Results 23,621-23,640 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: It is no surprise to us that Fianna Fáil does not like openness and transparency.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I also want to call for a debate on the need for a regulator for the charities sector. This issue is being discussed in Oireachtas committees and in canteens, workplaces and homes across the State. We need to discuss it in this House. If the Leader has not given a commitment to provide for a debate on this issue - perhaps he has - I hope he will say that such a debate will take place in...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: Listening to the last number of contributions, it sounds as if farewell tributes are being paid to the Minister. We called for his resignation today and I did not think it would be that quick. The Taoiseach has high ambitions for him and there are places becoming available at the European Commission.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: If the Minister takes one of these places, we will wish him well. I must be honest in my interpretation, as the Minister will accept. I accept that we have had a good engagement. The Minister enjoys the cut and thrust of debate and we have had a good debate in this House on the Bill. At the same time, we must remain true to ourselves in what we have stated through Second, Committee and...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I do not accept that this is the reforming legislation that the Minister believes it is. We will be back at some point in the future to deal with the issue of local government.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: Unfortunately for the Minister, it will be a Sinn Féin Government that will deliver us the reforms that we want.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: Whether the Minister is here or in his soft seat at the European Commission or wherever he is when Sinn Féin is in government and bringing about real reform of local government, I hope he will then see that he missed an opportunity is this Bill.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 65: In page 83, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following:“(f) A county council or a city and county council is required to ensure that income redistributed to a municipal district will be on a fair and equitable basis, and reasonably proportional to the income directly generated within that municipal district,”.This amendment relates to the estimates...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 62: In page 67, to delete lines 31 to 41, and in page 68, to delete lines 1 to 8.This is an amendment to oppose the amendment of section 140, which, as the Minister is aware, gives powers to local councillors to override the views of the county or city manager if they feel it is appropriate. During Committee and Second Stages, some Senators referred to past abuses of...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 43: In page 49, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:"(f) communities of interest,".

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 42: In page 49, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:“(f) representatives of social partners,”.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: A number of my amendments were ruled out of order. I will speak to amendments Nos. 42 and 43 which were deemed to be in order. Amendment No. 42 seeks to include representatives of the social partners as members of local community development committees and also communities of interest. The Minister has gone some way towards answering the second issue regarding communities of interest, but...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I wish to speak to the amendment because I support the thrust of what is proposed. The Minister has outlined what he means by community elements and economic elements of the plan. I understand that it is part of the local community development committees which are being established. If we are to develop community and economic elements of a plan, that will give rise to a number of issues...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I do not say it was the Minister’s doing but it has happened. The vast majority of the amendments Sinn Féin has tabled have been ruled out of order, which is unacceptable. It is not good practice that we are not prepared to have a debate on a Bill such as the one before the House. I wanted to have a discussion with the Minister with responsibility for local government on many...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: It is outrageous that we have to use the opportunity of a Government amendment to try to squeeze some latitude from a Chairman to raise legitimate concerns about the Bill. It flies in the face of what the Minister and his party promised about a different type of governance when they were in opposition and following the election. We made exactly the same arguments when the Minister...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I am. I have no difficulty in doing so. I am not just questioning the Chair, I am questioning the Leader of the House, the Minister and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: I am questioning the entire process because it is not fair on anybody. What I see happening is that the permanent government is preventing us as legislators from having a debate on amendments. It is telling us which amendments are in order or out of order. We are putting ourselves in a straitjacket and preventing ourselves from having a proper debate and scrutinising Bills. The debacle...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

David Cullinane: We are not subservient at all. Far from it.