Results 25,641-25,660 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: Increasing VAT is not the solution.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: It will deepen austerity. That would be a wise move.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: The Senator's party opposed the treaty in Europe.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I agree with much of what the Minister had to say. I agree with him that when the economy contracts, it has consequences for GDP, the domestic economy and people's level of spending, which we all accept. I have made the point that many retailers are struggling and trying to come up with creative ways to keep the lights on. There are sales offering discounts of 20%, 25% or 50% and retailers...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: One cannot have it both ways. With respect Senators and the Minister cannot say to us we do not come up with alternatives and when we do, tell us not to come in with a party manifesto. What I am saying is that there are alternatives and I am giving them.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: It is funny that those alternatives were realistic when they were Labour Party policy when it was in opposition but now that it is in government the policies have become unrealistic.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I am being constructive. I am stating I do not agree with the 2% VAT increase but I am also pointing out where money can be got. I am not using my own calculations to state how much would be generated; the Department of Finance came up with the figures. The Minister has any amount of advisers and they are the people who gave us the figures. They costed our pre-budget proposals.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: If anybody has an issue with any of these figures speak to the army of people from the Department of Finance outside the door.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: They will be more than happy to give the answers.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I am delighted that Minister has one. I agree with Senator Hayden, as I am sure does the Minister, that nobody wants to have to increase any form of taxation, direct or indirect. We are in a difficult situation and we must reduce our deficit. We have accepted this and we have stated so ad nauseam. Of course we must reduce our deficit. However, as the Minister stated, the choices we make...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: You are taxing the small guy in Donegal.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2012 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: You are taxing the small guy in Donegal.

Seanad: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I raise this issue because I have been in contact with the board of management and the principal of Gaelscoil Philip Barún in Tramore, County Waterford, for many years and have supported them in their battle for a school and capital funding. A meeting was organised with Oireachtas Members last week, with representatives present from the...

Seanad: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: The Minister's response says that the project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning and acknowledges the need for a new building on a 2.5 acre site owned by the Department. However, it reads as if this is an impediment. The school is more advanced than most schools in the capital programme. This school is at the architectural design stage and the design team has been...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: On a point of order, there is no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Seanad: Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: Senator Norris is successful.

Seanad: Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State. This is a short and technical Bill but I take this opportunity to thank all those who give blood in this country. I welcome any legislation that allows for streamlining of services and improved efficiencies in the health sector. I support the Government's efforts in this regard. The Bill shifts responsibility for procurement of clotting factor concentrate...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: It is unfair to say, either way, whether people think the Government is doing a good job. We must wait until the next election. We can take some pointers from opinion polls, which have been consistent and show a flowing away of some support from the Government, especially the Labour Party. There is a drop in support for the Government parties because of some of the policies which have been...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: What we have said is that some of our public representatives have decided not to pay. It is not the job of any political party to tell the electorate what to do but it is clear that the electorate, the people of this country, have made up their minds that they will not pay the charge. We have not advocated that people should not pay it, and we will not call on people to pay the charge...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

David Cullinane: I will not ask somebody to pay a flat, regressive €100 household charge but I am not saying they should not pay it.