Results 25,121-25,140 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: No.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: This is the so-called enabling clause which provides for the Minister to uprate current public service pension schemes in line with the consumer price index but at an undetermined point in the future. That is part of our problem with it. As this may be my last opportunity to speak on this section I want to indicate that we will be opposing the Bill. As I said earlier, we support career...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: This Bill is very welcome. All of us hoped it could have been before the House much earlier, but it has arrived now and we support it. It is unfortunate that we cannot complete the legislative process before the summer recess. Members would have preferred if it had been possible to deal with it before the summer, but we must wait until we return in September to finalise the Bill. That is...

Seanad: Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: The Labour Party, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin disagreed with the charge at the time. We all accept the cost of medicine to the State and to individuals is too high and we all acknowledge there is waste and over-prescription of medicine. We also agree measures must be undertaken to address the problems but the last way to do so is to punish those who are least able to pay. In opposition, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: On Tuesday, I called for a debate on poverty and the Leader replied that the Minister for Social Protection would attend the House to deal with the broad issues in her portfolio. I do not believe that will do justice to a debate on the causes of poverty, which I was seeking. I call for this debate in the context of a number of published reports, the Social Justice Ireland report, the report...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I wish to raise the issue of the student pilots left stranded in Florida after their training was suspended. A number of issues in this regard need to be discussed, including the Irish Aviation Authority and the light touch regulation mentioned earlier, the company involved in pilot training and its funding. There is also an issue with regard to the fact that Enterprise Ireland has invested...

Seanad: School Transport (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish to raise the issue of changes that have been made to the post-primary school transport scheme. The changes were introduced by the previous Government but a number of elements of that scheme come into effect this September. There were a number of issues in County Waterford which, thankfully, have been resolved this year due to the...

Seanad: School Transport (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for agreeing to investigate my first concern about the distance eligibility. At the end of his contribution, the Minister of State referred to efficiency and cost-effective schemes. We have no difficulty with cost-effective schemes. There is logic in people attending their nearest education centre. However, sometimes their nearest education centre is not the...

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I thank Senator Norris for tabling this important motion which we support and we ask the Government to also support it. I wish to make a number of broad remarks about the constitutional convention. Senator Gilroy mentioned the fact that the parameters have been set by the Government and he is correct. He then went on to state that perhaps Senator Norris has missed the boat. The Government...

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Many people would ask whether that type of campaign would put people off standing for the presidency in the future.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I am pleased that Seán Gallagher was not elected and I am pleased that the person in the Áras has been elected.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I know it is a sore point for Fianna Fáil that its proxy candidate was not elected-----

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: -----and that is unfortunate.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I am glad that we do not have a Fianna Fáil President.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: That is not a point of order, with respect.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: I thank the Senator for the clarification. It is important.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Very important.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: A number of the candidates received unfair treatment from the media and this played a central role in the presidential campaign. The media must reflect on how it values the role of the presidency and how it approaches future presidential elections. We support the motion but add that it is far from the only reform that needs to be made as regards the presidency. We have no difficulty with...

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: It is an important area that the Government could examine. Some people would argue that one cannot have representation without taxation but the role of the President does not have any powers or functions over taxation and it is an important but symbolic role. The President embodies what is best in Irish people and we should allow all Irish people to participate.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

David Cullinane: Especially given that over 100,000 have been forced to leave our shore. They should not be denied an opportunity to vote for their President. Such a measure is important. The age limit for the presidential election should be examined. The provision regarding 35 years is arbitrary. It exists because people feel that a president should have life experience but 35 years is too high. Surely...