Results 25,941-25,960 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I do not think the people will give it the welcome the Senator gave it.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: There is an unemployment crisis. The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office compound matters. Unemployment has increased from 14.2% to 14.4%, while the number of people working has decreased by 46,000, or some 2.5%, since this time last year. The long-term unemployment rate has risen from 6.5% to 8.4%, which means that, of everyone unemployed, more than 50% have been out of work...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I am entitled to raise whatever issue I wish on the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: My question relates to the Government's response to the unemployment crisis, that is, its decision to cut the funding available to community employment schemes. The grant to each individual is being cut from €1,500 to €500. Under the schemes, lone parents and those in receipt of disability payments receive partial payments, but these will also be cut. Many single parents engaged in...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I will not rehearse the arguments made on previous sections as I appreciate we have many amendments to discuss. I accept much of what the Minister of State said yesterday when he outlined many of the exemptions that are in place, for example, for tenants of local authority housing and people who are in receipt of mortgage interest supplement and rent supplement. While a number of categories...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: With respect, that is not how legislation is drafted or amendments accepted.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I will drop a copy of our pre-budget submission into the Senator's pigeon hole.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: On behalf of the Sinn Féin Party I would like to withdraw the amendment. We want to support amendment No. 12 tabled by the Fianna Fáil Party. It is a more substantive amendment.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 - Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 11: In page 8, subsection (4)(b), line 15, to delete "the year 2012 and the year 2013" and substitute "the years from 2012 to 2015". I will not speak too long on the amendment because it is simple and practical. I welcome the inclusion in the list of those exempt from the charge of people who live in unfinished housing estates. I assume the logic is that all services...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Bill 2010: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister. We seem to have a mania in this country for introducing criminal legislation which is often draconian and seldom, if ever, used. It is usually a response to a public outcry and rarely is a comprehensive solution sought to crime and its causes. I am not making this point to impugn this Bill. While I have concerns about aspects of the legislation, in respect of which...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I was called three times.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: There must be something in the water this morning because I find myself in complete agreement with Senator Gilroy and disagreeing with Senator Barrett-----

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: This is a market system which shows health care as a commodity and not as a fundamental right. We are dealing with an unfair system as regards funding and access to health care. Senator Barrett made a point that there is no proof that people could not access private health insurance from some operators. The issue is not whether people are prevented from obtaining cover but rather that the...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The Bill arrives in that context and in the context of a declining health insurance market. VHI has said it expects up to 200,000 people to give up private health insurance by the end of 2012 as a result of rising unemployment. The proportion of the population with health insurance declined from 49% in 2007 to 47% in 2010. The numbers qualifying for and receiving medical cards have...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I agree that a two hour debate on the budget is not acceptable.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: One of the problems in this House is that when the budget was announced we were given two hours to debate it. During that debate a number of people who made very short contributions highlighted the harsh cut for people with disabilities. As a result of that and representations from Members of the Lower House, the Government accepted the cut was wrong and is now reviewing the situation. We...

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: The social development fund, the social inclusion fund.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: They opposed water charges. I was interrupted.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: I am not in difficulty.

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

David Cullinane: Can Senator Byrne name the property?