Results 22,861-22,880 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: I will not be competitive or repetitive. In fairness, the Minister has directly answered the questions, but his responses pose even more questions.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: I wonder whether Senators want scrutiny at all. Perhaps we should all just go home and not bother turning up here.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: The Minister said a separate Bill is being brought forward in the new year. Why is there a separate Bill? When we pass this Bill, we will then deal with all of the other issues, but why is there a need for a separate Bill on this? This has to do with water charges and with landlords taking money from people's deposits and should be part of this Bill. I do not see the need for a separate...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: The fact the Minister is waiting until this Bill is passed before introducing a separate Bill raises questions and concerns. Our main concern is affordability. Our concern is not for those people who can afford to pay but who are taking a principled stand and will not pay - like myself - but for those with real affordability issues. I welcome that the Minister has said the Department will...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: I am one of those people who can afford to pay water charges but there are many who-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: I thank the Cathaoirleach. It is good to see that Senator David Norris has gone home. This section deals with the penalties and sanctions. I said a number of times it is not the choice of any of the Opposition Senators to be here or to be debating the Bill in the manner in which we are doing so. We would have preferred this debate to be over a number of days but the Leader has organised...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: I did not say that at all. I am opposed to the charges.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: I did not mention them at all.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: No, I did not. If you check back-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: I did not. I think Senator Norris-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: Senator Norris is getting very cranky. I think maybe he should go home and let the rest of us-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: This is my second contribution to this section on water charges, which is fundamental to my opposition. I made one previous contribution on this. If Senator Norris or anybody else has a difficulty with that, that is a matter for them. I will make my contribution. I am talking about the water charges element of the Bill. We are speaking to section 3 and that is where my concerns lie. I...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: Senator Norris now claims that he also saw what was coming but he was shouting down Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin Senators who were raising concerns. We had the same-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: If the Chair could-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: Absolutely.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: Are we not allowed to ask questions? Is this Committee Stage of the Water Services Bill?
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: Can I put the questions or not? Am I allowed to put questions to the Minister? It is not the Opposition's fault that it is the Friday before Christmas and this is being rushed through. That is not our fault.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: They want to get home but that is not my fault that we are forced into a situation where we must take this so close to Christmas when people want to get home. I asked the Minister of State about this being a regressive versus a progressive tax and why the Government is introducing this as a water charge that does not have an ability to pay element to it as opposed to progressive taxation. I...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: Well then I am asking the question. I am allowed to ask a question until I get an answer.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
David Cullinane: Why does Senator Norris not leave the Chamber if he is not happy with the contributions that are being made?