Results 25,121-25,140 of 27,087 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: No, I will withdraw the amendment to resubmit it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for her response and also the Government Senators who spoke. I found myself agreeing with almost all of what Senator Bradford said in his thoughtful contribution. The approach that is being taken - and Senator Bradford's contribution is a manifestation of it, in some respects - is a little bit too cautious. I want to restate the position because we need to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: They were re-tabled as Government amendments but nonetheless the thrust of the opposition amendments was accepted. As regards the Bill now before us, I regret that we are sticking to the conservative approach. That should not take away from the fact, however, that this is a good first step and one which I hope will improve the situation.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: A period of 30 months is not four years.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this important legislation which, as Senator van Turnhout stated, will be supported from all quarters in the House even if we have amendments which seek to strengthen it. On Second Stage I gave a very broad welcome to the Bill because regardless of the differences we may have with regard to its limitations we should all see it as part of a...

Seanad: Water Fluoridation: Motion (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Alex White. I thank Senator Norris for tabling this Private Members' motion today to allow us review the position on fluoridation of water in the State. It is an interesting issue and it has provoked continual debate not only in this country, but around the world. One could argue that there are many issues that we could be...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: As I was not in the House yesterday during the Order of Business, I take this opportunity to condemn in the strongest possible terms the callous murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and to offer my condolences to his wife, children, family and all the people in Louth and across the State and island of Ireland who are shocked, saddened and angry about what happened. I draw the Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: This amendment takes into consideration those who are on jobseeker's allowance, jobseeker's benefit, supplementary welfare allowance, family income support, farm assist, the old age non-contributory pension, disability allowance, disablement benefit or the blind pension. They should be exempt from the charge. I appreciate the Minister of State indicating that he will come back to us with...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 6: In page 12, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following subsection:?(4) (a) This section shall not be commenced until such point as the Social Inclusion Division of the Department of Social Protection have carried out a poverty impact analysis study. (b) Such a study will have regard to?(i) whether the impact of the imposition of charges referred to in subsection...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: While amendment No. 6 has already been discussed, I wish to restate my position. I acknowledge that in the discussion on poverty proofing, the Minister of State agreed with the principle of doing it. However, he might recall the last discussion by Members on the issue during a debate on the household charge. I believe Senator Norris also participated in that debate. At the time, Members...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 7: In page 13, before section 27, to insert the following new section: ?27.?Section 12 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1997 is amended by the insertion of a new subsection (3):?(3) Section 4 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 1983, is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsections for subsection (1):?(1) Section...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I wish to raise with the Minister of State the issue of district metering. In an earlier response based on information from one of his officials, the Minister of State stated there are district metering systems in the State. He is right as this is the case. While such metering does not extend across all local authorities, we do have such a system in place. As I stated previously, it is...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: I am speaking to the section. This is the section which establishes the water services. Regardless of what was said previously, I could go on for a while but I will not.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: Under any section, one can repeat arguments which were made already. With respect, I am speaking to the section. As I stated already, if the Acting Chairman was listening, I will not repeat the arguments. I am simply stating my party's core opposition to it. I must put on record some of the accusations that were made about a former Minister in the Assembly, Mr. Connor Murphy, MP, MLA. The...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: When Senators on the other side of the House speak of what is the reality in the North, they should at least check their facts and know exactly what is the position. The position is, because of efforts made by my party, there are no water charges in the North.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: This is one of the key sections of the Bill. I know many of the comments were made on the previous sections, but it is important for me to restate our opposition to the establishment of Irish Water. I will not go back into the issues we have raised, to which the Minister of State has responded in the best way he can. Essentially, if section 5 was to be passed, any attempt to oppose...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

David Cullinane: The Bill can say what it likes. If the Minister of State is saying it is cast in stone that the service can never be privatised, I do not believe him. Many services have been privatised over the years. Once the concept of charging is introduced for a service, it will inevitably be privatised. The same happened with waste collection charges. When they were introduced, we were told it was...