Results 23,721-23,740 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Representation.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Minister is like a jack-in-the-box.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The problem with the section is that there is no new vision, just continuity.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I shall deal with that issue in a second.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It does no such thing. There is no new vision for local community development but a continuity of policy. Let us be honest, in the section there is a drift towards centralising community development into local government and putting it under Government control which was set in train by the previous Government. It started with the abolition of the community development projects which were...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: No, but the Minister accused Senator Ó Clochartaigh of having a vested interest for similar reasons.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It is important for the Minister to retract his statement.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I know that the Minister does not believe that Senator Ó Clochartaigh has a vested interest. Perhaps the Minister might take the opportunity, when he contributes again, to withdraw his comment.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I was a director of the Larchville Lisduggan Community Development Project Limited and know, at first hand, the good work done by volunteers. They were voluntary board members of the CDP. They lived in the housing estates and understood the issues that affected people living in the areas. Their power and responsibilities were taken away from them. They no longer have any involvement in...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 23: In page 40, to delete lines 17 to 19, and substitute the following:“(2) The base year adjustment shall be determined in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) by a rating authority, with agreement of the members of the Municipal District Area where the base year adjustment will apply, in respect of each year of the adjustment period for each of the specified...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I agree with the harmonisation downwards. It is something that should be supported. It will benefit many different areas. I certainly know it will benefit my own city of Waterford.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The problem with merely harmonising it is that it is trying to make limited changes within a system that is antiquated. It certainly will help, but the Minister is not dealing with the fundamental issue of how rates are calculated, an issue we raised along with all the issues raised by Senators Walsh, Landy and Cummins in relation to the rates valuation process. The Minister has not dealt...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Minister has responsibility for local government. I am asking for his view on how we can, outside of the scope of this Bill, change for the better the rates system in this country. I accept that harmonising downwards is the best we can do within the scope of this Bill. It is positive, it should be welcomed, and the Minister should be commended on it. I refer especially to the funding...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It will be for larger multiples. Why is that not good? Senator Landy made a point about out-of-town shopping. In fact, the Minister-----

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: -----raised that issue in debates on the failure of some local authorities, when it came to planning out-of-town shopping centres, to take account of their impact on town and city centres, given that these places can provide free parking. There is scope to increase taxes on some of those bigger multiples, and these taxes can be used to ease the burden on smaller retailers. The amendment...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Yes.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 20: In page 40, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:"(2) Each municipal district may, in respect of that district, set an additional commercial rate for premises occupied by large commercial entities which exceed such thresholds in turnover or other economic activity as may be prescribed.". I want to speak to these amendments that are grouped, which seek to...