Results 24,381-24,400 of 26,766 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: This is my first time speaking on Committee Stage as we have not yet got to any of the amendments which Sinn Féin has tabled. I listened to the Minister for Health and he was asked some of the same questions. I reject absolutely the accusations that the Minister did not answer the questions, give explanations-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: -----or the correct definitions. There are some people in the Chamber who do not want to accept those definitions, as is their right. It is unfair of the same Senators to accuse the Minister or a Minister of State of not giving a definition. I sat here for some of the debate and I have listened to it in my office. The Minister addressed all the questions that were asked ad nauseam and was...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: It has really been upsetting for me-----

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: -----as I have heard language used like "evil deeds", "intentional killing of babies" and graphic explanations of procedures of which we are all aware, with no regard for humanity and compassion, as previous Senators noted. I am absolutely outraged as a man and individual that this is how some people are approaching the debate. It is absolutely appalling, and the quicker we proceed with...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: Come on. This is getting ridiculous.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Employment Appeals Tribunal: Public Petition No. P00027/12 (18 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: I commend Mr. John O'Sullivan for lodging the petition which means the committee can have a discussion on all of the issues. I do not have a difficulty with a streamlining of the employment rights bodies and making them more effective for the employee and for the employer. The new single body of first instance and the new appeals body can work well if properly structured. When will that...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: Yesterday I raised the issue of the Magdalen laundries and the refusal of the religious orders to face up to their moral, ethical and financial responsibilities to the women concerned. I also asked the Leader if he would impress upon the Taoiseach the need for him to be more forceful on the issue. I was not at all persuaded by the Taoiseach's contribution in the Dáil yesterday. The...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: I have made two contributions on this Bill thus far, a Second Stage speech and a semi-Second Stage speech on Committee Stage. Owing to the way in which Committee Stage was taken, that is just the way it turned out. There was a series of Second Stage speeches. This may be the last chance I have to speak on this Bill. I do not intend to give a third Second Stage speech but I want to make a...

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: The Senator made it a political motion.

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: She certainly did.

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: I second the amendment. I commend the proposer of the original motion for raising the Special Olympics and its importance for people with disabilities. I remember vividly the 2003 Special Olympics in this State, and what it was like in my city, Waterford, where many families took in people from all over the world. It was a huge and fantastic occasion for this country, as well as for people...

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: At the heart of it was a decision of the Ombudsman that the scheme was being applied unfairly because of the age criteria concerned. The Government will keep the scheme going for a couple of months and will come back to it, but did not deal with the substance of what the Ombudsman said. The scheme will not be made available for all those who need it. The Government has again gone for the...

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: The Government did not deal with the substance.

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: That is not a point of order.

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: I will continue.

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: I am sure we will also be told there has been no cut to the respite care grant but of course there has been, and it has impacted not only on the people who provide the care but on those who are in receipt of it. That has an impact on people with disabilities. There have been cuts to the household benefits package and special needs assistants. The Minister of Health stated there were no...

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: The Government likes to pretend these things do not happen but the reality is different. All of us deal with this day in, day out - my party certainly does. If the Minister of State is not doing so there is something seriously wrong. The reality is that it is much more difficult than ever before to get a card on medical or hardship grounds. I deal with many families, day in, day out, week...

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: I was interrupted a couple of times, with respect.

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: We live with the corrections but I deal with a whole raft of disability groups.

Seanad: Special Olympics Ireland: Motion (17 Jul 2013)

David Cullinane: I do not know many disability groups who would say that things have got better for people with disabilities. I do not know many people who would say so. There are people who are really stretched and hurting because the resources are simply not there for them. For that reason we cannot support the substance of what is in the original motion because we cannot give praise to a Government that...