Results 25,881-25,900 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jan 2012)

David Cullinane: We need statements on jobs, health and education.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: On behalf of the Sinn Féin Party, I extend my appreciation to the Captain of the Guard, the ushers, the clerks of the Seanad, all the staff, the group leaders and all Members for their support. I would also like to single out the Leader of the House who has given my party tremendous support since we have come in here, in spite of some early turbulence in trying to get speaking time....

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I try to mention Waterford every day on the Order of Business, so that is my opportunity today. One of the good new departures of the Seanad has been the public consultation process. We should focus on two issues early next year through that process. The first is dealing with poverty. Many Members have spoken about homeless people and people who will have a very troubling time over the...

Seanad: School Staffing (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Everyone accepts that we need value for money in the public service but that should not be used as a cloak to take teaching posts from some of the most disadvantaged schools in the State. I will outline the impact these cuts will have on schools in Waterford. A number of principals contacted me in recent days and meetings are being arranged with Oireachtas Members next week so their...

Seanad: School Staffing (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: In his response, the Minister stated the Department would hold in reserve a number of teaching posts to reduce the impact of changes on schools most acutely affected. While I welcome and support this measure, the Minister should replace the word "reserve" with the word "replace", which is what is necessary. As for the statement he made that consideration must be given to the effect of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I am not interested in what he is paid, rather I am interested in what he has to say on this issue because he speaks with authority, given the organisation he represents. Mr. Finlay stated: It is well known that larger families are at a greater risk of poverty ... 23% of families in Ireland have three or more children and it is their childhoods that are being compromised. This is a policy...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: After all that.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: This section deals with the cuts in child benefit. One of the parties in government made a very clear pre-election promise not to cut child benefit. This needs to be stated because when people go to vote into the polling booth, they vote on the basis of what they have heard from politicians and parties. While voters do not accept everything parties state, when politicians said this was a...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The Labour Party and Barnardos.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: To be fair to him, he is the CEO of Barnardos and it was in that capacity that he made his remarks.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: There is some confusion because I was minded to support section 5——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: ——because I saw section 5 supporting an anomaly in the system.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: However, the explanatory memorandum may cause some confusion. It states: "Section 5 provides that the implementation of certain provisions of Schedule 6 to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, relating to changes in the entitlement conditions for State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Transition) with effect from 6 April 2012, will not apply to existing recipients of those...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: That was the first part of it. I understood that because there was some difficulty with the timeframe that was inserted into the Act——

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The purpose of this is to exclude those recipients because overnight their payments could be ceased if this was not changed.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: However, the Minister might be able to explain the second part of the explanatory memorandum: "Paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 provides for the increase in the minimum number of paid employment or self-employment contributions required to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory) and the State Pension (Transition) from 260 to 520 with effect from 6 April 2012." Perhaps that is where the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: This section deals with an increase in the number of contributions that will be necessary to avail of a widow's pension or a surviving civil partner's pension. Judging from the Bill, the threshold will increase next year from 156 contributions to 260 and in the following year from 260 to 520.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Certainly in 2012, an increase from 156 contributions to 260 is envisaged. This is an increase from three years' contributions to five years'. This is similar to the debate that took place earlier on the disablement allowance payment in that Sinn Féin is concerned that this, again, could be a slippery slope, as the threshold appears to be increasing all the time. The number of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Very good.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The only part of this section with which I can agree is the change in the definition of "spouse" to include "civil partner or cohabitant". Apart from this, I must oppose the thrust of what the Minister is trying to do. The section cuts the half rate qualified child increase for people on invalidity pension or contributory pension or in receipt of carer's benefit. The Minister has said...