Results 23,961-23,980 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I would prefer a coalition partner to be a party of the left that believes in the core social values. I have a difficulty with the fact that the Labour Party is in government with a right wing party, rather than building a genuine alternative. That is a separate argument and I do not wish to get into that here and hold up the House. I have made my argument and I will listen to what the...

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We oppose the three sections because we are opposed to the Bill in its entirety and totality. I do not want to speak on any section for too long as the House has much business to get through today. We made our position on the Bill quite clear on Second Stage. It is important to put on the record as we debate Committee Stage the various concerns we have about the Bill. I believe in...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It is three weeks before Christmas and, unfortunately, one of the country's most popular department stores closed last Saturday as workers embarked on a one-day stoppage over pension rights. I understand we will see another stoppage at Marks and Spencer tomorrow. This is a no-win situation for the workers, the company and the general public. The company has a reputation for quality, not...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: If the Senator from the Labour Party wants to take exception to anything I have said, he is entitled to do so but I stand in solidarity with workers who are seeing their pension rights attacked by companies. We are talking, in many instances, about workers in low-paid jobs. The vast majority of those in the retail sector are low-paid workers. We are having this discussion on the same day...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It criminalises some workers and we will have that debate later on. The intent of the Bill is to open up a discussion about all of these issues and I will take the opportunity this evening to air my views on the Bill. In the context of the industrial action at Marks and Spencer, I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on pensions because both public and private sector workers are very...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I concur with Senator Cummins that the overall investment in the Courts Service in Waterford should be celebrated and strongly welcomed. It would make no sense for the Government to invest in increasing the courtrooms and services in Waterford from two to six, and then lose the services altogether. That is a nonsensical argument. My argument was about the short-term potential loss of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Court Accommodation Refurbishment (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I propose to share time with Senator Cummins. The redevelopment of the courthouse in Waterford city is long overdue and the provision of extra courtrooms is to be welcomed. I am concerned that the aforementioned works may lead to a loss of court services in Waterford city. Any loss, whether short-term, medium-term or long-term, would be a disaster for Waterford city. I will not mince my...

Seanad: Death of Nelson Mandela: Statements (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Nelson Mandela was, by any standards, an exceptional human being. He was a towering figure and an inspiration to freedom loving people the world over. I extend to the family of former president Mandela, to President Zuma, to the people of South Africa and to the South African community in Ireland my sincere and heartfelt condolences on the death at Madiba. Nelson Mandela is one of my heroes...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It was a bit disingenuous of the Minister of State to claim people are playing games when the Government is asking us to buy a pig in a poke. We do not know exactly what the level of the charge will be. We do not know whether there will be an ability to pay clause. We know it is the intention of the Government, as Senator Ó Domhnaill stated, to apply over time the full cost of water...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I will not argue. That is what was said.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The Senator used the words "down here".

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: The island of Ireland is my country and I am proud to see the island of Ireland is my country.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I did not state what we want is exactly what is in the North. I stated we will end up with a raft of individual charges, all regressive, not based on ability to pay and moving away from direct taxation which I believe is deeply unfair. The Minister of State also spoke about unaccounted for water which is a problem. He also spoke about where the meter will be placed. He stated only the...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It is in the spirit of the-----

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I will be allowed to reply because I was ruled out of order when I raised the issue. Members want to be able to respond.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We will pay here too by the time the Government is finished.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: Good luck with selling that one.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We will come back to Senator Cummins on that point.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: It could be third time lucky in the context of the figures and I might get an answer on this occasion. I hate repeating myself but I want to go back over the figures again so we are all clear about how much money the Government hopes to generate for the water system, because that will determine the charge. Whether an ability to pay clause is included in the legislation is a separate issue....

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I am raising these matters because they are connected to the charges and to the question of ability to pay. I insist that I be allowed to make my point this time, because that is only fair. There is a real fear that what we saw with other charges will also happen in this case. Water charges will be brought in with a certain level of subvention for a period of time, but then the full cost...