Results 23,021-23,040 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I did not interrupt Senator Gilroy or anyone else.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I know it is difficult to listen to the truth from the Opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: Settle down there now and listen for a second. As I do not think the current arrangements are good enough, I intend to support the amendment to tomorrow's Order of Business that will be tabled by Senator Craughwell.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I would like to comment on the suggestion made by Brian Hayes, MEP, that "we need to have an honest debate about this, rather than this kind of attacking Johnny foreigner kind of UKIP, au français national, Sinn Féin position". I find that deeply offensive. I think he should withdraw his remarks. By lumping Sinn Féin in with the National Front in France or anywhere else, or...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: It is absolutely outrageous. It does nothing for the issue at all. Sinn Féin is clearly an anti-racist party. It clearly believes in multiculturalism. It has very progressive policies. It has consistently called for progressive reform of our immigration policies. This type of politics is despicable. I do not like the rise of UKIP. I do not like the rise of the far right anywhere...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I would agree with Senator Craughwell that it is not good politics that we rush Bills through at the end of the year. We seem to have this problem every year and we have it again now with the Water Services Bill. I know the Leader is saying he will allow as much time as possible on Friday for the Committee Stage debate on the Water Services Bill 2014, but it is still not good enough that an...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: Like Senator O'Brien I want to deal with all the recommendations in one contribution.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: It is helpful for the Minister, and they are grouped anyway. Before I deal with the deferred pension issue and the Irish airlines superannuation scheme, IASS, I want to commend the Minister for reaching an agreement with the former Waterford Crystal workers. I know Kevin Mulvey was involved as well in terms of trying to get a resolution for those workers. This was a case of a double...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Tánaiste is not dealing with the point. I did not mention people engaged in fraud. What about people who make genuine mistakes?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Tánaiste should deal with the substance of the Community Law and Mediation report. Has the Tánaiste read it?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I will, but the Tánaiste should at least be honest in terms of this debate.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The Tánaiste did not address the point about the overpayments. It was presumably just an oversight, and I ask that she would come back to me on that issue and the report I cited. To pick up on the previous discussion with Senator Mooney on this section, Irish Water is still referenced in the Bill and it is linked to the water conservation grant on which the Tánaiste spoke. I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The points I have raised on overpayments have been raised in the past and we will continue to raise them. I found the Tánaiste's response to be somewhat flippant and in stark contrast to the Minister of State's, who was quite engaging on the issues. The Tánaiste knows full well from previous discussions we have had on this that there is a clear distinction between those who are...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Tánaiste. We had a very interesting debate with the Minister of State prior to the vote. This discussion is going to be a continuation of that. I appreciate that the Tánaiste may not be up to speed on what was said earlier. In that context, a number of recommendations relating to section 3 were ruled out of order, which is fine. However, we engaged in a discussion...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: The section provided an opportunity for the Government to make changes but it made only one. The recommendations we tabled were ruled out of order. There is potential for the Minister-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: With respect, the debate on the section provides us with the opportunity to raise such issues. I will not be prevented from making my point because-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I am not making a Second Stage speech. This matter relates to the budget.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: There is not much evidence of that latitude, all I can hear are interruptions. The Leas-Chathaoirleach, when he was in the Chair, allowed for a proper and free-flowing debate. When we seek to highlight such issues, namely, the need for proper pre-budget debates, we are informed that we should raise them when the legislation comes before the House. When we do that, we are informed that our...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: You are an outstanding Leas-Chathaoirleach who is very aware of the importance of Committee Stage in scrutinising legislation. I will not hold up the House at all on this issue. I asked one specific question about the water conservation grant. How will it conserve water?

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

David Cullinane: I thought I was allowed to make a contribution and the Minister of State would respond.