Results 24,921-24,940 of 26,768 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, subsection (1), line 11, after "Welfare" to insert ", Pensions and Miscellaneous Provisions".The Title of the Bill should be changed because the legislation covers more than social welfare changes. It also makes changes to PRSI contributions. There are provisions being introduced to reduce social welfare payments which are not included in the Bill. The...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: Just as we scrutinise properly the cuts to child benefit and the respite care grant, the reduction in the duration of jobseeker's benefit, the abolition of the PRSI-free allowance of ¤127 and other measures in the Bill, we should have an opportunity to scrutinise the cutting of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, the back-to-education allowance and the household benefits...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 8: In page 6, lines 12 to 14, to delete paragraphs (b) and (c).The purpose of this amendment is to ensure we have adequate scrutiny of regulations and maximum oversight and transparency. I understand that section 4 as it stands will remove the requirement to lay regulations before the Oireachtas in draft form. The substantive Act of 1994 was amended in 2001. We propose...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: That is not what I said.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: I said that the Minister believes our view is that inputs are more important.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: That is different from what I said.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: It is constructive to set out a vision for health care and it is relevant to this Bill to do so given that it deals with regulating the system and risk equalisation. The Bill reflects the Minister's plans for the future of health care but we take a fundamentally different view. Ours is not a fanciful view. We believe health care should be delivered on the basis of equity, free at the point...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: We will wait and see what the Higgins report recommends for Waterford Regional Hospital which delivers very good services with its limited budget. It offers excellent oncology services without radiotherapy facilities, as well as excellent neurology and trauma services in the south east. It is a good model for regional and tertiary services. There is a fundamental difference between what the...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: I was referring to private health insurance companies. Their primary focus is on making money.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: Why did they resign?

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: Why raise it then? What has this got to do with my contribution?

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, line 35, to delete "old."," and substitute the following:"old, (e) the imperative to ensure that all persons receive, in due time and to the highest standard possible, health services on the basis of need alone and not on the basis of ability to pay.",".The Minister will recall that during my contribution on Second Stage I mentioned that my vision, and that...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, line 35, to delete "old."," and substitute the following:"old, (e) the imperative to ensure that all persons receive, in due time and to the highest standard possible, health services on the basis of need alone and not on the basis of ability to pay.",".The Minister will recall that during my contribution on Second Stage I mentioned that my vision, and that...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: So should the Opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: Whatever about Senator Hayden's view of Opposition spokespersons crying crocodile tears, everybody in this House will be aware from their dealings with staff in constituency offices that the victims of these policies are crying real tears because of the impact they will have on them and their families. I am sure Senator Hayden like other Members also deals with such people. All of these...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: It was a new low in the debate on abortion. If the Government brings forward legislation which is in line with the X case - I think it will do so - it will have the full support of the Sinn Féin Party. I look forward to voting with the Government and to making sure that I, as a legislator, do the right thing by the women of Ireland and medical professionals in this State.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: Of how many parties was he a member? Now he is challenging Labour Party Members and chastising them simply because they are standing by the election pledges made, for which one of them has apologised-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2012)

David Cullinane: -----and the promises they gave to the people. There are families who are hurting. There are people on social welfare who are genuinely struggling to make ends meet. What the Minister is doing is making things worse, but, worse than that, she is betraying the very people who voted for her and her party. For this, she should be thoroughly ashamed.