Results 26,201-26,220 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I am responding to the broad and sweeping charge that the Minister made against us a couple of minutes ago.

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill (2011): Report and Final Stages (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister of State for accepting this amendment and Senator Leyden for alerting the House to the issue. They have both done the Seanad a service by ensuring it is relevant and important in scrutinising legislation.

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I move amendment No. 22: In page 38, subsection (1)(a), lines 10 and 11, to delete all words from and including "who" in line 10 down to and including "rules" in line 11. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. She was not in the House during the debate on Second Stage of this Bill when I let the Minister for Health know that my party had some concerns about indemnity. We tabled this...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: If they want to dispute facts, they can have that discussion with me.

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Making indemnity a statutory requirement threatens women's safety in childbirth. Section 41, as drafted, obliges a mother whose midwife's insurance has just lapsed to choose one of two alternatives - to give birth at home without professional attendants, or to face unwanted medical treatment in a hospital. Women who do not fit the indemnity criteria are already opting to give birth at home...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: My party is in favour of increasing safety. I do not want anybody to be confused about our amendment. We are in favour of increasing the welfare and safety of patients, including people who are giving birth. We are talking about the potential risks we see. Those risks have been highlighted by organisations that advocate on behalf on midwives. Our argument is that making indemnity a...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: At a time when we are closing a number of accident and emergency wards and maternity units across the country, it does not make sense to prohibit emergency care by retired midwives, for example. According to our interpretation of the Bill, that is exactly what will happen. Section 41, as drafted, significantly narrows the terms and conditions in which midwifery can be practised. We believe...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: My amendment is designed to reduce the risk posed by the current arrangements. We believe these HSE terms and conditions are operated in such a way as to prevent midwives exercising their clinical judgment and what we see as their duty of care to mothers and babies. For example, self-employed midwives who feel ethically bound to continue to assist a home birth mother whose labour does not...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I refer to the risks-----

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I will press the amendment.

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Opinions differ among Members as to the age of retirement. As Senator Barrett said, at least one Member is opposed in principle to a retirement age being set. My concern is the issue of choice. I do not see that this amendment would compel a person to work until he or she was 68 although this is what might happen if there were to be changes in Government policy. If a person wishes to...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: First, I welcome the independent inquiry which has been established by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte. I remind the Leader that a number of weeks ago Senators from all political parties sought a debate on media standards in this country following what had happened in Britain in terms of the News of the World. Perhaps that is something that...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Now who is interrupting and being discourteous.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: If you are to accuse others of doing something that you yourself were doing, then that is not helpful.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Yesterday the Minister for Health announced cuts in the health budget that will remove 1,000 hospital beds from the public service, 40 nursing homes are to close and a €50 charge is to be imposed on those on medical cards. This will be a €50 charge on the less well-off in society. It is a charge on sick persons. It will present many who need treatment from getting it. The Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I welcome the fact that the Leader indicated that he will look at that. In the context of responding to me yesterday, he provided misinformation about Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission. Therefore, I will wait until we have that debate. The final point I would make is about having courteous and respectful debates in this House. We all should hold our hands up and say that yesterday was not...

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: On a point of order-----

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: On a point of order, the Leader indicated in previous questions and answers sessions that when time allows Members can speak for a second time. It has happened.

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: On a point of order, the Order of Business is that statements followed by questions and answers was to take place between 3.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. A number of Senators expressed an interest in speaking a second time. Is the Leader moving an amendment to the Order of Business to cut short this debate and prevent speakers from returning to this subject?

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: It is possible to be constructive while providing opposition and opposing what the Government is saying.