Results 26,301-26,320 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Waterford Institute of Technology (9 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, has done more on this issue in the months he has been in office than his various predecessors did over many years. That is most welcome. The Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, stated in his reply: The first step is to provide clarity on those performance criteria, which will enable institutes of technology to consider their future...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: I join with Senator Ó Murchú in again raising the issue of the 14 Irish citizens who are being detained in Israel. I received the e-mail and I have also been in contact with the families of some of those people who are being held by Israel. Two Sinn Féin councillors, Councillor John Hearne and Councillor Pat Fitzgerald, were on the boat and are now being held captive by Israel. Others...

Seanad: Toghchán an UachtaráinElection of President (8 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: On behalf of the Sinn Féin Party, I extend a warm comhghairdeas to Michael D. Higgins, whom I believe will be an outstanding President for all the people of Ireland. I have no doubt that he will bring his unique qualities and attributes to the job of President. He will most certainly be a President of whom we can all be proud. It is hoped he will be a President that will inspire people,...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: We in Sinn Féin find humorous the rancour and heat of the earlier exchanges between the representatives of the Government and Fianna Fáil. We see this as a phoney war. All we can see from this side of the House is the Government implementing the same policies of the previous Government. There is no real difference. The Government then blames the previous Government but does not take any...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: That has to change. My question is on a different issue and I will get to it. I support the call by Senator Mullen to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to the House to discuss the closure of the embassies, but also the disgraceful treatment of 14 Irish citizens on board the MV Saoirse. These people were essentially abducted by the State of Israel and brought to a port in...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

David Cullinane: Do not forget about the Green Party.

Seanad: Health Services: Statements, Questions and Answers (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: Does the Minister accept that we have a two-tier health service and that health care may depend on ability to pay rather than on need? Does he support universal health care provision? What steps will he take to put in place a more egalitarian health service? I welcome the Minister's support for the abolition of the HSE. Will he take on board the Sinn Féin proposal of replacing the HSE...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: In the course of recent months, all parties have requested the Minister for Health to attend this Chamber. We have waited five months for him to come here for statements on health and to take questions from Members from all parties and groupings. I have a question for the Leader if he is in a position to answer it. Will the Sinn Féin Party be given an opportunity to make a statement? If...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: That does not clarify the matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: That does not clarify the matter for me. Does that mean that we will have time to make a statement, the same as the other groupings?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: Here we go again. Sinn Féin is being told that it can ask a question the same as anybody else and it might get one minute, but I am not going to accept that again on behalf of the Sinn Féin Party. It is absolutely——

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: I completely agree with Senator Noone that it is the political system that is wrong, but the political system can change.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: I have previously given examples to the Leader and this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: That is an outrageous claim to make. It just shows that people in this House are not open to change. It is disgraceful that the second largest opposition party in the State is not being given the opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Health.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: Others can talk about procedures and Standing Orders, but a precedent was made when previous Ministers attended this House and Sinn Féin was given an opportunity.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: I am asking the question.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: The question is, why is the second largest Opposition party in the Oireachtas not being given an opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Health?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: Members who were appointed to this House are being given the opportunity.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: The political parties and other Independent groups were all part of blocking Sinn Féin from asking the Minister for Health those questions, and they are hiding behind procedures.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2011)

David Cullinane: Why are the Leader and other groupings — Fianna Fáil, the Labour Party, Fine Gael and the two Independent groups — denying Sinn Féin the opportunity to put questions to the Minister for Health? They are hiding behind procedures and Standing Orders, while saying that that is the system. We can change the system, but if we do not then this House should be abolished.