Results 26,321-26,340 of 26,792 for speaker:David Cullinane

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.

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

David Cullinane: That is what some Members of this House have done. I refer the Minister to Sinn Féin's pre-budget submission, which refers to a stimulus plan of €7 billion over three years. It has been supported by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which is calling for something similar. Sinn Féin wants an additional 150 State-run crèches to be established and 100 schools to be built, which would...

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

David Cullinane: We are calling for the refurbishment of 75-----

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

David Cullinane: I am putting questions.

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

David Cullinane: I am asking the Minister whether he agrees that investment is what is most needed by the domestic economy in this country. We have seen in the past that the policy of taking money out of the economy by cancelling capital projects and taking money from the pockets of low-paid workers clearly does not work. If there is €5.3 billion in the National Pensions Reserve Fund, it should be...

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

David Cullinane: Does the Minister support what is in the pre-budget submissions of Sinn Féin and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions?

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

David Cullinane: Current expenditure----

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

David Cullinane: Sinn Féin tabled an amendment to the Order of Business this morning proposing that speakers be given five minutes each during this debate, but it was rejected. The group of Taoiseach's nominees does not have a single representative in the Chamber for the debate, yet we are not being given adequate opportunity to address the Minister.

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

David Cullinane: I am making a point, which I am entitled to do. Senator Hayden referred to political patronage, giving as an example the stretch of the N11 which was not renovated as against the completion of the outer ring road in Waterford. The majority of funding for the latter came from the disposal of assets by Waterford City Council in conjunction with an additional investment by the council. The...

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

David Cullinane: Senator Hayden raised the matter of Waterford versus Wexford, not I.

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

David Cullinane: I merely clarified the nature of the funding for that project, for Senator Hayden's benefit.

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

David Cullinane: I have several questions to put to the Minister. The domestic economy is on the floor, with 470,000 people out of work and more than 100,000 forced to emigrate. Electricians, plasterers, plumbers and builders are out of work, yet the Government is taking €700 million from capital investment. In Waterford, commitments were given in respect of a 50-bed community nursing unit on the grounds...

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

David Cullinane: We put forward a pre-budget submission which includes a raft of proposals, yet we are not given appropriate time to address the Minister.

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

David Cullinane: We have been given two minutes to speak on this important issue.