Results 24,101-24,120 of 26,766 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I assume the Minister of State is in the Dáil for every debate. Is that what he is telling me?

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: No, I am not going to listen to that guff from the Minister of State. We do not have to be in the Chamber for every part of a debate.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I am speaking to the section. I put it to the Minister of State that he has not given us any indication of the level of charge that will be imposed on people. Families have no idea how much this will cost them. Senator Barrett in a previous debate today mentioned the figure of €750. The Minister of State said it would not be anything like that figure, therefore, he should give us...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: We engaged in a lengthy debate on charges and we have just discussed an amendment designed to include an ability-to-pay clause in the Bill. It is disappointing that the Government voted down that amendment, which was an attempt by those of us who oppose the charges in the first instance to try to bring some element of fairness to the process. People have different views as to whether water...

Seanad: Critical Utilities (Security of Supply) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

David Cullinane: I cannot, as is customary, commend the author of the Bill for bringing it forward. I spoke to him prior to the debate because this legislation is abhorrent and unhelpful and it is beyond me how any Oireachtas Member would put effort into criminalising workers. The Senator disagrees but I will demonstrate how it does. He also said the legislation does not and will not prevent workers from...

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

David Cullinane: We have every right and entitlement to remind the Government parties of what they promised because we are here to hold them to account. I want to set out the facts. I have a responsibility to all those people who contacted me and to those organisations that have asked me to again highlight the inconsistencies in the Government's position having regard to what its members said then and what...

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

David Cullinane: I will set out the facts as I see them and if the Minister of State wants to counter any them-----

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

David Cullinane: I am addressing my comments not to the Minister of State but through the Chair - this seems to have been happening a good deal on Committee Stage debates recently for some reason, perhaps the Government is anxious to get legislation pushed through over Christmas. Prior to 2008 people over the age of 70 received a medical card without a means test. That is a fact. That was the position...

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

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. Much of what he said I agree with, but we need to be clear about the arguments being made on all sides of the House. I have never said access to GP cover is being removed in this legislation from anyone. My arguments relate to the income limits which are changing. They were first introduced by Fianna Fáil and have been...

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

David Cullinane: I am sure all Senators are receiving the same volume of complaints. There is a difficulty with discretionary medical cards which is impacting on people. The Senator can smile, but there is much hurt and confusion among many families and individuals. The Opposition has a responsibility to hold the Government to account. It may not be helpful for the Minister to go back to what was said...

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

David Cullinane: I am dealing with it. With respect, we had the same nonsense yesterday. We are dealing with changes to medical card eligibility.

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

David Cullinane: That is not what I said.

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

David Cullinane: I do not accept it, because it is a political con job from the Government.

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

David Cullinane: He can say it is a fact, but all pensioners are entitled to a medical card as of right because they paid their taxes. That is now being means tested, albeit in a measure brought in by Fianna Fáil before the current Government reduced the thresholds. That means medical cards are being taken away from people who have them. They had universal health care and full cover, and now many of...

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

David Cullinane: The only thing that has changed is that the Minister of State's party is in government now.

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

David Cullinane: That is the only change. I think the people themselves can see through that. I have made my point. I am opposed to the change. What I will say is that I would prefer if we had parties in government, including both our parties, which support public services, universality, basic social protections for citizens, funded through general taxation, provided as of right, and not on the basis of...

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...