Results 26,621-26,640 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I will check the post. May I raise an issue that has been in the public domain for the past number of days-----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I had a conversation with the Leader of the House before this meeting and I was asked to raise it here. I look forward to a response from the Leader of the House. I wish to raise the issue of the State potentially having to bail out the credit unions to the tune of €500 million. There are reports that household debt is at 190%. The country faces significant problems with the financial...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Again, I am asking the Leader of the House to confirm that discussion will take place before the Cabinet makes its decisions.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Not all pension holders receive the relief at the marginal rate, as the Minister of State is aware.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Equality.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I oppose the section and support the recommendation. I do not agree with previous speakers that private pension holders accept the logic of the levy and see its benefit in terms of jobs. I have spoken to many of them and they are fearful. They are fearful because they know private pension funds across the globe have been affected by the crash of recent years. That is the reality. Many...

Seanad: Fair Deal Nursing Home Scheme: Statements (Resumed) (16 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this important issue. I agree with Senator MacSharry on the lack of accountability in the HSE. Over recent years we have all been subjected by the previous Minister for Health and Children to the best impersonation of Pontius Pilate I have ever seen in my lifetime as a politician. She took no responsibility for any of the scandals...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister for his support for the passage of the Bill and for the Government amendments. I again thank Senator Bacik for instigating the Bill and thank all parties, including my own, for their support in its passage. I will make several general points. We should all be mindful of the importance of enforcement and of ensuring the laws which are enacted upon the passing of this...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Absolutely.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister to the House for the second time in 24 hours, as Senator Bacik has acknowledged. I acknowledge the serious nature of organised crime in the State. The pain that organised crime causes for individuals, communities, families and those who are the victims of organised crime, gun and drug crime is severe. Disadvantaged areas suffer from a higher incidence of such crimes....

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I hope the Leader of the House will correct this. I welcome the fact he has been positive, courteous and constructive in dealing with us as a group. I hope the CPP will take on board some of the proposals we have made. In the context of this motion, we must ask ourselves a very obvious question, namely, what we believe is the purpose and future of this House That must be the starting...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I commend the Independent group on bringing forward this important motion and I acknowledge the contribution made by Senator Mac Conghail, which was a very important one. Some very profound statements and proposals were made by the Senator and by members of his group in terms of their vision of the Seanad and political reform. I acknowledge the contribution from the Leader of the House who...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I would hope some of the modest proposals which we in Sinn Féin have put forward in regard to speaking time are taken up by the Leader. There would be something ironic about having a discussion about people from outside this House coming here to speak when those inside the House do not have the same opportunities. I can give the example of the smaller Independent group of five Members. If...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his elevation to his new position. I am always happy to clear up any confusion for the Labour Party in respect of Sinn Féin's proposals. Mention was made of our proposals on pensions. We make no apology for wanting to standardise pension reliefs, which would mean that high earners would enjoy the same percentage of relief as low and...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: Like others, I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He might know that, last week and before that, many Senators raised the issue of the protection and rights of children on the Order of Business. Recently, we discussed the Ombudsman for Children's report on children's rights. She is advocating for those rights. As repeated in the Chamber, she stated that lawmakers should stop and...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: While I understand it is difficult for members of the new Government to make these cuts, surely the Members opposite must recognise that cutting back on education and on the rights of children is the wrong thing to do. It is morally wrong and I cannot understand how any party, especially the Labour Party, could stand over cuts that will impact on children's right to education and may...

Seanad: Hospital Services (14 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: In 2009, the 19-bed St. Brigid's ward in St. Patrick's Hospital, Waterford, was closed by the HSE on foot of a report from HIQA which cited concerns in regard to health and safety. At the time, many public representatives, including myself as a councillor for Waterford city, as well as the Friends of St. Patrick's, a support organisation that was in place, and a campaign group which had been...

Seanad: Hospital Services (14 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: The last line of the Minister's response states that provision will be considered "in the context of". Every time I hear a Minister or Department member state something will be considered "in the context", I am concerned that the "context" will be that funding will not be available and that all sorts of reasons will be cited as to the reason for that. I pointed out earlier that the ward was...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2011)

David Cullinane: He is a Minister, with respect.