Results 24,981-25,000 of 27,087 for speaker:David Cullinane

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Retail Sector Report: Discussion with RGDATA (12 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the three witnesses for their interesting presentations. I agree with most of what was said and disagree with some parts. I agree to an extent with regard to the car parking issue. It is a big problem. When people go to shop they need car parking space. We all accept it is more difficult to provide free parking in city and town centres and easier in out-of-town centres. Part of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Third Level Facilities (7 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I do not have a supplementary question, I just want to thank the Minister of State for his response.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Third Level Facilities (7 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon. On a number of occasions I have tabled motions on the jobs situation in Waterford and the Minister of State has often come to the House to reply, and I thank him for that. I have also constantly raised the need for a technological university for the south east and its critical importance for improving the awful situation in Waterford and the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Third Level Facilities (7 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister for his reply. I accept the limitations he might be under, given that a number of applications will be made. This is socially and economically critical to the people of the south east. The Government recognised that when it included it in its programme for Government and I commend the Government for that. I am worried we have opened up a four-way process that might...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I ask for an update on that as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: On Tuesday, in the absence of the Leader, I raised the issue of the 800 IBRC workers who have temporary contracts. Some of them will be transferred to NAMA. I hope that as many jobs as possible can be saved. We are not concerned about the executives and the people in IBRC who were part of the problem. We are concerned about the ordinary low to middle income staff workers who face an...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: If I have taken her up wrong, I apologise, but I believe it is a good idea for some elections.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I apologise to the Senator. I will finish on this point. It is important to reach out to the Irish diaspora in some elections. They are decidedly important in terms of job creation here and now. This also applies to citizens in the North, who should be given the opportunity to vote in any future Seanad election, if there is to be another Seanad, or Presidential election. I commend...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish to commend Senator Crown for tabling this Bill which my party will support, despite the fact that we have difficulties with some of its aspects. I understand the constitutional constraints under which the Senator was working in terms of what provisions and changes could be allowed for in the context of tabling such legislation. If I had...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: Under Standing Order 62(3)(b), I call for the division to be taken other than by electronic means.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: The Senator should sit down; she has done enough damage.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: Of course you do. She has just given a Fine Gael rant.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: Bonds, shares, yachts; that is wealth.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: When the Minister for Finance introduced the property tax on budget day and mentioned the deferral system, there was an element of relief among Government backbenchers who appeared to be of the view that there might be something positive in this. The sting in the tail is that the interest rate applicable to those who choose the deferral option is 4%. In effect, we are penalising people who...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I accept that certain individuals in the Labour Party say one thing outside the Chamber and then adopt a different position in respect of low and middle-income families when they are in the House. Regardless of whether those to whom I refer like it, I must make the point forcefully that we are referring to people on very low incomes who are being given the option to defer. If they choose...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I support the amendment. It is reasonable to have different positions on different parts of the island in view of the fact that Sinn Féin is in an all-party government in Northern Ireland, but also in view of the fact that the rates system there goes back to direct rule. I do not see it as a perfect system but at least I am honest and can come into this Chamber and say that I do not see it...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I like all the noise in the background when I speak.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I remind the Labour Party about what it promised in its manifesto, because this goes back to the issue of negative equity. I wish to place a section of its manifesto, from page 16, on the record of the House.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: It is relevant to the amendment.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2013)

David Cullinane: I have no intention of doing so. I will read directly from page 16 of the manifesto. It states: Labour accepts that it will be necessary to introduce a site value charge, in order to prevent higher taxes on work. The Government has not, however, carried out sufficient work to allow such a charge to be introduced in the short-term. Further detailed study will be required to devise a fair...