a while, for whatever Government comes into office after the next...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (21 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I am flabbergasted by the Minister of State's response, a copy of which should be given to every citizen of the State if that is what the Minister of State believes. She believes that only the Government should make decisions and not the Oireachtas. This includes the Minister of State's party colleagues on the backbenches. She is saying the Cabinet should make decisions and the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I pass on my condolences to all the families bereaved in Carrickmines and also the family of Garda Tony Golden. I extend my sympathy to all the families, as other Senators have done. I am sure there will be many calls by Senators for various Ministers to come to the House to discuss budget 2016. I agree with the Senators who have said the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: Yesterday the Government attempted to bribe people with their own money in regard to budget 2016. The hallmark of the Government over the past four and half years has been that the top 20% of income earners in the State have benefited every single time in every single budget by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Yesterday the top 14% of income earners gained approximately €900, while...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: The issue of climate change is the biggest challenge facing our generation and we have a responsibility to take action. Unfortunately, Ireland's five year action plan on climate change expired in 2012 and we are now in 2015. The Bill is weak and very much the work of Mr. Phil Hogan and Fine Gael. I cannot commend a Bill which has so many shortcomings because it would not do justice to the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I am nearly finished. I ask for the indulgence of the Acting Chair.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: The Minister is responsible for local authorities and there will be no success without their being central to the implementation of any plans to create a low carbon society. The Bill is welcome, but I have no doubt that if the Minister was standing in opposition today and it was presented to him, he would have the same critique because he said as much when he was in opposition. There is...

Seanad: Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 1:In page 5, line 19, after “enterprises,” to insert “micro businesses,”. I understand the Minister of State has requested that we do not table amendments today and that he may consider them on Committee Stage in the Dáil. If that is correct, I do not mind withdrawing the amendment on the basis that we can resubmit it at that stage.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2015)

David Cullinane: I also wish to raise the issue of Irish Water. A previous speaker said the Government's plan is illogical and to an extent one could argue that it is, given all of the failures of Irish Water and water charges. There is a very clear logic in terms of what the Government is doing with the water conservation grant and other measures, which is to entice people to register and then pay even if...