Results 25,761-25,780 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: That is a sweeping generalisation and should not be allowed to go unsubstantiated.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: I wish to seek a debate on the household charge. We have not had such a debate since the charge was introduced. It is clear to many people that not only is this charge unfair but that it is also deeply unpopular. The Leader will be aware that Waterford City Council passed a motion against the household charge on an eight to five basis. Many people are not registering for it and are not...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: The figures indicate that people are simply not registering for this charge. The household charge is unfair and unpopular.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: People perceive the household charge as an opportunity for them, as individuals, to take a stand and to state to the Government that it will not get their money to either pay back bondholders or to waste on something else.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: Those in government should put their hands up and state that they got it wrong and that it is not fair to inform someone who receives €300 per week that he or she should pay the same amount as someone who earns €3,000 per week. Likewise, a person who lives in a two-bedroom house should not be obliged to pay the same amount as someone who lives in a mansion. The Government should admit...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: The Leader should have listened to what I said. I said I looked forward to the Government publishing its so-called progressive property tax.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 4: In page 7, to delete lines 11 to 37 and substitute the following: "shall directly or through any intermediary accept any corporate donations.".

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: May I clarify a point I made earlier about students' unions? I was referring to the funding of student societies, whether political, sporting or cultural by students' unions. I was not talking about corporate donations. Students' unions have their own mechanisms and controls for how the money is administered and there is fairness and equity for the various groups. That is what this is...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: I will get to that in a moment. We asked for the pay of Oireachtas Members to be reduced by 30% in the case of Ministers, 15% for TDs and 10% for Senators. That was knocked back by the Government parties and by some of the Opposition parties as well. That would be my preference. I do not give my money to the party directly, because there is a limit. I spend the money on my constituency...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: I have an office which I pay for out of my salary, and that is where my money goes. It goes back into providing a first class constituency service.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: I am responding to the point made. It is a bit rich, given the climate in which we find ourselves, that some Senators seem to take exception to Senators and TDs taking the average industrial wage.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: The Senator does not have to believe me.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: It is a bit rich. In order to remove any ambiguities about these issues-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: If they support what I am saying, why do they not then accept amendments that we put down to the Finance Bill to reduce the salaries of Oireachtas Members?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: With the greatest respect to yourself, a Chathaoirligh, Senator Norris was allowed a five minute rant about Sinn Féin. Senator Bradford made a similar rant. When I get up to respond, we suddenly have to stick to the amendment. I have responded to two rants in this House from people-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: -----who obviously do not believe in transparency.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: Or I could do what the Senator does and keep it and spend it on myself. That is what everybody else does.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

David Cullinane: No funding is allowed for it.