Results 26,061-26,080 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: The fact is that the Good Friday Agreement, the St. Andrews Agreement and the Hillsborough Agreement recognised that these individuals were political prisoners who were in prison serving time for politically motivated actions. I agree they were released on licence, but it was recognised that they were political prisoners. The Minister is being disingenuous when he says the passing of this...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: It is not good enough that the Minister can wave his power over the heads of former prisoners and say that if he thinks it is okay, he will give them the licence. We are talking about a point of principle and that is the reason we will press the amendment and put it to a vote. I hope that people in this House who voted for the Good Friday Agreement will vote for this amendment. A vote...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: That is blackmail.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I acknowledge that the start of the Minister's last contribution was a step forward because he said he did not see any reason somebody released under licence under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and where their offences predated the agreement, could not hold a licence. As he knows, we made a different point. As a principle, that category of prisoner should be excluded from the...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Perhaps that larger issue might be addressed, as we will also be dealing with the question of spent convictions. The Minister is considering this matter which is relevant to our debate. Will the many individuals with spent convictions be refused licences? Many issues need to be discussed.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: It never ceases to amaze me that some people do not understand the concept of debating. We are having a discussion on an amendment that has been tabled and Standing Orders allow us to engage on it. I can make a point; the Minister can respond; someone else can contribute, and we can thrash out all of the issues involved. That someone does not like the argument being made does not mean the...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: It is not. We are discussing former political prisoners.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: We are not asking him to be one. I am asking him a simple question: would that person be denied a licence because he or she was a former political prisoner?

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: It is not a hypothetical question. It could happen.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I am not. I am asking the Minister a simple question. If I understand him correctly, he does not see a reason he, as Minister, would refuse a licence application from someone who informs the authorities that he or she has served time as a political prisoner. Have I understood the Minister correctly?

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: My question is to the Minister, not the Senator.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, subsection (1), line 32, before "the operator" to insert the following: "excluding politically motivated offences covered by the Good Friday Agreement and which predate the enactment of the agreement,". We intend to press the amendment. We are hopeful that the Minister has had time to reflect on the serious issues we have raised in the context of the...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I would have no difficulty in having a debate on the armed struggle outside the Chamber with any Member who wishes. This is not about the justification of armed struggle or otherwise. It is about the rights of people who were released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement as political prisoners and were involved in politically motivated actions. I have already cited the State's...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I am making a point based on the public record. The Minister made the same point in this House. I can quote from the Minister's speech on Second Stage.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Where in Standing Orders does it say I am under any time restriction?

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I will finish my point, with respect to you, Acting Chairman. I am staying within the remit of the amendment, which is about excluding former political prisoners from what the Minister is trying to do. The Minister said-----

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: He said he would consider accepting the amendment if people said certain things. How outrageous is that? It is either right or wrong to accept the amendment. It is right to accept it because it is in keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, the St. Andrew's Agreement and the Hillsborough Agreement. I hope the Minister can put aside his own views and interpretations and do what...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I assume Senators from all parties are concerned and worried about the latest forecasts from the ESRI which has forecast that next year the domestic economy will only grow at half the rate predicted by the Government, less than 1%. The ESRI predicts that 35,000 more young people will emigrate, that 22,000 more people will lose their jobs and that we could and probably will take a hit on our...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: We said next year.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: It belongs to Waterford.